Warm enough to paint again!

It was in the mid 70's today, though pretty windy.  I decided to build a much smaller version of my paint booth from last summer.  I have an order from Univair coming someday soon.  I placed it about 3 weeks ago, but a few items are on back order.  When it does arrive, it will contain the fairings that go around the wing struts and also the ones between the wing and body.  I will need to paint those, so I thought I would get the booth put together.  I used the overhang from the loft to support things.  It is about 10 feet long and 4 feet wide.

My friend Jerry found some latches for the glove box doors.  I had been hunting for a simple spring steel cabinet latch, but had been unsuccessful.  I have the left side installed and they work perfectly.  Jerry suggested I use my vice to take some of the "spring" out as the pull force was pretty high before.  I am waiting to do the final installation of the doors as I am going to have the Stinson emblem embroidered on some leather and then wrap the door.  I hope to have that completed in the next week. 

Interior almost done

Today I focused on the cover that hides the wires, pitot lines, and fuel lines that go up the door post on the pilot's side.  I started this project several weeks ago and then other more fun things came along.  This afternoon, I completed the installation and also finished gluing the pilot's kick panel trim to the lower door post.

I also have the glove boxes installed now and thought I had the door on the pilot's side ready to install.  However, I was not happy with how it looked.  I had glued a piece of the "gold" leather (with batting material underneath) over the metal door to make it look better than just a piece of metal.  After consulting with Debbie, we decided we needed the Stinson emblem embroidered on it in black thread,  So, I will send a few pieces of leather to Topeka this week and get that done.  After those are installed, I will pronounce the interior complete!

Its all about the boxes

The main task this week has been to make glove boxes for N678RD.  There is one on the passenger side and also one on the pilot side.  If you look at past posts of the instrument panel, you will see a large hole on each side where they go.

My friend Jerry from church had some sheet metal left over from an airplane he was building several years ago and donated some to make the glove boxes.  The one on the pilot side is not as deep as the passenger side due to  the air filter for the vacuum instruments being in the way.  I used J.P. Weld to glue the boxes together since they will not carry much load and the metal was pretty thin for riveting.  They aren't the best looking, but they will be out of sight behind the panel.  I used a vice to do the bending as I did not have a brake and did not want to wait to find someone with one (sound familiar).

In other box news, I hauled my engine (which is in several boxes) to Halstead today.  Mark is going to start the overhaul in April, so I figured I would get them there in case he finishes the radial engine he is overhauling for a Cessna 195 early.

Next is to make doors for the glove boxes and find some latches and hinges.

Pilot Windows Installed

I cut the windows for the pilot's door last night.  Tonight I installed them along with the various tracks and stuff.  I still need to find a small knob to install on the sliding window on each side to have something to pull on.  I am also still waiting on the Univair shipment.

This should let the breeze in

It may be hard to see, but I have the windows in the passenger door.  The aft panel is fixed and the forward panel can slide back so that the window is about half open.  That will help keep folks cool on those hot summer days!  The black vertical pieces are seals to keep the wind and rain out.  I have the forward window panel slid about half way back in this picture. 

This was easier to do than I thought it would be.  I borrowed the oscillating saw from my friend Brian at work to cut the Plexiglas as I did for the rear windows.  I need to get another piece of  Plexiglas on the way home from work and then I can do the pilot's door.

In other news, I have been doing paperwork the last week or so.  I have my taxes done and filed, applied for a property tax exemption for the airplane (if you have a plane over 30 years old, you qualify), and also got the paperwork on the N-number change back from the FAA.  I filled in a few items on the FAA paperwork and returned it.  So, as of 2/24/14, N9598K became N678RD.  I should get a new registration certificate in the next month or two.  Until then I carry a copy of the paperwork I returned plus the old registration.