----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
Hi, Coupers!
My 1946 415-C is coming along nicely with its restoration and paint.
The plane was flying up to December 10th, 2000, when I pulled the wings
off and trailered it home behind my truck. Since then the paint has all
been stripped off, except wings(fabric). They were inspected, painted,
and covered less than two years ago.
I took this chance to remove the wing tanks and seal them, and had a
good look at the main and rear spars and then zinc chromated
everything. On my coupe there is an inspection plate over the rear spar
in the wing filet. It appears to be factory, but I haven't seen others
like this.
Being on the new Canadian Owner Maintenance program I can do whatever I
want myself and sign it off. I replaced rubber engine mounts, had the
muffler welded, cleaned and tested the fuel pump, replaced the front
seal, removed the sump and cleaned it, replaced all scat and fuel
hoses. I also went through the carb and starter. Everything forward of
the firewall was cleaned, checked, and painted. I removed all three
landing gears completely and rebuilt them, then replaced all the tires.
On the trailing arm of the main gear I drilled a hole at the pivot point
and installed a small grease fitting. This should have been done at the
factory. The forged aluminium is about one inch square in cross section
there, so it's very doubtful that anything but good can come from this.
Next I replaced all rubber pucks on the main gear. First I drilled
eight holes around the perimeter to give some flexibility. If you use a
three-eights bit, you get one quarter inch holes. I removed all the
wheel fairings and made simple new ones that just fair in the flat front
of the gear forging, using the same mount holes as the original. The
look is quite different and is in keeping with the rest of the plane.
Now here's the juicy part: the undersides of the plane are light grey.
All topsides are saddle tan and mid-dark green camouflage, much in the
style of the Spitfire! There is a 24 inch rondel, red, white and blue
outlined in yellow and 15 inch ID numbers on either side - BM-J. The
top of the cowl is flat black, the leading edges of the rudder and wings
are yellow and the rudders have 3 inch horizontal black and white
stripes. I haven't got the wings finished yet, but they will have
rondels top and bottom. I cut a cardboard pattern to match the landing
gear and painted that shape on the bottom inboard of the gear and behind
the nose gear ("Oh, look, he's got his gear down, he must be coming in
to land"). The wings will have three black gun holes each, and I have a
circular gunsight with cross-hairs directly in front of the windshield.
I polished the prop and did the tips white with a red band. The spinner
is white.
All in all, this may sound quite awful to many, but to those who have
seen it so far, they are more than enthusiastic. I've got my old
leather helmet and goggles, and a brand new old headset with kid leather
pads. A friend of mine with a Supercub is dying to get up there and do
some air to air photography. When all this comes about I'll see if I
can get this on the net and let you judge for yourself. I figure it's
the most complex warpaint I've seen on a coupe. Oh yes, you'll love the
external "Merlin tip" exhaust stacks on the side of the cowling. What's
life if you can't have some fun?
Jon Page
Qualicum Beach, BC
415-C #2675
---------------------------------
to unsubscribe send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
____________________________________________________________
T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less.
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
<<attachment: winmail.dat>>
