Queen of the Berry Patch

[dikholder]

[img][attachment=0]002%20(640x480).

[joea]

Sure looks like a Sedan to me!

[Carl Prather]

A true diamond in the rough. All Sedans deserve to fly.


Carl Prather

[dikholder]

I have owned it for 5 months now and today I finally did something that felt constructive. I refabricked an aileron. Been working on it for those 5 months, but tear down and fixing sticky windows and rebuilding door hinge bushings felt more destructive than constructive.

Dik

The Queen N1441H

[dikholder]

Louis:

Tamarack air got my tube in yesterday and I have duplicated your bar. Next time I come to town I will drop it back off for you. Thanks again. How are those potential Cadets doing?

Dik

[Louis]

Glad that worked out. If you just drop it off at Wrights that will be fine. No hurry, obviously. I won't need a back seat too soon at the rate I'm going. I hope to speed things up a bit. I'm wondering If the "cadets" will still fit in the back seat by the time I get flying! The kids are doing great. I'm hoping to get them up flying again soon, now that we're getting some daylight back.

I've decided to go ahead and cut the inspection holes in my wings. I'm planning to make a template like the one shown in the other thread. I see the one they're using is generously available to borrow but I don't like borrowing anything at the speed I work!...Louis

[joea]

Louis,

Borrow it long enough to make a copy, but you might do it after April. Thats when everyone's airplane that has not done the AD/SB so far is due, and the template will be in high demand from now until the end of April.

As well it would not hurt to have a copy of the template available in Alaska considering the number of Sedans up there.

Joe A

[dikholder]

OK Louis

Next time I come into town I will drop it at Wrights. Thanks again for helping me out on this one. I would like to see your kids visit one of our cadet meetings out at Eielson. They start at 1830 on Thursdays. You will need to stop at the guard shack at the base gate to get signed onto base. Either call me at 322-7287 or the Squadron CC Steve Brewer at 978-9874 and we can vouch you on or meet you at the gate and lead you in. Give me a call if you want to do it.

Thanks Again

Dik

[dikholder]

Just an update, The Queen is Naked!!!

[Louis]

That picture brings back some memories from not so long ago! Have you had a chance to check out the condition of the tubing yet? I was lucky and didn't have to do a huge amount of cutting and welding, there would have been a whole lot less if I didn't do the tailwheel spring conversion. That ended up being way more complicated than expected, but that's another story....
The dry climate here in Fairbanks is better than many places for preserving planes left out in the berry patch.

I did have to replace all the wood on my Sedan. The aft window frames turned into splinters when I removed the fabric. I had to enlist the help of my jigsaw puzzle expert wife to put the pieces back together enough to use for patterns. I got all the replacement wood from Superior Hardwood. They were also able to cut stringers of the right dimensions. Burl has plans where all the wood can be replaced with metal, but I like wood so I kept it.

I think I have a usable template for cutting holes in wings now, but want to make a copy and make a few more practice holes in scrap aluminum before I start cutting for real.

Really appreciate the offer on the CAP meetings but the boys just started on the swim team and have practice on Thursday nights so we'd be hard pressed to take on any more activities at this point...Louis

[dikholder]

Louis:

My wood needs replaced too. Some of it could be sanded down and reused, but I think it would be better replaced with fresh wood. The other Cadets meet on Monday nights, I am not sure what shape their unit is in now, but I know it doesnt get the adult support that our cadets get. My tubing looks real good in the fuselage. But some welding is going to happen on the tailfeathers. The only piece completely rusted out is at the bottom of the rudder. The small tube is shot. The last owner was an A and P, but he seemed to be forgetful on his own plane. The reason for most of the corrosion problem in the tail feathers is because after he intalled the driains, he forgot to cut holes in them for the water to drip out through. Not a single one was cut. I think as a part of my preflight, I will use a crochet needle to see if I can fish out any spider nests or other trash in those drains. Probably not as critical if you are not on floats.

Thanks again.

Dik

[joea]

Dik,

Forget what the Sedan has on it now but my last Chief had seaplane drains on it and they were done right. Put them on the fabric then use the tip of a soldering iron to make a hole. Works great.

Joe

[Louis]

I put the seaplane grommets on my Sedan. With those you need to melt in the holes before the grommet is glued on. Then silver dollar sized fabric doileys go over the grommet. With Poly-Fiber, I believe, you are only required to melt in the holes, no grommet required as long as you're in a reinforced area. I've also seen it recommended to put drain holes in the leading edge of the elevators if you're planning to tie the controls back while the plane is parked...Louis

[dikholder]

Thanks guys. I will be puttting them on the new fabric. I already did put them on the ailerons. The ones on the old ailerons were done right, but not a single one on the tail. It struck me as strange that he would glue them on but not bother to put in the holes.

[dikholder]

I am starting to make new plywood fuselage bulkeads now. Does anyone have a source for the grommets that were used to hold them in place between the metal tangs? Or do you just switch to bolts? I have looked in all my catalogs and not seen hide nor hair of one.