Presewn fabric envelopes

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 02:41

I have a Champ with the large vert. stablizer that I will be recovering in about a month. Does anyone know a good source for the presewn envelopes? Are they worth they extra expense?

Anyone have any recommendations on which covering process to use?

Thanks,

Scott McBride

John Price · Post by **John Price** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 05:49

I just bought a complete set from Aircraft Spruce for $451... So
far we have one wing covered but not shrunk (today's project)...
The wing envelope fit like a glove...

Post by **bwmatz** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 09:24

Mac,

Contact Polyfiber reps Jim and Dondi Miller at Aircraft Technical Support. See http://www.aircrafttechsupport.com

They will set you up with everything you need and they are very nice people.

Post by **joea** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 09:34

Scott,

Where are you located? Tony Markl is in DE and has helped a lot of people around the country with their fabric. If you are anywhere near the East coast its worth getting ahold of him. His contact info is in the service portion of this bulletin board.

JoeA

mac · Post by **mac** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 04:50

I am in Kenai Alaska, a little too far from Maryland for a recover job in January. I do have assistance from a group of guys who are experienced at recovering Supercubs, doing a Champ will be new for most of them. The basics should be the same however.

I know there is a whole bunch of people who have a whole lot of experience that frequent this board.

Scott
N3611E
7AC

Post by **joea** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 21:20

Scott,

You are correct that there are a lot of people here with loads of experience.

I have covered several airplanes and have used both the blanket and envelope method. Prefer the envelope but thats just personal preference and it would cost you more.

Hope more chime in on this thread!

JoeA

Don Eide · Post by **Don Eide** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 22:15

Scott,

Brian is correct.
Jim & Dondi Miller are VERY NICE people.

I have only used the blanket method to recover. On my Champ fuselage, I used one piece of fabric on the bottom, and one piece of fabric on each side which wrapped around to the top and seamed together. I put the seam on top of one of the top stringers, and you can see it if you know its there. One piece on top of each wing, and one on the bottom, no seams.

I have not used the envelopes, because years ago I heard that the envelopes didn't fit. This web site says they do fit. Your choice.
It also must be kind of difficult to keep the wing seams straight, because you see a lot of them that are not straight. Maybe someone on this site can tell us how to keep wing seams straight.

I've had good luck with blankets, and untill someone shows me a better way, I'll stick to blankets. Just my choice, nothing else.

markl · Post by **markl** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 08:18

Dear Scott
I teach and do fabric work and prefer to use envelopes only for a fuselage. The work and time of ironing seams so as to be straight is equal to the time saved by not having to cement. An envelope more often than not will not fit well and I have sent too many back. For a Champ fuselage get a "tent" type envelope from Aircraft Technical Support (not Aircraft Spruce). This envelope will have only one seam - down the spine and up the fin (specify big fin). The bottom is closed with a separate piece.

mike berg · Post by **mike berg** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 16:04

Scott,
I agree with Tony. I've covered a couple of Champs. Used envelopes for both, but on the last I specified without the bottom or as Tony described it, a tent type. Worked much better, although the bottom is a lot of cutting and fitting around the lower tubes, but fits much nicer. Don's idea is a good one too with a sewn seam over one of the upper stringers. You can't legally just wrap around the upper stringers, though . Anywhere else, I used the blanket method. Another note, I used Superflite rather than Poly or dope. Found it easy to work with, but might be a bit more on the heavy side.

Wilderness Aviation · Post by **Wilderness Aviation** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 19:09

Scott give me a email address would be glad to help with info. Think probably I do more Champ and Chief rebuilding than most here in Alaska. We are in Tok kbrooks@aptalaska.net

Post by **joea** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 19:40

Wilderness and Scott,

You can email someone directly from this forum, or leave them a private message as well. All it requires is to sign then you have the four icon's under your name saying "profile, PM, Email, and WWW." Look under Tony's post above and you will see them.

These stand for your personal profile, personal message, email direct and www for your website if you entered one.

If you log on it really opens up a lot of options using this bulletin board. We do not want any personal info and its easy to do.

JoeA

jerrymjr · Post by **jerrymjr** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 15:04

You might be able to get any from Jim and Dondi.
They were our fuselage envelope supplier at ACA for a long time; then decided not to make them anymore. I, personally, am not sure why they stopped. Jim and Dondi were always a great pleasure to work with though.
We now get fuselage envelopes from Airtex. Around here, no news is good news, so they prolly work alright.

As for fit of an envelope, thats open to interpretation because nothing will fit perfectly. If you go into this knowingly, where it does work out perfect, will be a pleasant suprise. Kinda liek going to a movie you hear was bad, you think its not bad because of low expectations.
Either way, we have found the fuselage envelopes to be well worth it, even in a production case. We still do wings via bolts of fabric.

shorty · Post by **shorty** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 20:45

many years ago, My dad, and one of his buddies, restored a Cessna T-50
As there was no envelopes available, I belive that my mom sewed them up. and they worked real well.

FOffutt · Post by **FOffutt** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 23:53

Just found out about the NAA. I see my first solo tail number. I worked off hours during college in the Midwest that included rebuilding several Champs. Is tail number N3611E still associated to my first plane?

Frank pcsrd@juo.com

mac wrote:I am in Kenai Alaska, a little too far from Maryland for a recover job in January. I do have assistance from a group of guys who are experienced at recovering Supercubs, doing a Champ will be new for most of them. The basics should be the same however.

I know there is a whole bunch of people who have a whole lot of experience that frequent this board.

Scott
N3611E
7AC

Post by **joea** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 06:37

Frank,

Sure looks like you have found your old airplane. Owner of record (from www.landings.com) is:

N-number : N3611E
Aircraft Serial Number : 7AC-6943
Aircraft Manufacturer : AERONCA
Model : 7AC
Engine Manufacturer : CONT MOTOR
Model : A&C65 SERIES
Aircraft Year : 1947
Owner Name : MCBRIDE SCOTT P
Owner Address : KENAI, AK, 99611-1665

I removed the actual address (a PO Box) for privacy concerns. If you do not hear from him in a bit you can email me and I could probably track down a phone number for him off of the internet.

Joe A

National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Presewn fabric envelopes

Presewn fabric envelopes

Fabric

fabric systems and blankets

Envelopes

Champ Covering

Former 1947 Champ N3611E "Pilot"