Queen of the Berry Patch

[joea]

If they are the same as used on the Chief/Champ, some people just make them out of soft copper tubing that have been squished from each end to form a lip.

[Paul Agaliotis]

Dik,
I use 3/16th screws and nuts. If you want the waterbury eyelets ACA had them.
Paul

[dikholder]

Paul:

Thanks for the info, I didnt even know what they were called.

Dik

[joea]

Dik,

Might search Granger for the eyelets, believe that they are still being sold.

Joe

[dikholder]

Thanks I will do that.

Dik

[dikholder]

Just an update on progress with the Queen. I figure I am about 1/3 of the way done with sanding the frame. Its all done from the baggage compartment aft, and its been coated with Stuarts steel conversion coating. I have made new bulkheads from that point aft as well. I will replace all the original wood. I have milled new stringers from Spar and Mast grade Sitka spruce and the hangar is starting to look like a furniture factory.

Dik
N1441H THE QUEEN OF THE BERRYPATCH

[Richard Murray]

Dik,

Good to see your progress! Hoe do you like the Stuarts steel conversion coating? I have been using a product from Eastwood called Rapid-Etch. It too phophatizes the steel to prevent corrosion. I wasn't aware Stuarts made a similar product.

Richard

[dikholder]

Richard:

The first batch of Stuarts steel conversion coating that I tried didnt work as advertised. I emailed Stuarts and asked for help. They said what I described was probably caused by the product being frozen. I live near Fairbanks so go figure. Anyway they sent me a new container free of charge and I was very careful to keep it from freezing. The package is marked do not drop, but does not say a thing about do not freeze. Anyway, this second batch seems to be working a lot better. It is similar in apperance to some of the automotive products that I sold for NAPA in a previous life. The container says you can use it and then paint directly over it, but some of Stuarts other information in their recovering manual says to prime over it. I intend to prime.

I do like Eastwoods products for automotive use, never thought about using them on my plane.

Dik

[Richard Murray]

Dik,

I only use the Rapid-Etch because it leaves a zinc phosphate coating and they recommend a primer coat over it. A fellow that has done a lot of auto body steered me to the phosphatizing route because I was concerned about getting a primer over the newly blasted parts. With this approach I can pick up the parts and take my time washing them and then drying before I put them up to be primed later when the weather is suitable for painting. It definitely stops the formation of surface rust between layers.

Richard

[dikholder]

Another update. Last night I test fit the new wood bulkheads. Also finished sanding the lower fame tubes up to the gear box.

Dik

N1441H Queen of the Berry Patch[img][img][/img][/img]

[dikholder]

this time the update rates a beer. I ve been waiting to have a beer till I finished sanding the frame. This evening I finished and converted it with Stuarts Steel Conversion Coating. Tomorrow I will prime it.

[Matt]

Cheers to you and your Sedan, Dik!

Which color are you planning to use for the frame? We chose white for N1331H in order to facilitate future inspection.

Matt

[dikholder]

Matt:

I am using Smoke Grey which is almost as good as a white. I finished painting the frame last night and things that were hard to see before, just pop out at you now. Now I can start making it look like an airplane again.

Dik

[Matt]

Sounds great, Dik,

Have fun and let's see some pictures, soon again!

Matt

[dikholder]