National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

I"m trying to restore a 11ac 1946 vintage, the baggage sling I have is a black smooth material almost satin does anyone out there have any insight into the original

Gary,

I have restored several Chiefs and looked at a lot of them in the field and everyone of them that I felt were original were made out of a canvas style material, with metal snaps on them that held them onto the tubing in the back area.

My guess is that yours is a copy of the original that someone (PO's wife perhaps?) duplicated at home out of available materials or trying to save weight using a lighter material.

Joe

Airtex has the canvas with the snaps. You can use some RIT dye to get a rusty red-brown color, which a few old Chiefs had at Harvey Field. Given the age of the fabric and the plane itself, they were original. When restoring a Chief, it pays to have in mind the idea of World War Two surplus material, like canvas. They certainly had more than enough of that stuff around at the time and Aeronca was very cost conscious.

The sling from Airtex, installed with a wooden piece to hold snaps, rather than putting the snaps into the tubing. Color is close to stock.

skyking3286 wrote:Airtex has the canvas with the snaps. You can use some RIT dye to get a rusty red-brown color, which a few old Chiefs had at Harvey Field. Given the age of the fabric and the plane itself, they were original.

When restoring a Chief, it pays to have in mind the idea of World War Two surplus material, like canvas. They certainly had more than enough of that stuff around at the time and Aeronca was very cost conscious.

SK,

I tried again with your photo and it worked this time. Not sure why it did not work on your post???

Your baggage compartment is exactly the same as mine, but mine has had a rougher life and may be time for renewal.

Anyway have to totally agree with your comment on the material for the baggage compartment and it does reminde me of the old WW2 tents and such I saw as a kid at scouting events and military surplus stores. The snaps are as well the same as old mil surplus stuff I believe.

Good idea on dying the material to match!

Joe

thanks for the replies on the cargo sling. I had checked airtex but the one in the catalog was vinyl, guess I will check with them again.Is everyone in agreement that the original was reddish brown?