National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

I am restoring a 46 chief, trying to go all orginal, I have gotten to the interior and need some help 1.color and type of material for headliner 2.color and material for seats. color and correct placment of flocking in interior, if someone has some paint no. for the brown and fawn colors that would help also. I have a lot more questions but not to try anybodys paitence I"ll quit for now thanks, Gary

Gary,

Ask away! We have one of the best Chief guys in the world on the forum. Bill Pancake has forgotten more than most of us when it comes to Aeronca's and hope he will see this thread.

Regarding the headliner, not sure that I would try to make one. Most people go with one from Airtex. Please make sure that you put it in the airplane BEFORE you cover the fuselage. I have been told that it can be done with the cover on but it 10 times more difficult at that time.

There are one or two guys doing the correct period paint and frocking for the instrument panel. Forget who, and hopefully someone else can remember.

I am overseas flying now so no access to my books. Sure someone will lend a hand. Please post your other questions and we can get to workon them.

Where are you located? I am in Phoenix and have Sn. 15xx (forget my serial number) Chief.

JoeA

I did a fair amount of research on the plane before I restored it. Ray Johnson probably has the best info on the interior and it was written up in
the EAA SPORT AVIATION article on his Chief. John Houser has
the interior blueprints for the seats. The seat fabric can be done
stock at $50 or so a yard from antique auto cloth suppliers, see Hennings Motor News for Bedford Cord, if I remember right... I went with regular cordoroy at that price. The colors are brown and taupe. See the interior photos on my website for details, I can't remember which page they are on there but there are some nice b/w shots from the factory... the interior also needs side panels from the seat to the door jam B pillar. I simulated flock with taupe felt from the local fabric store and it looks really stock.

The headliner is wool, again in either taupe or light tan. Aeronca didn't not have a true standard in interiors, as they tended to use whatever they had supplied at the time. There is a reference to a blue interior for the 11CC, for instance. Think dove gray for the interior tubing pieces, taupe for sides and ceiling, seat with dark brown sides and tan bottom and back.

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/ ... Links.html

thank you for the replies, any more info would be appricated on to more questions does anyone have a paint no./color code for the A65 case I'm about to go with ford tractor grey but I would like correct color someone asked where I'm located Batavia NY near Rochester,building a chief flying a catabria thanks

click on the tech notes link on the home page. Bill P. addresses most of these issues. You have to read through, as the champ, chiefs and enginge cases are all addressed.