Upper Wings #2

Our final Fall camping trip

We have been having phenomenal weather this Fall, so we had to play hooky on the LP project and do one more camping trip.  Our daughter Melanie and her boyfriend joined us.  We had a great time!

Mark busy on the grinder

What little work I have gotten done has been on the fittings.  There are about double the fittings on the upper wings, so it's a major undertaking.  It will probably be a couple of weeks until they are all done.  My friend Mark, who's been a lot of help on this project, even gave up his day off - Columbus Day - to help with them.

Wing attach fittings

I started with the fittings that attach the two upper wing halves together.  Not difficult, just a lot of cutting and careful bending.  These are all made from .100" 4130. 

Upper wing strut fitting

I believe I mentioned in other posts that most of the upper wing fittings survived although not in great condition as seen with this one.  According to Andy, the wings were stored outside and a prairie fire destroyed portions of them as seen on this charred piece of rear spar.




Back to the shop tomorrow and starting on the cabane and interplane strut fittings.  Last Friday, my friend Mark and I drove my engine parts to Hart's Machine Shop in Ohio.  They will be doing all the babbitt work on the main and rod bearings.  Have not used this shop before, but left with a good feeling about them.  Several gray-haired employees with lots of antique engine experience.  A busy shop with a 6 month lead time!