Cockpit Upholstery

1928, Wright J-5 powered Stearman C3B

It has been a busy couple of weeks.  Working on getting the Kelch Museum Curtiss Wright 12W annualed in preparation for another busy flying season.  We are also getting the 1928 Stearman C3B flying again after about 18 years.  It only has 1/2 hour flying time on it since the restoration!  It has a Wright J-5 which will be a real hoot to fly.  We would love to take it to EAA, but want grass to land it on.  Working on trying to make that happen, but it's not looking good.  I don't get it, the largest fly-in of its type in the world, and we can't get a grass runway to land these rare antique airplanes on!

1932, 165 Warner powered Curtiss Wright 12W

Please consider donating to our museum building fund.  Details can be found on our website  www.kelchmuseum.org

Besides all that, I manage to keep plugging away at the L-P.  Got a good start on the cockpit upholstery.

Marking and cutting out material 

Eyelets installed, ready to be laced in

Right side, rear cockpit

It ended up going easier than I thought it would.  I started by making cardboard templates, then transferred that to the cobra-grain material.  This is the same stuff as the seat upholstery.

Outside of right side, rear cockpit

Left side, rear cockpit

Outside of left side, rear cockpit

Eyelets were then installed, just like the aluminum panels that were previously done.














Here's the right side all laced in.  The top edge will be finished off later, after the dope and fabric work is finished.  It's important for the fabric to be glued well around the upper longeron to avoid coming loose over time.












This is what the outside looks like.  Of course, you won't see any of this after the fabric is installed.












The left side.  A little more complicated as it had to be slit for the throttle rod as well as the seat belt.















Outside view of the left side.

Attachment angles for front cockpit fabric

So I still have to finish the front cockpit, but did get the bottom attach angles fabricated and installed.  These are the bare aluminum pieces in the photo.  I still need to paint them.











Once this is done, I need to step back and carefully think because there will be no going back - it will be time for covering.  The engine will come off and the fuselage will be put back on the rotisserie.  A little over 2000 hours on the restoration so far - I feel pretty good about the progress...

Check back soon!