Radiator Mounting and Upholstery

The radiator is mounted, but not without some challenges.  All of it was destroyed in the accident, so all I had were some sketchy photographs to go by.

Top cover

Lower cover

The first thing on the agenda was making covers for the top and bottom of the radiator.  The core would be exposed with paper-thin webbing between the hexagon tubes that would likely get damaged by flying debris.

Radiator attachment straps

Testing the fit

Looks good!

For rigidity, I added some beading to the lower cover.
















I then had to make new mounting straps.  I had the original ones - they were still attached to the engine mount.  These were made from .080" 4130













Here it is mounted up to check the fit.  Everything came out very nice - sitting level and in the correct orientation according to all my photographs.

I still need to run the shutter control from the rear cockpit to the radiator once the interior panels are in.

 

The seat upholstery also got finished.  Lorraine Morris at the Poplar Grove Airport does all of my upholstery work.  She does exceptional work.  She, and her husband Ken operate www.taildraggeraviation.com

This particular upholstery is a duplicate of the original cobra-grain vinyl top material used on Model T Fords.  The interior upholstery as well as the cockpit combings will also use this material.

Seats after paint stripping

This is the front cockpit panel - no instruments

Installation of the seats and interior panels is next.  but first, a lot of paint stripping and paint work.  Is there anything worse than stripping paint?  It sucks!

Fortunately, after a good day's work, I got all the stripping done.  This week, they'll go into the paint booth for primer and gray top-color.






















Finally, I'm sad to report that my dear friend, mentor and hero Eric "Andy" Anderson passed away this evening.  Andy had a remarkable aviation career, yet was one of the most humble and soft-spoken men I've known.  Andy ferried WWII aircraft after the war, flying almost every trainer, fighter and bomber made by the U.S.  Because of his experience, he as asked to volunteer for the Israeli Air Force.  He flew the Avia S-199,  a copy of the famous Messerschmitt ME109 and P-51 Mustangs.  Andy was never comfortable about his involvement with the Israeli's.  He even changed his name at the time, as people were being arrested for their volunteerism.

After this, he flew flight instruction in California and eventually landed a job with United Airlines.  He started out flying DC-3's, moved thru DC-4's, and 6's, transitioned into jets and then flew 747's until his retirement in 1986.  When asked how much flying time he had, he would answer "I quit counting at 50,000 hours!"

He was also an accomplished aerobatic pilot, having built a Pitts S1C from scratch in 11 months.  In 1966, Andy bought the Lincoln-Page I'm now restoring from its original owner.  I am now more honored than ever to be restoring this historic airplane.  I only wish Andy would be here for the first ride.  I will miss him dearly...

Andy and his son, Dennis unloading the Lincoln-Page into my hangar in 2011.