Just hung out and shot dope today

We caught the humidity down today and I shot a couple coats of Nitrate Dope on the wing center section and vertical stabilizer of the PT-19. We had to remove the center section for repairs last Fall and decided to rebuild the whole airplane again. We've had all the fabric covering off those pieces, refinished the wood, and put new fabric on. It's slow exacting and sometimes frustrating work but we're ahead of the game now. Three coats of clear Buterate dope, two coats with alumimum paste in clear, and a clear coat on top of that and the paint work on those parts will be done. Still LOTS of work to be done.

John, serious redo for the 19......is the engine original or is it powerful enough to do the outside loop.....it is not easy to do.....we old dudes need to be busy all the time

It's an original engine but not the original. It may be up to 200 HP from the original 180, I know we had it set up that way at one time. We don't do any aerobatics with it at all. It should be able to take it OK but being a 66 year old trainer we don't want to take a chance it might fail and leave us stranded up there someplace. Just so no misspeak could be taken from that statement, what it boils down to is we're chicken shit.

The thing is when an aircraft breaks you have as long as it takes to hit the ground to think about it.
This sort of tempers your mind when you get a bit older and wiser.

We helped with the dope on an old Cessna 140. The fabric was cut with pinking shears.

Then you know what a pain in the ass process putting fabric on and airplane is. I think it's harder putting it over wood like we are than putting it on ribs. We don't have to rib stitch but putting it on wood surfaces presents a whole new set of situations. All raw edges of airplane fabric is cut with pinking shears, that keeps it from raveling while you're working it. Especially while your'e sticking down tape and edges and doing the brush work.

.....don't know a thing about it, but it's cool....

Nice looking plane! I was actually doing fabric covering today too. I was using the poly fiber system on some wood forms for practice. FAA still requires A&P students to know how to fabricate wood aircraft and do fabric coverings. I'll be putting on the final coat of varnish on an airworthy aeronca wing rib tomorrow morning.
-Dave

I started out as a A&P mechanic years ago and this brings back memories of doing the same in college and when working the trade. That looks like a great project and wish I was working on a project like this. It looks as the engine is a opposed style instead of a radial. I always enjoyed the radial engines over the opposed. They have that unique sound that gives music to the ears.

Marty

I believe that is an inverted air-cooled inline four engine. Correct JDW? My dad and I are in the process of building a J-3 Cub wing and we are almost done. It belongs to the same guy that owns the P-40. Can't wait to start covering. Beautiful plane you got there John. You gonna be at Oshkosh? Paul

NEAT!!!!!!

I love vintage planes but decided the expense was beyond my means, so I live my aviation dreams through others. Thanks for the post.

Here I am working...
It's like buiding one of those Guillow's balsa models full scale! Paul

davidsauer1 Wrote:

JDW,

What's the story with you owning the old plane? How'd you get it? Where is from?

Bryan

John, that's not being chicken shit, it's being chicken SMART!

Paul

That reminds me of my first ride as a kid in a J3 Cub at the Lock Haven airport. It was a windy spring day and the pilot turned onto the active, gave it a little power, we rolled what seemed about 6 feet and shot up into the air. Same sensation landing; we were down to what seemd like a walking pace before it finally touched down.

The engine is an inverted in-line 6 cyl air cooled Ranger, 180 or 200 HP, I don't know which way we have it set up this time.

I think it's been to Oshkosh, taken up by a couple of the St. Louis members off the PT-19 Group. A few years ago I flew it from Ocala, FL to Memphis, TN with an overnight in Birmingham, AL. We dodged thunderstorms all the way out of Florida and it was a rough ride but the next day was smooth as silk and the old bird nearly flew itself. From Memphis I drove my buddy's car home and he flew the PT.

If it goes to Oshkosh again I won't be with it. It will most likely be the St. Louis guys again as it is usually kept up there during Summer wit a trip down here for our local air show. Those guys take it to shows from Kansas City to Indy and some points North.

It's a long story Bryan. I might write it up and post it to your attention.

The wings and tail feathers of the PT are sort of like that but are finished wiht aircraft plywood then fabric covered. The fuselage is fabric over metal ribs.

the top picture is looking into the wing center section and the other is into a wing.