Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:27 am
I can't wait to see this finished. Once again, great work, Steve.
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:51 pm
T-41D 73-1662, former Cambodian Royal Khemer aircraft. This overall flat gray T-41D has been repainted with US star and bar pending it's shipment to Thailand April, 1975. All of the T-28 aircraft in the background are also being repainted with US markings for delivery to the RTAF.
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Sun Aug 02, 2015 10:21 pm
Flew it home from the Avionics shop Friday. Marker beacon is still out for repair, KX-165, Garmin GNC-420, New Sandia Transponder and STEC AP all worked perfectly. Had enough room for two of the original radios. We will be adding a volt meter in the lower panel hole when we moved the flap gauge back up where it belongs.
Removed the engine cowling and inspected everything, no leaks, all OK. WE have flown her five hours now.
Removed the engine cowling and inspected everything, no leaks, all OK. WE have flown her five hours now.
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:40 pm
Paint prep continues, all metal has been stripped except the new aluminum that was part of the wing rebuild. All new aluminum was treated and epoxy primed before assembly of wings. The new dark gray epoxy flows like silk and will make a nice base for the lighter COIN Gray. The doors, aileron and elevator coves are being primed before the main airframe along with all covers, fairings and hardware. All of the aluminum is being acid etched and alodined before the epoxy primer. Most of the body work and dent repair has been completed. Main airframe will start receiving primer Tuesday.
Last edited by L-4Pilot on Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:42 pm
More pics
ics
ics
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Wed Oct 07, 2015 11:33 pm
Superb!
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Thu Oct 08, 2015 7:12 am
We flew the aircraft 15 hours before taking it apart for paint. Part of the 15 hours were spent checking out the avionics. Here are some photos of the STEC autopilot and Garmin 420 flying the GPS RNWY 18 approach at KMAI. The AP flew the entire approach and made every turn. We did have to help the AP out with the 90 degree turn at Kutee by using the heading bug to increase rate of turn.
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Mon Oct 12, 2015 8:11 am
Fuselage after acid wash and scrub with 3m pads. The airframe is in very good condition with no major damage, only a few minor dents and dings. It is amazing considering all of the years it flew with the Army and DEA.
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:54 pm
My wife masking off the engine before we move the aircraft up to the paint booth in the large hangar. My wife of 43 years has helped restore five aircraft including L-19s and L-4s.
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Fri Oct 16, 2015 9:29 pm
Shooting the dark gray epoxy primer
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:34 am
L-4Pilot wrote:My wife masking off the engine before we move the aircraft up to the paint booth in the large hangar. My wife of 43 years has helped restore five aircraft including L-19s and L-4s.
Truly a match made in heaven!
Is that aluminum foil you're using to mask everything? I've never seen that before - is it because it conforms to curved surfaces better than paper?
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Sat Oct 17, 2015 7:37 am
Chris Brame wrote:L-4Pilot wrote:My wife masking off the engine before we move the aircraft up to the paint booth in the large hangar. My wife of 43 years has helped restore five aircraft including L-19s and L-4s.
Truly a match made in heaven!
Is that aluminum foil you're using to mask everything? I've never seen that before - is it because it conforms to curved surfaces better than paper?
Good Morning Chris,
I like using aluminum foil as it does form easily and is very easy to get in and around difficult areas to mask. I always double or triple fold it for extra thickness. It is chemical resistant and waterproof. I keep the paint booth floor wet all the time while painting ( to keep dust down) and the water does not bother the foil on the tires like it would paper.
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Sat Oct 17, 2015 8:53 am
I don't know if they're using Aluminum Foil or Mylar, but our neighbors at work who do completions on large aircraft are using something shiny that looks like it on several large surfaces including the tires for an A320 they are doing some heavy maintenance/completion on, so it looks like even the big guys like it. 
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Sun Oct 18, 2015 8:42 pm
I think it was harder to get all of masking that tape off than to put it on.
Re: And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration
Mon Oct 19, 2015 8:25 pm
Oil Board Stencils and ADF antenna Details.
The primary Stencil on the left boot cowling contains aircraft type and operating data, however US Army or US Air Force has been deleted. Aircraft shipped to Laos had no reference to the US and no US National Insignia, many carried RLAF markings.
The 2nd photo shows the type aircraft and serial # data added.
The four T-41B aircraft shipped to Laos in 1971/1972 were reclassified as USAF T-41Ds in official documents. Those serial #s were:
67-15066
67-15067
67-15163
67-15166
The primary Stencil on the left boot cowling contains aircraft type and operating data, however US Army or US Air Force has been deleted. Aircraft shipped to Laos had no reference to the US and no US National Insignia, many carried RLAF markings.
The 2nd photo shows the type aircraft and serial # data added.
The four T-41B aircraft shipped to Laos in 1971/1972 were reclassified as USAF T-41Ds in official documents. Those serial #s were:
67-15066
67-15067
67-15163
67-15166
