Warbird Information Exchange

Hello Folks:

I didn't want to show these yet, because the thing isn't done yet. Anyway here they are. http://community.webshots.com/user/harvardiv

I find "undone" to be much more interesting! Any more recent pictures? I wish I could have torn mine down to that level, but then I would never finish it. Mine's more of an IRAN than a ground-up restoration.

Please tell us the story of where it has been and how you happened to acquire it.

Hi Brandon:

No other choice, either ground up or bad news. Well I can only say I got it from a museum, but can't say where and the s/n. A lot people got in trouble, because they sold it.

Chris

Hi Brandon:

What's the address to your T-6 site? I'd like to see your project again. It looks like it's pretty far along. Also, wonder where you found yours?

http://community.webshots.com/user/c322348

I traded my flyable Stearman to a friend for the T-6 project. One more step up the evolutionary chain. I had a Luscombe before the Stearman.

The plane had been kicked around between owners since it was likely surplused in the mid-60's (no exact info). I suspect it was groundlooped and then lightly cannibalized in service rather than being repaired since they were soon to be going out of service. The original left wing had a bent spar. The project included a good wing so I sold the bent one.

There is no corrosion, and the aircraft is otherwise very good structurally. We're hooking up the empennage controls now. It will need new wiring, radios, and instrument overhauls yet- not to mention an engine overhaul and a new prop (old one is too short for a standard category aircraft).

I've had a few other interim aircraft projects in the past, but none that I ever got around to finishing. I got rid of the L-5 project for instance after I bought the Stearman. I also had a 1928 Curtiss Robin at one time, and have a Culver Cadet I still need to get rid of.

Hi Brandon:

It looks good, and possibly almost ready to fly?

Chris

BDK.........

First, hats off.

You look like one individual that likes more restoring than flying......

I mean; you had a flying stearman ...

To trade that for a project.... takes a leap of faith.

I am glad that there is people like you around with the same dedication to restore and put back AC back in the air where they belong.

Can we have some pics of your former bird ?

Tks in advance.

Gaaaack! No no no no no no no! Put that hat back on, quick! I was "moving up" to a T-6. You must put this into the proper perspective.

I added some Stearman photos to my T-6 album #3. See pages 1 and 2: http://community.webshots.com/album/244637426kDNsQH?969

My project is far less work than Chris's. Please remove your hats for him!

Yeah...right you lucky....

Is that you flying the bird ?

Very nice looking Stearman.

If you consider this upgrading to the next level..............I am really happy for you. Upgrading for me...well is still at the level that my latest....is out of diapers Different for everyone I guess

Enjoy putting it back in the air and flying it.

Which prompts a question ? What will it be after ??????? well... even in your dreams

Glad to see you are seeing it this way. It really makes me realize that dedication and thrill are the most important driving factor behind the industry. ENJOY it....you lucky.....

BTW Tks for the Stearman pics.

Any links to Chris project ?

Have fun folks

I paid for it by not getting lucky (no girlfriend) for many years! Yes!Thanks- it didn't look too nice up close though. The cotton fabric on the fuselage and the upper wings was nearly shot. It was an ex-duster that was battle weary but had never had a big engine installed. The spray tanks were merely removed and the original front controls installed.Next performance level certainly. The Stearman was the most fun airplane I have ever flown. Never got enough time in a T-6 (yet) to make a valid comparison. The T-6 will certainly be more expensive to fly, but I usually don't stray far from home at any rate.Not for a minute! I HATE working on my own airplane- that means I am paying the bills!Money and availability when I am ready to move up will be the determining factor, that and lottery winnings. Who knows what will be available 5 years from now.No, no! Not luck. Make it happen! Follow Tulio's lead!!!!! Buy a project and learn.See the first thread up at the top. Chris put it there.

No Brandon, you call it an IRAN, but it looks like a restoration to me. It looks good, and you are reskinning parts. I'm not too much. I'm going to put a patch on the tail, and on the wings.

Have you seen Bela's plane, even more work than everybody's. He had to buy the big parts--center section, wings, and steel tube fuselage. On top of that he's reskinning the tail!

As for rebuilding it, I like it sometimes. Other times I need a break. I always think of the end goal--to fly it, and sell it after I fly it too much..

I know someone who reskinned his entire plane- every single skin, and then painted it. And many of his parts looked better than mine! I don't have that kind of patience or time.Sometimes you do need a break so you can return to "normal" society. I worked on my T-6 for a few months and was overcome by financial events. Luckily I was able to keep it (sold nearly everything else). Then I pursued some other hobbies for a while. And I got married. It wasn't until a year ago that I started back on it with renewed vigor after a 10 year hiatus. I have a couple of friends helping part time (paid- about 40 hours a month total). That makes the progress more than I can do myself and keeps me enthused. I work on projects to keep them moving ahead and scrounge parts, and do the sheet metal work that I am best at. I only have Saturdays at the airport, so that is all the time that I can spend on it and why it takes me two months to reskin a vertical stabilizer (less than 40 hours work).

A friend of mine is restoring a Luscombe, so I'll get recurrent in it most likely. Not only does my T-6 need to get into the air, but so do I! I'm sure that will give me another jolt of enthusiasm.

Wow, Chris....

Stupid me, I did not see the top link to your bird

Are you going to keep the RCAF paint scheme ?

Is it its original paint ?

I always loved the Harvard with its long can exhaust. It definitively does give the engine a different sound.

Hi Micheal:

THat is the original paint. THis bird has been in storage in 3 different places since 1968.

I don't think I'll keep the long exhaust, and I'm not sure what scheme to paint it in yet.

We've got to hand it to Helldivers, because he's reskinning his bird. It looks like he's putting a different tail on, and scouring the countryside for the repacements for the landing gear and such. That is far more than any work than on mine.