Sikorsky H-19 Restoration - Connecticut Air & Space Center

[The Inspector]

Nice tin bashing! The external/internal patch doublers should be perfect for what would be a high vibration location

A word of caution, don't go near aluminum with a graphite pencil!! over time the graphite residue plus the stress lesion will cause cracking, use a fine point SHARPIE and sign painters masking paper-

[SIDSIKO]

Great work and well done! That deserves a nice picture

[Craig59]

Thanks for the update, Drew. Keep the post alive and you can always count on at least two fans in me and Sid.

[Cherrybomber13]

Just another quick update on the Access Door. After doing some stripping I decided to sand it down since it weas going into paint. There was a large amount of surface corrosion around the star area. We went 220-320-400 and Chris will be finishing it up this weekend (around the 100 or so rivets)


Finish Sanding the Main Door (Chris Soltis) by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr


Finish Sanding the Main Door (Chris Soltis) by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr


Finish Sanding the Main Door (Chris Soltis) by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

This is the door handle -


Main Access Door Handle by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr


Main Access Door Handle by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr


Main Access Door Handle by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

[mustangdriver]

Make that 3 fans, because I love the earlier helos.

[dred]

Four.

[Fouga23]

five!

[Cherrybomber13]

I just wanted to say Thank You, we appreciate the support. Next to the Corsair , the H-19 seems to have become my next favorite airframe we have at the museum. I was never really a whirly bird guy but after being involved with the Connecticut Air & Space Center and having the chance to work with so many Sikorsky Retirees I have developed a great respect for both of them. The work on the H-19 is sort of good for the soul. If you look at our other projects, The Corsair and the Sikorsky S-60, they need so much labor intensive work and then it moves in weeks or months till you see a noticeable change. When you have such a beautiful airframe like the H-19 that just needs a little bit of love to make it really look good, you get that "instant gratification".

Drew

[TAdan]

Thanks for the updates Drew. Nice work Chris and crew. I've always liked the look of the H-19 and it is nice to see yours coming together.

[cooper9411]

Six

[Warbird Kid]

Off in about 10 minutes to continue work on this project! Lets hope the roads don't flood as its been raining all day here!

[JohnB]

Seven.

And lets remember the late "Rocky" Stillwell, my father's H-19 pilot friend. The man who showed me a helicopter up close for the first time.

[Cherrybomber13]

Seems Mr. Soltis had a curve ball tossed to him when the sander broke this afternoon. So on with the gloves and safety glasses and back to the chemical stripper.


Chris Soltis strips the remaining paint off. by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr


Chris Soltis strips the remaining paint off. by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr


Chris Soltis strips the remaining paint off. by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr


Starting on the rear side of the door by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

[Jerry O'Neill]

I think you should put it on the floats!!!!!
Just like the old Fevell model!

[Cherrybomber13]

Well we do have a set of floats, only issue is if we put it on floats it it will be trapped in Area 53. Well see what happens.