And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration

Taylor Stevenson · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:27 am

I can't wait to see this finished. Once again, great work, Steve.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

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.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

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.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

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.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

More pics

ics

C VEICH · **Joined:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:40 pm **Posts:** 1471

Superb!

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

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.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

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.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

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.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

Shooting the dark gray epoxy primer

Chris Brame · **Posted:** 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?

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

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.

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** 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.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

I think it was harder to get all of masking that tape off than to put it on.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

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

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And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration

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