Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Bring me some "new bolts" as I am in love with your work and attention to detail !

RB

Hi. Small break in the fuselage for the last days.

My second wing skin is drill and formed. I just have to put a small coat of prime.



The first one is prime and ready to installed.



Yesterday afternoon I decide to go flying with my frist love...Shortwing plane same has my T-18!

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Wow. Very nice. Except for the weather, you have got it made.
Cubes

How did you bend the leading edge of the wing skin ?

RB

I bend the leading edge with my hand and a long piece of hard wood. No roller. Around 4 hrs of hard work. Slowly but the result was great. I work sheet metal on small plane for the last 15 years. If you want I post some of my works...only if you want to see good stuff!!

Cheers.

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Thierry : I used just about every method listed on the NL's . Wood (2x4 , 4 x4) , metal tubes (varied diameter) . I found the metal tubes to be the best as you could keep constant pressure along the entire length of the skin . If it works use it ! Yep...your hands are probably the best tool to get the correct bend !

Let's see the good stuff !

RB

To built or rebuilt this kind of plane is better to be a artist than a aircraft mechanic Each Thorp is a prototype or not???
I think I have to start a new post for Mr Brazell

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

My art was done on 3 April 2011 after 27 years with no experience with sheet metal . Each is a protype AND a work or art . Yours wil be a true work of art when completed ! I wish I had 1/2 your sheet metal knowledge when I started many years ago .

RB

Wow 27 years,A real life project. BRAVO!!!!
For me I prefer to buy a plane in flying condition(almost) and rebuilding everything to my standard. It's faster than the blue print but the result was never the same. Each night I dream about my Thorp an I plan the flight test for 2014. I can't imagine dreaming each night for the next 27 years. A nightmare for me...
Your a passionate Mr Brazell.

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Hi.
Slow week-end, lot of work at the airport but no much on my Thorp!
So today at my lunch I start the inside doubler for my battery door or maybe the smoke system acces depend the W and B.





Tomorrow I hope starting working on the door and installing the camlock.

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Wow! You whipped that up over the lunch hour?!! Astounding!

You hard-core sheet metal people continue to amaze me. I'm like Stu... I seem to pick the hard and slow way to do things. After a month of weekends and evenings, I am still tweaking my Vans ready-to-install baffle kit.

Great work, Thierry.

Thanks Dickwolff for all the good words.
I'm good with sheet metal, planes and mechanic but computer
So at my recess lunch I finish the door. I decide to made small bend in the material. I prefer working with angle not stringer and rivets. First I want to make the door in 0.040, after in 0.025 same as the side skin material and finally I go for the 0.032!



Special look. I see with the time if I like that or not. Looks like a hot dog stand



Small parts added in each corner. Tomorrow dimpling, priming and I hope riveting! I don't have the camlock now but I take the time to find some in Stainless.



This is my T-18 on front page with the first owner. Paint scheme was correct but I want something more aggressive colour!





Now I have to put Miss Behavin on the cowling with some nose art...

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Thierry: Awesome name for your ship " Miss Behavin".

Your aircraft looks great flying and on the cover of The Recreational Flyer Jul-Aug 1995.
Very handy to have some of your aircraft history recorded in print.
My Thorp, C-GIRQ story ended up on the cover of Jul-Aug 2012 issue.
Your aircraft is very fast with the Lycoming 0-320.
You might consider putting landing gear fairings and wheel pants on to streamline the gear.
If you paint 1/2 as well as your metal work we are in for a real treat.

Anyway, looking forward to your visit to see my aircraft. Bring your magazine and I will scan it for you.

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Victor J Thompson
C-GIRQ
In memory of Dad

Thierry, nice work. That looks like a big hole in the side. Do you know how much strength you're putting back into it, or what the stress levels are? Maybe use plenty of screws. We all got to look out for each other. Les.

Les : I am pretty sure that's the location some folks used for the old heavy lead acid batteries . Some mounted the battery on a slide rail to make install and removal easier . Saw this demo on an old Dick Cavin video tape made back in the early 80's .

RB