Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I just passed 50 hours of flight last Saturday. I took the plane apart and brought it home for paint, interior and electric aileron trim. I am tired of people making fun of the four colors of primer. I went to a Cessna Aircraft surplus sale and purchased four hides of leather and four different fabrics, and a roll of carpet for $25. There is enough there to do many planes.

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Before pic of interior.

Jeff

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Hey, Jeff. Show us what you got from Cessna for $25! Heck, I'd be willing to buy one Thorp's worth of material from you for the princely sum of up to, say, $8.99 CDN!!

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In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not.

Lookin mighty Thorpie...Nice looking bird. As for the paint, I flew mine for over a year in primer. It had stripes along the rivet lines and people called it "spot"

i cant get my grass looking like that must be the new england weather

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larrywebber

This is the stuff from Cessna. The two other hides will be on my dad's Breezy he is building. I am using the fabric with the wavey lines, the carpet and tan leather. I think I will hang on to the extra for now. There is one thing I need advise on. I have been flying off grass and I hear an oil canning sound around my left leg area, and I can sometimes feel it in the former by my leg on taxi and roll out. The strip is moderately smooth. I don't notice anything on paved runways. Is this normal, or do I need to do something before paint? Larry I am in Wichita KS.

Jeff

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Sorry posted two of the same picture.

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Tailwheel shimmy? - that looks like a Maule tailwheel - I had one of those on my last plane for the first few months and got some of that at times.

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Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

The Maule tailewheel dos not make a good furniture dolley wheel let alone for an airplane. Buy a Scott or ACP or something with a double fork.
Check and see if you have two diagional rows of rivets coming from the firewall,each side, attached to the 580-16 angle. Also, there should be 3/4 x 3/4 angle on the inside of the firewall along the sides. This was a mod to prevent what your are describing. Another item is to check the shear plates, make sure they are there, rivets per drawing and .040 al.

Bill and Fraser,

I agree with the Maule tailwheel. I already planned on installing an ACP. It has not had shimmy problems. Bill, I will check everything you mentioned. The structure was mostly built except for the tail when I purchased the plane. I built and installed the shear plates. They are per drawing.

Thanks,
Jeff

My paint is complete. Here is a picture of my plane sitting next to its big brother. Should be flying soon!

Jeff B

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Sorry Jeff, forum software get's picky somethings regarding filenames ...

Another reason we're switching over to a new forum not far from now.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

O and by the way .. ship looks real nice!

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Thanks Lee! It was a lot more work after I removed the laquer primer. I removed so much bondo with a heat gun and plastic scraper it will probably be lighter now! I about filled up a black yard bag! Sherman Williams epoxy primer and Jet Glo paint, with no bondo this time. I am very happy the way it turned out.