Shopbuilt

Is that one of the ones the Forest Protection Services in New Brunswick had for sale? There were still some for sale up there last time i checked. They may even have some spare parts around.

It's been a while since I posted, and about that long since I visited with Grove r, but I got a feel'n that, after see'n a project like this he's starting to twitch now that he's got a nice shop to work in. I can just see a mezanine full of airplane parts that will someday end up as part of a loging operation.

heee hee...... Coffee pot is always on, D. jess phone an' make sure we isn't roadrunning to the doc's, or sumwheres else.......have a gudun,

That is exactly where it came from! They flew it to Fredrick, MD, then hauled it to Fawn Grove,PA.

Got the prop off last Friday.


Laid it on the floor and took it apart, loaded it in a pickup and off it went to be reconditioned.


Next is to remove the engine and send it out to be overhauled.

Still I am amazed by the Radial engine.

Here ya go, pic of the engine without the covering on it

1900 HP 14 cylinder Wright radial engine.

Here is a pic of the left wing root with the new piece of skin cut out. the old piece is beside it.


Here is another pic with the new piece drilled and in place. Need to put a jog along the curve for the mating surface of the wing to fit in and be flush when it is extended.

After we get that done, we can rivit it on.

By the way, the average age of this bunch is 77! All Vets from WWII on.

Last Friday, we got the engine off. Here it is part way out of the mount. Seems 1 wire was still attatched and had to be removed.


Here it is resting on a cradle made to fit it.


Here is a view of the engine mount. It will be coming off to be inspected in the near future.

How does that pipe mount hold that 1900 hp monster??

And what is the tank thing behind the engine on the frame?

What cool stuff!

Good question! It does seem a bit puny doesn't it. The engine is close to 2000 lbs. The prop will add at least another 500 lbs to the weight.


The tank is an oil tank for the engine.

Checked an old engine mount that was in the weeds this morning. It appears to be 1/8 inch steel tubing.

Been a while ! We've been mostly cleaning and priming.

This is a pic of the main landing gear parts ready to reinstall. OOPS! That cylinder on the left belongs to the tail!


This one is of it all assembled.

Here is a pic of the tail wheel back on it.


Plan is to get the wheels on tomorrow and back on the ground.

Still working on the TBM, just not much to talk about. Cleaning and fixing little things.
Here are some pics of forming plexiglas for the canopy.
here it is being removed fro the hot box, heated to 350 degrees.

Next it is pit in the form to shape it.

Here it is in the form and left to cool.

This is the canopy we are working on.