Update 6

This week I have some exciting things for you to see.



Yes, N8419 now has engines!



Two of them to be exact.
The #2 or "center" engine will be installed after the firewall is finished, as well as a bunch of plumbing.



Also, I'll find out if the oil tank will fit through the engine mount, or if I need to remove the mount, install the oil tank, and install the mount. Anybody??


In other, less fantastic news (to many) the wiring jungle is slowly being turned into pasture...


When it's done it should look more like a putting green (to continue the vegetation analogy)
One day, an old gentleman stopped by to reminisce about old airplanes, and asked me with concern in his voice, "how do you know where it all goes?" He also mentioned, astonished, that "that mess looks like the inside of my TV!"
I take it he doesn't have a Solid State Television...

Also the engines are seeing stuff happening around them.

The various lines are finding their way back to the places in which they lived so long ago...
after a serious scrubbing, naturally!
Hoses and tubing and accessories, oh my!

Update 5

Last week found the Fuel Line supports finished and installed.



I've been torquing and marking the fuel line fittings as much as I can. (some will need to come back out to facilitate the installation of the fuel tanks)


I'm also replacing much of the flexible lines in the fuel system. More hose coming soon.

Engine fire seals were repaired in anticipation of engine installation.


And finally, certainly not least in the task list,


Wiring!

What fun! (The next guy to work on this will thank me...)

Update #4

Hello Trimotor fans. This post is brought to you by:

Coffee!

Last week saw the Dishpan repairs come to an end. Finally.



There is some amount of work that will be required to be done to the fire seals, as they have been cutting through the engine mount bolts. More on that later.



Andrew and Hazel finished robbing the old brackets from the spars last week, and the spars are gone back to the land of old spars as of this morning.



The brackets than can be used are being installed in the wing. There are still brackets needing fabrication, due to differences in the spar design, and that is occurring as well.



Until next time, happy flying!

Update 3

Hello, Trimotor fans
Last week I ordered the engine mount bolts, and they are in as of this morning. I am repairing the dishpans in order to prepare for engine installation.




Mike was kind enough (and strong enough) to fetch the old spars so that I could rob the various brackets in order to save some time making new ones.


Some will need to be made new, both because the new spars are a little different than the old, and because It makes no sense to drill out #8 rivets simply to install a bracket for a vacuum line. It's much easier to retrofit a simple bracket in some cases.



I understand that radios for this bird are on their way here, after stopping off at the avionics shop for a check. A plan will be hatched for what to install where after they get here.



My son Andrew is removing the brackets from the old spars, and fitting them to the the spars in the wing.

Progress update 2

10/20/08

Over my weekend, I welded the #2 and #3 oil tanks. They have been sent out for painting.

Also, I will be installing the pilot's right master cylinder, so that the design may be checked under closer to real circumstances (you can step on both pedals at once).

Now to tackle the challenge of routing flex lines for the master cylinders.

The easy solution lies in using a swivel joint where the flex line terminates at the firewall. Finding a suitable swivel is the next task.

Renee asked about the landing gear bolts. She talked to Bruce who said that any of the bolts that weren't safetied were not the "new" bolts. I checked, and found some "new" bolts w/o castellated nuts, which obviously, were not safetied. They appeared to be new bolts, so I found some nuts and washers, and put them on, but not torqued or safetied yet. I found two locations (one on each side of the aircraft) that require bolts that are not in stock up here. They are NAS464P8-38 bolts, and I will call the hardware guy who Renee uses in order to procure.

We also talked about engine mount bolts. She found records that detailed the installation of the engines showing the p/n's for the mounting hardware. I'll order these as well.

10/21/08

I worked up in the wing center section for a while. I removed the Center Tank Fuel Valve, hooked up the actuator tube, then reinstalled the valve. I checked out the function and rigging of the 3 fuel valves in the center section by running shop air through them while selecting the valves and checking to see where the air exited.

I did some clamping and routing, as well as pic labeling. Compared pics to present state, and am developing a list of what brackets, lines and wires need installation (and need to be found)

I also fabricated some brackets for the fuel lines in the forward lower access on the rear of the front spar using pictures of the previous brackets as a guide.

10/22/2008

worked in the cabin and wing center section routing and clamping fuel and sense lines. replaced bad and installed new nutplates.

10/23/2008

worked in the wing center section, routing fuel lines and vacuum lines. Had to reposition fuel line for #1 engine due to interference w/ the removable cross brace in the wing. Routed the lines all the way to the engine and clamped. Routed indication lines. Brackets will have to be fabricated for the fuel line bulkhead fitting, and incorporate a bracket for the vacuum line in the same area. In addition, the forward cross brace on the left side has problems with the hole locations. the upper holes are mis-drilled. (there is a pilot hole in the correct position, but for whatever reason, the 5/16 hole isn't. Will have to remove and fabricate the end plates at the upper end of the brace, and drill in position. see below:

Progress update 1

here's a little blurb about the progress and status of N8419
Starting the week of 10/6/08, I un-boxed everything I could find that was here in regard to the Tri Motor. I itemized the rotable parts, creating a component p/n and s/n list. the expendable parts were noted and all parts placed on designated shelves.
I did some work up in the wing center section, clamping lines, rerouting teleflex cables and wire. I also surveyed the center section in regard to what it is now, vs. what the pictures taken of it look like. There are differences, naturally. The most notable is a lack of the various brackets and supports for solid and flex lines and wiring. It would be fantastic to find them all on the "old" wing section. Not all could be reused, due to changes in the structural design, but it would be a start. Pending the location of the brackets, I moved on to another challenge.
Starting the week of 10/13/08 Brakes:
The brake master cylinders are an interesting project to say the least. I was able to assemble from the parts provided, the system that is approved per the aircraft records from 1991. It seemed that someone was fiddling with them, but I intend to put them back to the approved configuration.

I am recording each step with notes and pictures, so as to create a lasting record for the N8419.

Best Regards,
Your Trimotor assembler...

Introduction to my Trimotor blog

Welcome, aviation enthusiasts! I'll be working on a Ford/Stout Trimotor 5AT-C this winter. I'll have it flyable by April of next year (2009). You can experience the fun vicariously through this blog interface. Comments are encouraged, but will be moderated. I'll post at least once a week.