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Messages - Dan Rhinehart

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31
Parts Wanted / New spar
« on: July 17, 2012, 04:07:11 PM »
Hi all,

I need 1 late model (solid) Culver spar. I have a new old stock spar (solid) I would really like to find another.
However, I could use a spar that needs the spruce caps replaced. In this instance I'm more looking for a spar that I can salvage the plywood web out of.

32
Culver General Discussion / Re: New wings for the Culver Cadet
« on: July 16, 2012, 04:31:18 PM »
Hi all,

I have been doing my homework on just what the differences are between the "hollow spar" wing and the "solid spar" wing.

I have a new spar that is dated manufactured in 1946 (written in pencil) as well as a hollow spar. To start off if you place the two over one another the holes are not an exact match for the landing gear attach points. (My landing gear hardware came out of the remains of a 1942 Culver S/N 415.) This hardware will not line up on all 4 landing gear attach points on the "hollow spar". The top inboard hole is about 1/8" off from fitting. It however fits on the solid spar perfectly.
 
Also if you place the spars over one another the attach points are slightly different causing a slight difference in dihedral between the "hollow spar" and "solid spar" wing. The "hollow spar" has slightly more dihedral.

As for what makes the "solid spar" solid. It has a 3 1/2" solid plywood block (outside grain running vertical) that runs from the root to just outboard of the 3/32" plywood doubler that extends to the landing gear attach points. It is in the center of the spar and the two main wing attach points run through the center of this plywood block. The landing gear attach points are totally inside of the spruce caps on the top and bottom of this plywood block. Also the bottom spruce spar cap is deeper on the "solid spar" wing (from the root to landing gear attach points). And the 1/4" vertical plates over the wing attach points are plywood with the outside grain going vertical.

The "hollow spar" wing has both the inboard and outboard main wing attach points are running through spruce rather than plywood and most of the holes are between joints in the wood caps. Also the 1/4" vertical plates at the main wing attach points are spruce (grain running vertical) rather than plywood.

I will send pictures asap. I used a plainer to CAREFULLY plain off the 3/32" root doublers.

33
Culver General Discussion / Re: New wings for the Culver Cadet
« on: July 02, 2012, 03:28:41 PM »
Hi all,

As we all know a problem facing Culver owners during a wing rebuild is the partial delamination of the spruce spar caps from the plywood web. This is usually 1/8" to 1/2" deep. More often than not this is not caused from water damage but "just because".

I believe a very solid fix for this situation is to drill a 0.047" hole (the diameter of a 18g hypodermic needle) in the face of the spar cap at or slightly above the deepest area of separation (perpendicular to the top face of the spar cap). Then insert an 18g hypodermic needle in said 0.047" hole to fill (flood) the void (from the bottom up) with Hughes FPL-16A structural epoxy.

The reason for "flooding" the void from the bottom up is to eliminate air bubbles. Hughes FPL-16A epoxy has the consistency of cream and is white. In other words it is a viscous liquid rather than a jell like other epoxies, hence flows like water.

Also Hughes FPL-16A epoxy has been tested and passed the FAA prescribed boiling test unlike many other epoxies. Also due to its watery viscosity it penetrates deep into wood before drying. This stuff is flexible and is tough as steel. I once got some drops of of it on the hangar floor and had to use a hammer and chisel with a lot of elbow grease to get it off! And even then it took some of the floor with it!

34
Parts Wanted / wings
« on: June 27, 2012, 11:31:23 PM »
Hi all, 

I am looking for a hollow spar left wing or a complete set of wings.
Ihave all the fittings and gear parts
 Just need the wood parts
 

35
Culver General Discussion / Wood seat back
« on: June 26, 2012, 05:24:41 PM »
Hi all,

Does anyone out there have a picture or general measurements for the wood seat back? (not the seat cushions)
Is this just a piece of plywood? How thick? How tall? What if any braces etc...???

36
Aircraft For Sale / Re: Cadet for sale
« on: June 26, 2012, 05:19:16 PM »
Hi all,

N24R S/N 186 has been siting in a hangar at Cable Airport, Upland, CA for some time. To my best knowledge it is flyable, and possibly even in annual. However it's owner had a stroke a while back and told me that "his flying days are over".
Sounds like it would be a good idea to keep tabs on this airplane as it sounds like it might be for sale if someone contacted the owner.

37
Culver General Discussion / Re: Culver istrument panel
« on: June 19, 2012, 04:32:39 PM »
Brett,

Thank you for the information.

My panel has a vertical joint in the veneer in the center of the panel (under the center vertical trim piece). The grain of the veneer is aligned vertically. It is made of 3/16" 4 ply plywood (5 ply if you count the veneer). The walnut veneer looks to be about 1/64". I'm not sure what kind of wood the base plywood is made of, but I don't think its birch. I will research and get back to you.

The instrument holes  (thickness of the plywood) are painted black.The paint looks to be black nitrate dope? However the extra 2 1/8" hole below the tachometer and to the right of the airspeed indicator is not painted black. Nor are the additional cutouts for the for the altimeter adjustment knob.

It indeed looks like the factory painted these hole perimeters black, and that the extra instrument hole and cutouts around the altimeter hole were not made at the factory. With that said, it also looks like these airplanes were built with non-sensitive altimeters. In the case of this panel, it came from S/N 313 which was built in the spring/summer of 1941.

As for the instrument location and details; please tell me what you know. No, I do not have the original placards.
At one time, the panel had paper placards which looked to be made with a typewriter and glued in place. They have long since fallen off through the years. I doubt that they were original.

Take care,

Dan

On a side note; the plywood looks like the plywood that was used in antique radio cases(another hobby of mine). These also were made out of a base plywood (basswood???)with a veneer over the top. It looks like Culver made the panels using the common woodworking techniques of the day.


38
Culver General Discussion / Re: NC41620 progress.
« on: June 18, 2012, 06:49:56 PM »
Old cockpit floor next to new one.

39
Culver General Discussion / Re: NC41620 progress.
« on: June 18, 2012, 06:45:49 PM »
Even more pictures. Here is the old cockpit floor next to the new one. The old one was rotten from years of engine oil.

40
Culver General Discussion / Re: NC41620 progress.
« on: June 18, 2012, 06:37:28 PM »
More pictures of S/N 379.

41
Culver General Discussion / NC41620 progress.
« on: June 18, 2012, 06:31:44 PM »
Hi all,

Here are some pictures of the fuselage of NC41620 S/N 379.
It was in sad shape. All that is left of the original fuselage cockpit bulkhead forward is the sidewalls (area where the fuselage is skinned on the inside) and front (firewall) bulkhead. Also the lower longerons are new, as well as most of the fuselage from the base of the leading edge of the vertical fin aft. The vertical fin is new s well.

About all that's left of the original fuselage is the cockpit sidewalls and the turtle deck and top longerons; minus the last four feet of the fuselage.

42
Culver General Discussion / Re: Culver Photos Wanted
« on: June 18, 2012, 06:08:43 PM »
Another pic. Looks like an off airport landing???

43
Culver General Discussion / Re: Culver Photos Wanted
« on: June 18, 2012, 06:05:09 PM »
Another pic. Interesting it is a solid color overall.

44
Culver General Discussion / Re: Culver Photos Wanted
« on: June 18, 2012, 06:01:04 PM »
Here is a picture I found on the net

45
Culver General Discussion / Re: Culver istrument panel
« on: June 17, 2012, 05:02:27 PM »
Oops here's the instrument panel picture

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