Wing paint.
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 10:55 am
'Kevin and Steve.
The wings were finished and painted as Mark said. I did find one
example of a variation for the American built wings compared to the
Fleet built wings. I am doing some wood repair to a PT wing that has
never been on a plane. It was built by the McKee Door Company for
Howard Aircraft Company. You should find the manufacture stamped on
the spars at the butt end. Also out at the tip end of the spar if you
ever open up the wing there. This wing was covered with fabric like
the Fleet wings. No filler on the mahogany,just clear dope to bed the
fabric(normal procedure). It seals the wood good. As Mark said,it's
hard to get the fabric off. I used acetone to soften the dope up and
still could only get the fabric off in small strips. The fabric had
very few coats of dope. Looked like the clear dope to fasten the
fabric and about 2 coats of silver.
The problem with the filler and paint finish is that after sitting
out side and going through the summer and winter climates, the finish
would develop cracks going with the grain of the wood and open the
wood up to the weather. Covering with the fabric eli
minated this problem.The original finish was beautiful while it
lasted.
This wing I'm working on also had a star& bar decal on it at one
time but had fallen off. I could still see the outline on the
fabric.
My dad had a PT-26 that was Fleet built but was paid for with US
funds. From what we were able to find out about the plane when we
were repainting it was the AAF wanted the 200 Stearmans back from the
Canadians so they gave them the money to replace them with 200 PT-
26s. Tha's why you will see some of the PT-26's with two different
data plates. This one had a AAF and aAfter RCAF data plate. Paul
Faltyn in North Tonawanda,NY has the plane now.
Kevin! After looking at your PT pictures on the web site, I
noticed your plane also has PT-26 instument panels in it. You might
have to chage them to get the open cockpit metal to fit. I'm not sure
if that is the case or not. I've worked with both planes but can't
remember if it makes a difference or not. Probaly not. The 26 panel
is narrower towards the outside at the top longeron so the canopy
rail can go over the top longeron. Just looked at the manual. I think
the panel will be OK.
I striped another wing once that had 3 layers of different paint
schemes . Must have made things heavy back then. I painted my
insignias etc on my PT. Didn't know they used decals back then. I'm
always learning something new. I have researced the paint schemse
over the last 25 years and know a lots about the different ones. I
don't know it all though. If you have any questions, feel free to
contact me. Bill Deaton in Middletown,Ohio has a lots of knowlage on
the PT's also. He just finished a PT-19 and has did several others
over the years. I guess I've gone on long enough here so I will shut
up. Good Luck with your rebuild.
Keep Em Flying.
Mike Kelly PT-19B N127MP'
The wings were finished and painted as Mark said. I did find one
example of a variation for the American built wings compared to the
Fleet built wings. I am doing some wood repair to a PT wing that has
never been on a plane. It was built by the McKee Door Company for
Howard Aircraft Company. You should find the manufacture stamped on
the spars at the butt end. Also out at the tip end of the spar if you
ever open up the wing there. This wing was covered with fabric like
the Fleet wings. No filler on the mahogany,just clear dope to bed the
fabric(normal procedure). It seals the wood good. As Mark said,it's
hard to get the fabric off. I used acetone to soften the dope up and
still could only get the fabric off in small strips. The fabric had
very few coats of dope. Looked like the clear dope to fasten the
fabric and about 2 coats of silver.
The problem with the filler and paint finish is that after sitting
out side and going through the summer and winter climates, the finish
would develop cracks going with the grain of the wood and open the
wood up to the weather. Covering with the fabric eli
minated this problem.The original finish was beautiful while it
lasted.
This wing I'm working on also had a star& bar decal on it at one
time but had fallen off. I could still see the outline on the
fabric.
My dad had a PT-26 that was Fleet built but was paid for with US
funds. From what we were able to find out about the plane when we
were repainting it was the AAF wanted the 200 Stearmans back from the
Canadians so they gave them the money to replace them with 200 PT-
26s. Tha's why you will see some of the PT-26's with two different
data plates. This one had a AAF and aAfter RCAF data plate. Paul
Faltyn in North Tonawanda,NY has the plane now.
Kevin! After looking at your PT pictures on the web site, I
noticed your plane also has PT-26 instument panels in it. You might
have to chage them to get the open cockpit metal to fit. I'm not sure
if that is the case or not. I've worked with both planes but can't
remember if it makes a difference or not. Probaly not. The 26 panel
is narrower towards the outside at the top longeron so the canopy
rail can go over the top longeron. Just looked at the manual. I think
the panel will be OK.
I striped another wing once that had 3 layers of different paint
schemes . Must have made things heavy back then. I painted my
insignias etc on my PT. Didn't know they used decals back then. I'm
always learning something new. I have researced the paint schemse
over the last 25 years and know a lots about the different ones. I
don't know it all though. If you have any questions, feel free to
contact me. Bill Deaton in Middletown,Ohio has a lots of knowlage on
the PT's also. He just finished a PT-19 and has did several others
over the years. I guess I've gone on long enough here so I will shut
up. Good Luck with your rebuild.
Keep Em Flying.
Mike Kelly PT-19B N127MP'