Looks pretty nice I think.

The original lighting and instrument panel configuration.

A huge accomplishment to get this far. I’m only a few weeks past the day I thought. The red tubes are in the cabin area and exposed to I wanted them to match the exterior color, Stinson Maroon.  The rest is white of course.  I will let it sit for a few days then move it back home and start the reassembly process.

The stand that Uncle Larry built has come in very handy during this whole process.

The fuselage is now painted!  After a few days to let it dry thoroughly I will bring it home and start putting it back together.

A shot of the front of the fuselage painted.

I disassembled and clean the left strut. I replaced the O rings, polished the piston, cleaned and honed the cylinder, and replaced the hardware. The photo shows it disassembled next to the right strut that’s still in sorry shape.  The struts are filled with a petroleum based hydraulic fluid that helps dampen landings.

The photo I took isn’t the best. The four tubes in the cabin that are seen by everyone are now painted Stinson Maroon. Once dry they will be masked and the rest painted white. 

Moving forward……..

Patch weld complete.  Ed is the best welder around and has built many home-built airplanes.  He’s a former Southwest pilot and Midwest Airlines pilot and has raced at Reno.

Ed Bowes welding the patch over the dented tubing.

Weld done but my phone didn’t focus well.

A textbook weld per FAA AC 43.13.

One down, one to go.   

In the process of cleaning this up. 

Brakes are off and gear are media blasted. Now on to NDT then primed.

Left and right gear legs after the brakes were removed.

Media blasting finished.  Brass bushings will be polished.  NDT and then primer to protect them until ready for paint.

Left gear primed and the right gear about to be medial blasted.

Prior to media blasting the right gear.

Both done.

The brake cylinders are corroded badly enough they will need to be replaced. Add $2,552.00 to the final bill for a set of new Cleveland brakes.  Will try to find some used Goodyear brakes for less.

Taking the landing gear into the shop for some NDT to see if there are any unseen cracks.

The landing gear shaft where the brake fits.  I will clean it up and have it NDT’d to see if there are any unseen cracks.

Lots of pitting on the inside of the brake cylinder housing.

More pitting on the outside of the brake cylinder housing.

Cleveland Wheel and Brake Conversion information.