This is part of the flap handle mechanism.

The flap handle is all there but there is a piece broken.  I have the piece so it should go back together fine.  It still needs to be media blasted and primed.

The door hinges were different colors.  The right door was red and the left door was cream.  I understand grandpa rapidly exited the door during the incident in 1967(68?) and the hinge was replaced.  I media blasted, cleaned, and primed them for now.

I mounted the rudder to the vertical stab to see how easy it fit and to see if there were any bends to it.  It went together well and appears to be straight.

Vertical stab with rudder installed.

What’s left of the instrument panel is in bad shape.  Lots of work to do here.  The floors will probably need to be replaced.  I don’t think I can save them like rear side panels.

Taking an inventory of what’s there and what’s missing.

Some restoration on the baggage door.  Beneath the red and cream were blue and cream.  According to the Stinson website blue and cream were the original colors when it left the factory.  A cousin remembers grandpa and Uncle John painting the airplane in the garage at John’s house.

The fuselage in temporary storage until it’s warm enough to sandblast and paint.

Doors.  Lots to do here.  Bent parts to be straightened, missing parts to be located, paint removed, new plexiglass for the windows.  Need to find the door latches and handles.  Those alone run just under $1,000 to buy.

Cleaning the wooden cabin panels

Photos of the restoration of a Stinson.

Our grandfather with the Stinson in the 1960’s.

The stinson today.

The stinson today.