When you get to that point where you can’t take another item off, it’s time to start putting things back on. 

The rudder pedals and control column are back from powdercoating and installed. I had the pedals powdercoated with a slip resistant coating so my feet wouldn’t slip off so easily. 

rudder pedal bars

Bearings cleaned and greased.

sandpaper like powdercoating on the pedals

rudder pedals and bars installed

control column installed

Control column and rudder bars

cleaned and greased bearing installed

prior to bearing installation

Connecting the instrument static ports together. The connections take a special 37 degree flaring tool and a tube bender that doesn’t flatten the tube as you make the bend.

After connecting the static lines.

before shot.

Back from the paint shop. 

Pilot and co-pilot seats media blasted.  The phot shows the left one blasted and the right one not. 

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……..