My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

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Flynlow » Fri Mar 22, 2013 4:16 pm

My Luscombe had a C-85 in it. When they made a cutout in the firewall for the starter, it pushed it back about two inches. I had to turn my toes on my right foot to the left to clear it when landing so I would have full use of the rudders. It wasn't comfortable and I would have gladly given up the starter!

he has a C90 he's just bought to put in it, and has added a fan powered generator and will be adding an electrical system to it, although still plans to prop the plane for starting I think I unerstood.

Jack Fleetwood
1946 Cessna 140
http://flynlow.blogspot.com/
Round Rock, TX

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Kazoo120 » Fri Mar 29, 2013 9:56 am

Pedal assembly is rebuilt. All new fasteners and painted. much freer than it was and turned out pretty well. Also finished stripping the battery box, and wondering what it was painted with from the factory,,,

The weather is improving up here in Michigan, may soon be able to begin some etch work on the fuselage.

Interesting letter from the daughter of the original owner yesterday:

Hi Andy,

Wow! The progress is very exciting. I was reviewing
the website and I saw a question about why my Dad moved the plane from
the airport to the barn.. My Uncle told me that the Sparta Airport was
going to start charging $35/month, so he packed it up and moved it out
to his barn. He was always going to put in a runway on his property
along the orchard (he had all the big equipment), but it just never
happened. Thanks again for letting me know about the registration [now fully renewed and transferred, keeping N77220 active]
Congratulations on that!

Pedal assy completed

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Battery box stripped

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Battery box other side

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Kazoo120 » Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:57 am

Built another piece of fixturing over the Holiday weekend. I was needing a way to move the fuselage out of the shop for further cleaning and something to hold it for painting. I adapted the smaller fixed sling that I had previously built, and made a rolling wheeled tail cart. This moves very easily now and I can tilt the fuse up to about 90 degrees ( I have fixed stops at 0, 45, and 90). As I mentined before, I seem to like to build fixtures! This one is cool, can now easily get to the top and undersides, and this will work very well for painting.

The weather is back to snowing this morning, no accumulation but a high of only 35 degrees today. So won't be moving outdoors for any etch cleaning for awhile again. Funny to walk outside while it's snowing, and hear the birds chirping in the morning, sounds like Springtime, looks like winter!

Front mount

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45 degree tilt

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Fuselage "Rotisserie"

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Kazoo120 » Sat Apr 13, 2013 11:09 am

Working now to strip the paint from the interior. Not many sections are painted, just the pillars and panel etc. I believe from my reviews, that although it is a 1946 plane, it was painted in "Cessna Reddish Brown" in the interior as listed for a 1947 120. I see that the 1946 callout was for Cessna "Sumac Red" for the interior, which is what the stripes on this plane appeared to be, so I may put the interior back to that color (I like it better). Anyone have an interior picture, in Sumac Red?

Setup to strip paint

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Primer is stubborn,,,

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Kazoo120 » Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:21 pm

This week's work focused on finish stripping of the interior paint, I think it's all complete now. Took some extra time to get the last of the primer off of the panel. Looks pretty good now. I'm ready to etch clean and alodine, then move to the paint booth to paint the firewall and interior.

Thinking about making some more fixturing, a set of "Plank's" to scoot down the inside of the fuse, that will distribute the load and provide a way to enter, have not been able to crawl down the inside to the tail to clean,,, I've got a sketch and will see about working that today.

other side

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Sling supporting the fuse so we could sit inside to strip paint

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Another view

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Interior finished stripping

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Kazoo120 » Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:09 am

So as I threatened, I got into making some more fixturing! I've been wanting (to send young helper Greg) down the fuselage to affect some clean-up on the grease and dirt etc, that had accumulated further than I could reach. Fabricated some "Planks" to allow access.

Started by making tracing's of the frame outlines and cut forms to match, then heavily padded the contact areas. Worked great for him to scoot down the fuse and do some long awaited cleaning.

Installed

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Section 1

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Section 2

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Tracing the frames, had a magic marker on a long stick also, to draw the curve

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Kazoo120 » Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:20 am

Although he was somewhat against taking the picture, here's 16 year old helper Greg. He loves racecars and airplanes, and we happen to have them both. He'll do all sorts of jobs on the projects, for just Money$$! He's done a fantastic job.

BTW, here's the 71 Datsun 240Z refurbished/completed, and it has been sold. Funds will go into parts for the C120 restoration!

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Greg

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Victor G » Tue Apr 30, 2013 3:59 pm

Go Man Go! Yer really making some serious progress!!!

Some body has some serious drive.............

I have a serious job and it sucks all the serious drive outa me...........

I need a vacation to work on my toys!!!!
Victor G


DaAV8R » Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:22 pm

Me too! We need a national Cessna 120/140 day. Everybody else has a day, why not us?


Kazoo120 » Tue Apr 30, 2013 11:04 pm

Victor good to hear from you, I am having a great time restoring this airplane, it's been a long-time goal. I hope you can find some time to work on your motorcycles as well. Flight training is just around the corner here too, the next part of this fantastic project! A.

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Kazoo120 » Sun May 05, 2013 10:16 pm

We are noted in this month's EAA/VAA Vintage magazine! I think it's a pretty extreme barn find, and those find's go. Maybe we can get a 120 on the cover when it's done.

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Kazoo120 » Sun May 05, 2013 10:41

We did some pressure washing inside the fuse this past week. Put a raincoat on young helper Greg and sent him down the plank with a pressure washer. Still amazed at what he'll do for money, and he's liking it!

If you look hard, you can see him in there!

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