Pictures taken during the restoration process of N83407

a 1946 Aeronca Champ

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This is what my Champ looked like prior to the begining of the restoration. Before-s.jpg (9715 bytes) The tear down process.  Sure hurts to put a knife to good fabric! rb-1s.jpg (10611 bytes)
All those wires, cables, stringers and tail wheel have to come off. rb-2s.jpg (11104 bytes) After bead blasting the fueslage, it was painted with epoxy primer. rb-3s.jpg (10959 bytes)
All new wood stringers and bows from Safe Air Repair. rb-3as.jpg (11331 bytes) The headliner HAS to go in first before you start to cover the fueslage. rb-6s.jpg (12793 bytes)
Fabric going on.  Don't forget those reinforcing tapes and patches. rb-4s.jpg (9101 bytes) Once this is complet, I can start the dope process. Two coats of Nitrate, sand, four coats of clear Butyrate and sand between each coat. rb-5s.jpg (8410 bytes)
Silver Butyrate.  Very important to get full coverage to keep UV out.  Three coats. rb-7s.jpg (8544 bytes) At last!   The final color Butyrate is going on.  Three coats total of yellow. Wet sand all except the last coat. rb-8s.jpg (8876 bytes)
Now for the wing.  56 year old wood spars(how old was the tree?) plus an FAA AD helped me decide to change. rb-9s.jpg (12190 bytes) I decided to go aluminum spars from Millman Engineering and all new ribs. Brand new wings. rb-9as.jpg (11485 bytes)
First wing covered and ready for taping. 14 coats of dope to go! rb-9bs.jpg (9642 bytes) AT LAST the final trim.  Two coats of Aeronca Orange.  As you can see I am going back to the original paint scheme. rb-9ds.jpg (9682 bytes)
My paint booth.  Made from 2x4's and plastic wrap. Fans are in the door. rb-6as.jpg (9390 bytes) Finally back on its gear and a long way to go.

Dec. 9, 2003

 12092003-s.jpg (10521 bytes)

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