want advice from warbird restorers.

[Nathan]

Hello,

I am looking for a warbird restorer that would be willing to teach me about how to work on aircraft. Someone to tell me what parts and tools I can start getting. I have worked on tractors, cars, and lawn mowers a bit. But I have no experience with aircraft. Am wanting to start a reproduction line and need help in all the ins and outs about it. Looking for someone interested in joining too.


Thanks,
Nathan

[Kyleb]

There should be a dozen RV builders near where you live. Hook up with some of them to learn basic tools and skills (layout, deburring, riveting, etc.). You also will have an opportunity to learn basic aircraft systems.

After that, you could hook up with a local A&P or IA to either work under his/her tutilage or volunteer around the airport.

There is plenty of work (and skill building opportunity) out there if you're willing to work for free.

[Dan Jones]

The Sport Air workshops (http://www.sportair.org) offer a variety of weekend seminars. Though geared towards the homebuilder they are an excellent instructional experience. What exactly do you mean when you say "a reproduction line"?

Dan

Last edited by Dan Jones on Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Nathan]

Good advice!

What exactly do you mean when you say "a reproduction line"?

Dan

3x P-40B's

[robkamm]

are we talking full size ? how much $ do you have? im in with out my wallet anyway.

[SeptRepair]

If your serious start, with a minimum 500k in the bank to purchase tools and a building. Then find the other few million to finance the restorations and cover the overhead of trying to run an operation. If you currently own the P-40s then obviously have the money to carry forward. If you think your just going to advertise and people will come, then ya better put down the bong.

[ZRX61]

How old are you?

[Nathan]

Sometimes I get crazy ideas in my head. But in the end its usually something to big for me to do.

[Tiger Tim]

I have built exactly zero warbirds so take this for what it's worth. If you have drawings in hand, go ahead and build yourself a rudder. Can't be too costly to make, you can do it in your basement and when it's done you'll have the experience and a good idea of whether or not it's worth continuing. If you want to go ahead with the rest of the airplanes, great. If not, you'll have a really cool rudder to hang on your wall. In a way, this is win-win.

-Tim

[RyanShort1]

Sometimes I get crazy ideas in my head. But in the end its usually something to big for me to do.

Nathan,

Start small... Look at Barnstormers, Craigslist, or other similar locations, and watch for a PROJECT that you can afford with a little money left over to buy more parts for. Then, when you finish that, you will have acquired more skills to be able to work on something bigger, and maybe can sell the project for a profit to fund your next one. If you lose money on it - well, it'd be better to lose $15K figuring out that it's not your thing rather than losing $75K.
I'd REALLY like to buy a tailwheel project plane right now, but I am NOT going into debt to do so.

Ryan

[robkamm]

As much as everyone may want to steer you away, dont loose site of the dream. you only get one go here on earth. i like the idea of buying a project but what i think he wants to do will be big$$$ just to get into the door. lottery ?

[ZRX61]

Maybe look into taking the courses offered by Lazze, Kent White, Ron Covell & Fay Butler etc. Then take some machinist classes at the local college & if you do well the sky is your limit, literally, unless you work on space shuttles

[big fatty]

Nathan you build 3 P-40B's Ron Fagen has part of one and an engine, let him know you want to do this and he might help out with some direction, I would think the hardest part of the B model would be the engine, do you have a line on one?

Just remember it's one step at a time, and it's easy if you really want it.

[Kyleb]

Sometimes I get crazy ideas in my head. But in the end its usually something to big for me to do.

Nathan,

Start small... Look at Barnstormers, Craigslist, or other similar locations, and watch for a PROJECT that you can afford with a little money left over to buy more parts for. Then, when you finish that, you will have acquired more skills to be able to work on something bigger, and maybe can sell the project for a profit to fund your next one. If you lose money on it - well, it'd be better to lose $15K figuring out that it's not your thing rather than losing $75K.
I'd REALLY like to buy a tailwheel project plane right now, but I am NOT going into debt to do so.

Ryan

A project plane is a great way to turn $30k and 1,000 hours of your spare time into a $25k airplane (and some knowledge/experience/satsifaction). The project in my basement is the airplane equivalent to the house in Tom Hanks' movie "The Money Pit". Most everything is there, but most everything is broken or used up...

[RyanShort1]

Sometimes I get crazy ideas in my head. But in the end its usually something to big for me to do.

Nathan,

Start small... Look at Barnstormers, Craigslist, or other similar locations, and watch for a PROJECT that you can afford with a little money left over to buy more parts for. Then, when you finish that, you will have acquired more skills to be able to work on something bigger, and maybe can sell the project for a profit to fund your next one. If you lose money on it - well, it'd be better to lose $15K figuring out that it's not your thing rather than losing $75K.
I'd REALLY like to buy a tailwheel project plane right now, but I am NOT going into debt to do so.

Ryan

A project plane is a great way to turn $30k and 1,000 hours of your spare time into a $25k airplane (and some knowledge/experience/satsifaction). The project in my basement is the airplane equivalent to the house in Tom Hanks' movie "The Money Pit". Most everything is there, but most everything is broken or used up...

Kyleb - if you look at what I said about being better to lose 15K than more... you'll understand that I agree with you. On the other hand, there ARE people out there who make money doing this kind of thing. They had to start somewhere. If Nathan really thinks this is the way to go, at least at some point he could get really good at it, or decide to put his energy elsewhere. Also, I'd rather spend my spare time building something, than sitting in front of a TV or computer... the latter of which I am doing right now, but only because I don't have room for a project - yet.

Ryan