Hiller OH-23D Raven project

Project Warbird · **Posted:** Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:16 pm

We have a new project in the museums shop. It's a U.S. Army Hiller OH-23D Raven helicopter. Factory serial number 994, U.S. Army serial number 57-3036. The plan is to restore it back to flying in it's original U.S. Army paint.

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:17 am

Nice project!

DH82EH · **Posted:** Thu Nov 21, 2013 7:39 pm

I wish you the best of success, with what looks like a very ambitious project. :shock:

Please keep us posted :wink:

Andy Scott

Project Warbird · **Posted:** Fri Nov 22, 2013 7:14 am

Here's a couple pics of the skid assemblies that I've been working on.

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 22, 2013 8:32 am

Good start

Craig59 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 22, 2013 6:44 pm

Going by memory here but, I believe it was a pair of these which were transported in early C-130's to the crash site in Libya of the Lady Be Good to aide in the search for the remains of the crew. Best wishes with the restoration.

DH82EH · **Posted:** Mon Nov 25, 2013 1:28 pm

Looks like you're starting from the ground up

Andy

Project Warbird · **Posted:** Wed Dec 04, 2013 9:14 pm

Craig59, I will have to check into that. It probably would have been B or C model ones.

Andy, You could say that. I decided that it was the best way to start this project.

Now I've started taking out the radio racks and mapping out the electrical boxes and wiring.

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2308

I just saw some photos of a WWII German aircraft being restored & they used chalk blasting (same principal as soda blasting) on the electrical parts like breakers etc. They came out looking like new. They said the chalk isn't dust, it's more like glass beads. Not sure if chalk is available in the US like this though... but if not, soda will leave the same finish.
They also used the chalk on sheet metal which took all the crap & corrosion off, but pretty much left the original primer intact.

Project Warbird · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:09 am

ZRX61,
I haven't seen the chalk blasting yet but I do know of the soda. I'm going to give the soda a shot and see how it does. Thanks!

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2308

The pics popped up on FaceBook, I'll see if I can find the link.

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2308

That didn't take long, hope the links work:
Before & after:

More here:

https://www.facebook.com/ju88Gardermoen?fref=ts

Project Warbird · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 7:04 am

That is awesome!!! I can't believe how good those breakers came out. I also didn't know about the JU88 project either. I will be following that one. THANKS!

Zac Yates · **Posted:** Sun Feb 09, 2014 12:47 am

What a great project! Any updates?

Project Warbird · **Posted:** Wed Feb 12, 2014 4:08 pm

Zac,

I'm still making a little progress on this project, snow and work have been keeping me away. I have put this project up for sale, so if you know anyone that might be interested, go to www.projectwarbird.com

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Hiller OH-23D Raven project

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