Aeronca O-58A Progress 2/13/1014

[L-4Pilot]

All glass is now in except the windshield that will go on after the wings are installed. Rudder cables and pedals are hooked up and she will go on her gear next week.

[L-4Pilot]

New old stock Learadio transmitter, receiver, microphone and install kit. Transmitter could be operated from front or rear seat thru interphone system but only rear seat could change frequency crystals same as Piper O-59. Pilots transitioning to L-4 aircraft could be trained in the rear seat with instructor in front. Normally flown with pilot and rear observer during maneuvers and anti-submarine patrol.The transmitter operating instructions were clear doped to 1/16" aircraft plywood.

[marine air]

fantastic worksmanship. Look forward to seeing it with the wings on.

[L-4Pilot]

fantastic worksmanship. Look forward to seeing it with the wings on.

Thanks,

We have a lot of original documents that came with the aircraft we made a replica of the critical operating data sheet clear doped to the bottom of the wood tank tray, we had to make a new tray due to condition but reattached the replica sheet with clear dope to the bottom of the new tray.

[kalamazookid]

Love seeing all the small details that go into an authentic restoration. Thanks for sharing your progress! I'm sure she will be a real head-turner when complete!

[JohnB]

Just a question...
Was there a factory reference for the sidewall/rear bulkhead material?
Did they use the same stuff used on civil ships or was it something different?

I ask because in my other hobby of old car restoration we at least have factory sales literature to go by as well as unrestored cars to use as a guide. But for a rare military aircraft, you don't have that luxury.

[L-4Pilot]

Just a question...
Was there a factory reference for the sidewall/rear bulkhead material?
Did they use the same stuff used on civil ships or was it something different?

I ask because in my other hobby of old car restoration we at least have factory sales literature to go by as well as unrestored cars to use as a guide. But for a rare military aircraft, you don't have that luxury.

John, the factory drawings call for Bedford Cord or equivalent. The cord seat covers currently in there are coming out and we are replacing them with a more accurate fabric done in brown, khaki or olive. The original seat covers on a L-3C in storage since 1948 were a solid tight ribbed brown/dark khaki whipcord. However that aircraft was built a year later than this one and was a trainer.The post war Aeroncas had sprayed flocking on the sidewall panels.

Here is a well done later L-3B model

[L-4Pilot]

I have almost all of the factory drawings for the A and some have multiple revisions. I found this door drawing revised 3/12/42 and it refers to Sears whipcord or equivalent. My 1941 drawing calls simply for Bedford Cord or equivalent.

The later B and C models were built a lot cheaper than these first 20 O-58A aircraft. The A came from the factory with aluminum ribs, leading edges, aileron cove and instrument panel. The late B and C models had all wood wings and a wood instrument panel.

The O-58A was an entirely different aircraft than the L-3B or L-3C and was built in November of 1941 before Pearl Harbor, it is a very unique and special aircraft.

[L-4Pilot]

Installed the newly rebuilt oleos in the case frames today after topping them off with hydraulic fluid and greasing them well. Installed the new tires and tubes on the Cleveland wheels along with the drums for the mechanical brakes.

The painter has done a nice job feathering the line between the Olive Drab and Gray on the air frame.

[JohnB]

I'm surprised/impressed that the original factory drawings go into that much detail on the fabric specs...

[L-4Pilot]

I'm surprised/impressed that the original factory drawings go into that much detail on the fabric specs...

We got as close as we could to the original 1940s tan bedford cord that we believe was in the aircraft using 1940s samples as a guide.

[Cubs2jets]

Steve,

You may have seen this in the Stateside Army Air fields thread under Peterson...

C2j

[L-4Pilot]

C2J, great photo of a L-3B, thank you for the heads up.

Steve

[L-4Pilot]

Fuselage is finished and we are now back on the wings. The O-58A came from the factory with metal ribs, leading edges and aileron cove. the later B and C models had built up wood ribs and wood leading edges. The L-3 series aircraft differed from the early TC tandem trainer in that they used an internal aileron bell crank, the TC tandem trainer had cables that exited on top and bottom of the wing like a J-3.

New spruce spars have now been installed in both wings, ribs cleaned, inspected and repaired as needed. Compression struts installed in both wings and drag wires installed in left wing, awaiting final tightening. Ribs are ready to be nailed to the spars. Wood root rib still to be fabricated and installed.

[L-4Pilot]

More pics