BT fix
Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:45 am
Here are some photos for you guys. All the fuselage panels are in the paint shop along with the rear fuselage half. Wings and center section are going in next. Lot a skin work on this one. This one is a Waco Field vet and the Army No. is 41-21386. 985 is by Aero Engines and I declined on the chrome kit - went with the factory look with black push tubes and Cad 1 hardware.
Mark D
Mark D
Sun Oct 12, 2008 4:31 am
That is looking good Mark!
Are you going to refinish the airplane in the blue/yellow scheme?
Good luck on sealing the fuel tanks.
Are you going to refinish the airplane in the blue/yellow scheme?
Good luck on sealing the fuel tanks.
Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:17 am
That's really a wonderful looking restoration Mark! 
As best I can tell, there aren't really a lot of BT-13's left floating around out there...not like the AT-6 anyway. Only two or three dozen that are actually airworthy. Congrats on creating what will surely be a very authentic standout amongst that exclusive crowd.
I had four derelict BT-13 fuselages that I recovered out of Texas back in the 1990's that went to a guy named Mark Sisson in Mesa, AZ. Once he and his crew hauled them off, I pretty much lost track of them. Always wondered what ever became of those old crates. Any chance your project came out of Arizona?
As best I can tell, there aren't really a lot of BT-13's left floating around out there...not like the AT-6 anyway. Only two or three dozen that are actually airworthy. Congrats on creating what will surely be a very authentic standout amongst that exclusive crowd.
I had four derelict BT-13 fuselages that I recovered out of Texas back in the 1990's that went to a guy named Mark Sisson in Mesa, AZ. Once he and his crew hauled them off, I pretty much lost track of them. Always wondered what ever became of those old crates. Any chance your project came out of Arizona?
Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:08 am
Looking immaculate, nice job.
Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:08 am
That is just stunning! Makes we want to get going on my BT. Where did you get that baggage compartment?
Dan
warbirds@shaw.ca
Dan
warbirds@shaw.ca
that is some real quality work!
Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:15 am
and attention to detail! well done
Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:29 am
Mark,
Is this for you or are you doing it for a customer? As always and evidenced by the Cornell we have here in Waukesha that you and your Dad did, AMAZING work!
Thanks for sharing and keep us up to date when you can.
Is this for you or are you doing it for a customer? As always and evidenced by the Cornell we have here in Waukesha that you and your Dad did, AMAZING work!
Thanks for sharing and keep us up to date when you can.
Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:47 pm
Hi Guys
To answer some of your questions:
The plane will be in silver - owners request. He did not want to be polishing and some of the leading edges which are the original skins, were not that nice for polishing. Lots of scratches and what looked like hail damage but it was just from being 66 years old.
This plane came out of the New England area years ago. Can't remember exactly where, though.
Dan the baggage compartment was reproduced from a sample
We have reskinned about 80 percent of the plane. Here are some other photos of the engine cowls and what they looked like before and after just to get an idea of what we had to do:
To answer some of your questions:
The plane will be in silver - owners request. He did not want to be polishing and some of the leading edges which are the original skins, were not that nice for polishing. Lots of scratches and what looked like hail damage but it was just from being 66 years old.
This plane came out of the New England area years ago. Can't remember exactly where, though.
Dan the baggage compartment was reproduced from a sample
We have reskinned about 80 percent of the plane. Here are some other photos of the engine cowls and what they looked like before and after just to get an idea of what we had to do:
Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:04 pm
That is really going to be a fine machine, Mark. I'll trade ya for our project:
I'm still tracking down paperwork/identity/prior owner on this jewel. These pictures were taken a couple of years ago. The airplane was wadded up by a Kansas tornado in the sixties.
There hasn't been enough "in progress" reporting on WIX lately, so keep us updated often on '386.
Scott
I'm still tracking down paperwork/identity/prior owner on this jewel. These pictures were taken a couple of years ago. The airplane was wadded up by a Kansas tornado in the sixties.
There hasn't been enough "in progress" reporting on WIX lately, so keep us updated often on '386.
Scott
Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:15 pm
WOW! Looks great! When will she be flying?
Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:37 pm
Simply outstanding, Mark.
The rest of us will just sit back and watch the awards roll in.
The rest of us will just sit back and watch the awards roll in.
Sun Oct 12, 2008 4:22 pm
Mark D wrote: Dan the baggage compartment was reproduced from a sample
Care to reproduce another one? That's just stunning.
Baggage Compartment
Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:33 pm
I have an original baggage compartment and got to see the one Mark had made. The one that Mark had reproduced is an EXCELLENT copy.
Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:43 pm
My dad seemed to like flying the "Vultee Vibrator", but I don't think he ever flew one that's as nice as this one is gonna be. Keep up the great work. 
Robbie
Robbie
Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:44 pm
Mark,
Newengland?????? Would it be Vermont????? My uncle had over 15 at one time. Went around buying up airframes that the duster operators had up here that just wanted the 985 for the stearmans. Just wondering if it was one of his.
He just has the one now.
Newengland?????? Would it be Vermont????? My uncle had over 15 at one time. Went around buying up airframes that the duster operators had up here that just wanted the 985 for the stearmans. Just wondering if it was one of his.
He just has the one now.