Warbird Information Exchange

I am about to dive into WWII aircraft fabric recovering, something I've always wanted to learn. I have a non-airworthy Piper L-4 rudder I am going to practice on (for display only). Looking at restoration photos...does the rudder get lacing through the fabric? If it does, how far apart are each of the stitches?

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Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
B-29 42-24791 "Big Time Operator"
C-47A 43-15137 "7H" Normandy/Holland Vet
SNJ-5B S/N 84947
UC-45F 43-35764 Cockpit
PT-26A 42-71104
LNE-1 S/N 31556
CG-15A Cockpit
CG-4A Cockpit (x2) and fuselage
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https://pdfslide.net/documents/amach03- ... ngpdf.html

Shouldn't be hard to find a book, but you usually decide which system and fabric to use as there can be differences.

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

You could join this Cub Forum, I don't think there's any cost and ask your questions there.
https://www.j3-cub.com/

Here's some additional info.
https://www.piperflyer.org/maintenance- ... lanes.html

Unless you've already done this, I'd suggest that one of the best ways to eliminate much of the guesswork is to connect with a local EAA chapter. One of the primary goals of chapters is to share aircraft construction and restoration experiences, so you'll be connecting with people that want you to succeed.

https://www.eaa.org/eaa/eaa-chapters/fi ... aa-chapter

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Download a copy of AC43-13
https://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/med ... w-chg1.pdf

It's the FAA's "acceptable practices" guide, drawn for the most part from WWII vintage manuals and such.

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Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.

Either the factory drawings or the more generic AC43-13 instructions. Make sure you use the correct glues and dopes for the covering system you are using. There are also STC processes like Stits you can use as well as some water-based solutions.