SNJ restoration Pictures

SNJ restoration Pictures BPH

Tailcone lower baggage compartment area

The interior of the newly reskinned tailcone lower baggage compartment area. Some work remains on the starboard side. Camera mount castings are visible. The blue framework you see is part of the rotisserie / holding fixture I fabricated which is temporarily bolted to the upper and lower longeron attach points.

Interior of new lower tailcone skin

Inside view of the new tailcone lower skin. IFF light skin doublers are being fitted.

IFF Lights being fitted

Another interior view of the new lower tailcone skin / structure with NOS IFF lights being fitted.

Starboard side of tailcone

Work continues on the starboard side tailcone structure in preparation for new skins. I need to fabricate / install 3 replacement stringers (Lance or Banaire doesn't have any!) and the structural work will be complete.

Freshly alodined NOS starboard lower longeron

I had to replace the original starboard lower longeron with this NOS unit I got from Lance Aircraft Supply. Someone had used an air chisel to remove a rusted bolt and buggered up the fwd longeron attach area in such a way that it couldn't be repaired per the structural repair manual.

Baggage compartment area

The baggage compartment area is almost done (sans skin on the stbd. side). You can see the NOS lower longer here (the tailcone is upside-down) with it's 50 year old factory yellow zinc chromate primer. The 50 year old primer was too scratched / scuffed up to get a good top-coat so I stripped it, etched, alodined and re-primed it. I'll be building up a metal floored-walled baggage compartment (ala T-6G / Mk-IV Harvard) which will take place of the original wooden floor / canvas bag style baggage compartment. This entire area will be top-coated with same light gray poly paint as the cockpit area.

Starboard tailcone structure

I fabricated new stringers for the starboard side baggage compartment seen here on my bench-mounted brake. I was in a bit of a pickle in that the original roll-formed stringer material was not available from the usual T-6 parts sources. By sheer chance, a kind soul informed me that a popular aluminum kit-built aircraft uses the same stringer section and this kit aircraft manufacturer gets the stringers in bulk form from the Reynolds rolling mills. The good news is it's cheap too! The right side of this tailcone was a bit rough so I will be replacing all the stringers.

Baggage compartment door and upper fwd deck

Here you can see where the mounting and stowage slot is for the .30 caliber Browning flex-mounted machine gun. I understand the gun trolley and mounting hardware is still available (NOS).

Baggage compartment floor/walls being mocked up

The entire original wooden / canvas baggage compartment assembly will be replaced by a new-build aluminum structure.

New aluminum built-up baggage compartment floor

The floor frame and bottom pan comes together. The floor assembly itslef will be mounted to the tailcone in the same way the original wooden assembly mounted.

Baggage compartment floor assembly is complete

Everything has been etched, alodined / primed & all the rivets have been driven. The floor is ready for mounting.

Baggage compartment floor being fitted

Stock mounting points are used. A stainless steel MS-hinge supports the rear of the floor as the original did. The floor was originally hinged to provide access underneath where either an aux. fuel tank or a camera could be mounted.

Baggage compartment floor from above

Another shot of the floor being fitted. I'm contemplating carpeting this area (with gray out-door style carpeting) to provide a surface that will wear better than glossy poly paint.

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Last update: March 15, 1999

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