Fabric Advice Needed

C

corvus

Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2022
Messages
6
Location
Western WA
Looking at a late 60's 7ECA. According to the logs the following fabric covering as been done:

-Aircraft recovered July 1986
-Right wing damage repair, fabric patch 1989
-Horizontal Stab and Rudder recovered, July 1998, Aircraft repainted.

Aircraft is half way across the country and due to medical reasons I likely won't be able to go see it myself before purchasing. Planning on doing a pre-buy. Owner claims it's always been hangared but paint looks a bit oxidised in photos, but probably somewhat expected on a 24yo paint job.

This will be my first aircraft so new to fabric lifespan/maint/upkeep. Just wondering if there's anything to be concerned about, specifics that should be looked at in the pre-buy wrt the fabric specifically?

Thanks In advance,
C
 
My Cub was covered in 1976, then oversprayed with acrylic enamel in 1981 (in my driveway). It spent 15 years outside during that 46 year span, and I did recover the tail feathers and gear legs. Still looks great, except for the inevitable fatigue cracks along stringers.

Just get a reasonable mechanic to look at it, and if it seems structurally ok, ferry it home and remove the oxide with #7 polishing compound. Do it by hand at first - machine polishing is possible but you have to be aware of some things when you do it. Then just clean with Pledge.
 
Worth getting a look at the log entry for the cover and paint to find out what system it is. Different coatings age differently, and have different limitations for what kinds of repairs are possible.

IMO your bigger concern should be with what is underneath the cover and paint. Assuming the cover and paint were done properly, with sufficient uv blocker, the fabric should be fine. But wood formers warp and crack, and steel tubes can rust to the point of structural compromise if kept in poor conditions.

If you can get someone to look at it, have them pull the rear interior panel off and stick their head in the battery compartment with a big flashlight. You can get a good look at the wood that way, and also look closely at the steel tubes and weld clusters around the battery box.

You can also pull the belly pan off and look at the landing gear attachment points and weld clusters.

Virtually any issue with the cover or paint can be easily and cheaply repaired. The frame is a different story, so you want to make sure that is sound.
 
Thanks for the replies Bob, And Ed. Both times they list Stits-Poly Fiber Process Rev #1. The 86 recover looks have had some major work done before recovering. Replaced some tubing, sandblasted, primed all tubing with epoxy and replaced some wood bulkheads.

Will make sure the frame gets a good look during pre-buy.
 
I have a Champ horror story - a friend bought a really nice one - had a valve stick about halfway home, and met a mechanic who told him his entire engine was toast. Fifty grand later he has a really nice Champ.

I would have soaked the valve in MMO, got it un-stuck, and pressed on - but experience teaches these things.
 
corvus said:
Thanks for the replies Bob, And Ed. Both times they list Stits-Poly Fiber Process Rev #1. The 86 recover looks have had some major work done before recovering. Replaced some tubing, sandblasted, primed all tubing with epoxy and replaced some wood bulkheads.

Will make sure the frame gets a good look during pre-buy.
Click to expand...
Stitts is very easy to repair and patch.
 
Was the fabric accompanied by a 337 major repair? For $10 you can get a cd with what ever has been filed with FAA on the plane by N number just some background information to help decide.
 
Bruce said:
Was the fabric accompanied by a 337 major repair? For $10 you can get a cd with what ever has been filed with FAA on the plane by N number just some background information to help decide.
Click to expand...

I have the CD. There is no 337 listed on the CD for the fabric replacement in 86 or the tail feathers in 98 however there is a reference in the log to a 337 for the full recovering in '86. There is very little on the CD prior to '94.
 
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