Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 Rebuild Diary

Countersunk screws with tinnerman washers.

The front brake rods were missing so I made some replacements. They will be removed after I have converted to type.

A clue to the final colour - as I have not been putting the fabric painting pictures on line.

I want the fuselarge on its wheel soon so painting the parts.

Suspension.

New nuts and bolts.

The control sticks had been painted. So i stripped them and sent them off to be re-cad plated. Came back like new!!!

I was going to replace the cockpit panel.

However after disassembling I changed my mind.

Due to the rolled edge. Very tricky.

So stripped and decided to keep the original panel.

Looks better!.

This is me looking for a location for a tank for a smoke system. Also thought about making the top skin into a tank. I have since changed my mind on this location.

Instrument panels going back in.

I recrinkle painted both instrument panels. Also added the radio into the panel and rearranged the layout.

Front cowl .

Overhaul the front cowl.

Replaced the metalwork.

Took some getting off as the cowl had been modified a few times and covered in resin.

The resin was VERY thick around the oil cooler modification.

I cut most of the thick resin away.

Cut so much away the cowl felt lighter! and my workshop looked a mess!!!!

I used the original metalwork as patterns for new.

Checking cowl alignment.

The only panel from the cowl I am keeping is the top one - stripping the paint off.

New side panels.

Cowl side with oil door.

Used hole punch to cut the radius for the oil door.

Looks a bit patchy - Checking alignment regular. The cowl is now really firm with just a few fixings in place.

The cowl uses DZUS fasteners. The fitting tool is expensive, so a query on ebay finally gets me a set for a more sensible price.

Gaffa tape holds the panels in place so I can crawl inside and mark the holes from the rear.

I check alignment from inside and outside cowl!.

Yes they are my legs at the bottom of the cowl. I was able to squeeze into the exhaust exit on the lower cowl.

Inside the cowl. Jo came to find me one evening - could not quite believe where I was. .

The ground power socket with plus fitted. I have since replaced the socket with a newer one. The original socket was also not correctly wired. New one will be!

The engine mount back from Xray to check for cracks.

Re-painted.


Home Page Can you help page Restoration 2007 Diary Index Restoration 2008 Diary Index Restoration 2009 Diary Index My First Flight in a Great Lakes	My Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 Rebuild Diary 2008. August-2009. I have bene very busy and not much time to update site daily. So a whole month in one go! Rebuilding the cowl - the front fiberglass section I have overhauld and replaced all the metalwork. The only original part staying is the top skin. Lots of paint stripping - and repainting. Replaced floor securing screws with nutplates and counter sunk screws with tinnerman washers.
	. Countersunk screws with tinnerman washers. The front brake rods were missing so I made some replacements. They will be removed after I have converted to type. A clue to the final colour - as I have not been putting the fabric painting pictures on line. I want the fuselarge on its wheel soon so painting the parts. Suspension. New nuts and bolts. The control sticks had been painted. So i stripped them and sent them off to be re-cad plated. Came back like new!!! I was going to replace the cockpit panel. However after disassembling I changed my mind. Due to the rolled edge. Very tricky. So stripped and decided to keep the original panel. Looks better!. This is me looking for a location for a tank for a smoke system. Also thought about making the top skin into a tank. I have since changed my mind on this location. Instrument panels going back in. I recrinkle painted both instrument panels. Also added the radio into the panel and rearranged the layout. Front cowl . Overhaul the front cowl. Replaced the metalwork. Took some getting off as the cowl had been modified a few times and covered in resin. The resin was VERY thick around the oil cooler modification. I cut most of the thick resin away. Cut so much away the cowl felt lighter! and my workshop looked a mess!!!! . I used the original metalwork as patterns for new. Checking cowl alignment. The only panel from the cowl I am keeping is the top one - stripping the paint off. New side panels. Cowl side with oil door. Used hole punch to cut the radius for the oil door. Looks a bit patchy - Checking alignment regular. The cowl is now really firm with just a few fixings in place. The cowl uses DZUS fasteners. The fitting tool is expensive, so a query on ebay finally gets me a set for a more sensible price. Gaffa tape holds the panels in place so I can crawl inside and mark the holes from the rear. I check alignment from inside and outside cowl!. Yes they are my legs at the bottom of the cowl. I was able to squeeze into the exhaust exit on the lower cowl. Inside the cowl. Jo came to find me one evening - could not quite believe where I was. . The ground power socket with plus fitted. I have since replaced the socket with a newer one. The original socket was also not correctly wired. New one will be! The engine mount back from Xray to check for cracks. Re-painted.
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