- This topic has 110 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 8 months ago by
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Thanks to Sam Tabor recommending a source for paint. It is the easiest and best covering paint I have ever used. Another friend of mine allowed me to barrow his original 1943 Army/Navy Color Plates. I was then able to match these to modern AMS color codes. I will write more about this later with photos.
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It has been awhile since I last posted about my restoration progress so I will try to give you an update and some photos. After painting the fabric covered areas in the spring, I began the tedious process of paint striping, cleaning, repairing and in some cases making new parts. This took most of the summer, as there are surprisingly a lot of metal parts. I made a new boot cowl and firewall only salvaging the windshield frame and fastener ring. Also reskinned the top of the engine cowling salvaging the oil access door. The original had been worn through by the baffle repaired and bondo’d. Finally after getting all parts prepped, I began the long process on priming and painting. It was challenging organizing all the parts for paint since there are various combinations of primer and three colors with patterns needing to match the fabric sections. In October I picked up the newly overhauled engine and accessories. With all these tasks now completed, I can now assemble the aircraft! I will let the photos tell the rest of the story.
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Time for some more updates. After doing my first engine run I made some adjustments and some more engine runs. We also measured the temp of each cylinder and found that some of the new plugs were producing a weak spark so I had to order and swap plugs. The wheels and brakes that I had ordered in March from Grove were supposed to arrive in July/August ended up not coming until November. While waiting on the wheels and brakes I worked putting on the cowling. I quickly discovered that I could get the top and bottom on but not the sides. Since I had reskinned the top I came to realize that I needed to reskin it again this time with it in position on the aircraft. In October I had the opportunity to buy a 3000 sq ft hangar from a friend so much of that month was spent moving in. In November I got the wheels and brakes in, got them installed, did weight and balance and completed the final inspections and paperwork with the IA. In December I planned to do my first flight had a few of the regulars around to watch. When I hit the starter button nothing happened! Ugh! Traced the problem down to bad starter. So I pulled it, bench tested to confirm and then sent it off to have it repaired. In order to pull the starter I had to remove the mags. Fortunately, I had a back up starter so I installed it and the mags and retimed them but between bad weather and holidays I was not able to fly. On New Years Day it was 70 deg and clear skies so I decided to start the new year off right and perform my first flight. Apparently everyone else at the airport thought it was a great day to fly and start the new year so the skies were unusually crowded as I tried to stay over the airport but under the Class C and out of everyones way for 1.5 hours. It was a great flight and no issues.
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I now have 5.4 hours on it and now working on the finer details such as spraying stencils when weather allows and making detail items such as more canvas parts and the AVA-120 Reel. I am also fitting it out with WWII binos, WWII map, M8 Flare Gun, message streamers, mooring kit, original mics and headsets.
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The AAF Form 263A Equipment List was for 44-16947 L-5B and not the one for my specific aircraft. So I do not know what was issued with 42-98774. My ANM-8 is dated 1942. The M-2 was a pre war design from 1930s and is made of brass so it is likely existing stocks were issued until exhausted then the ANM-8 which was standardized for Army and Navy use was issued for the remainder of the war. The ANM-8 has the advantage of being able to fire both rimmed and rimless 37 mm cartridges.
Thanks for bringing up the M-2 Signal Gun, I would be curious if others have a copy of the equipment list and what differences there are between the lists.
I will scan the form into a pdf and share it.
Matt
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Matt: Group or Figure 45 in the IPB shows what was delivered in the observer and the parts change by serial number block. In your case, 98774 falls into the 9+ s/n block. When you read that out, from 42-98610 until the end of production, got the M8.
In my case, the B’s only go the M2. It appears that the C model and on, did not get the flare gun as part of the factory equipment.
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30 Mar 2023 Sun n Fun interior view complete with s-2 seat type parachute, Mae West and repro France and Belgium 1940s map
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Here is website for my L-5 showing history and restoration photos and build log.
https://www.509thgeronimo.org/other/l-5/42-98774.html
Forum will not allow me to use the hyperlink feature.
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