I'm hijacking my sons 170 project.
After 2 1/2 years of having an on painted nose bowl on my Stinson I finally got it painted, so Robbie's not the only one that can have fresh paint.

Nice work Dad... Now you only have the rest of the plane don't forget about that 120 either.

Well I did the upper part of the Cowling. I will work on the lower part when I get back from garden Valley.
Now I have to go home and work on the tail of my airplane it's got something zink chromate on the tail that I have to get rid of. so might as well's paint the whole tale.

Sharp! Put some more pictures up of the Stinson, please!

CamTom12 wrote:Sharp! Put some more pictures up of the Stinson, please!

Here's a few

Idaho 2011


Thomas creek with my 170


Copalis Beach with the 120

Installed the freshly painted rudder pedals with new hardware.

Good progress!

How's a Stinson fly compared to a 170? They're neat planes for sure.

Comparing A Cessna 170 to Stinson 108 Everything is a trade-off. You can get a Stinson for about 10,000 less than A 170 but the Stinson uses more fuel per hour about the same as a 180 HP Lyc. The Stinson has a better landing gear but it needs service. The Stinson is one of the easiest airplanes to make a good tailwheel landing in. The 170 needs a seaplane V brace in order to help save the door posts from wiggling so much and cracking. It's harder to make a good Landing in a Cessna It's really not a problem with the Stinson. Cessna will take off and land shorter than the Stinson. The Cessna is a lot easier to get In and out and has fantastic visibility over the nose. Not so with the Stinson. It's a bitch to take the backseat out of a cessna or you have to spend a lot of money to put a pair of jump seats in it. It takes about 15 seconds to remove the backseat from a Stinson. Most Stinson's have a baggage compartment door the one drawback is there's a bulkhead between the baggage compartment in the cabin.
Again the Cessna you have to spend a lot of money to put a baggage compartment door in it, but you have one big area from the baggage compartment to the back of the front seats.

Comparing the 170 and the Stinson again. The Stinson has great aileron control and the stall is almost nonexistent with the stock wing, i'm not very happy with the climb of the Stinson compared to the Cessna with the stock prop Stinson needs a climb prop. I think for a new tailwheel pilot the Stinson is a probably a better airplane. the Cessna for an experienced Tailwheel pilot is probably the better airplane. put in a 220 Franklin in the Stinson I would be all over that deal.

What airplane would I picked the 170 or the Stinson. I like them both but at this point in my life I think it would take the 170 over the Stinson. But I'm a little bit different than most guys I have a problem I have two airplanes. It doesn't make much sense to have two. But if I was just going to be flying with me and the dog I would probably keep my 120 it has a big engine good performance but it's just too short leg with the big engine. But when I fly my little Cessna 120 I have the biggest smile on my face so what do I do, so what do I do.

That's a pretty detailed comparison, thanks!

I almost got a chance to fly with Ken in his Stinson last year, I'm sad I missed the opportunity!

I pushed the 170 out of the hangar to get her some fresh air. It's just begging to be flown! Hard to get any work done, I just wanted to sit and stare at it. I sent the seats off yesterday to get redone as well as dropped the yokes off at the powder coater. The seats and rebalancing the control surfaces and putting the tail back together are the last major things left. And lots of little odds and ends that always take more time than you think. Hopefully next month some time she'll be ready to go.



I also picked up a bunch of decals today that I had a local graphics shop make

Hey Rob,

Looking good! Did the graphics shop supply you with some of this stuff? I do a lot of vehicles, and this stuff is the ticket. I just de-lettered a vehicle that received vinyl letters in 1995, and they were as good and stuck as they day they were applied.
-DP

I've never seen that rapid tac stuff. The decals I got are self adhesive vinyl.

robw56 wrote:I've never seen that rapid tac stuff. The decals I got are self adhesive vinyl.

This stuff helps with the paper-backed self-adhesive vinyl such as your airplane numbers. It's especially helpful the larger and more intricate your graphic is. But even on your numbers it should help you avoid any bubbles and wrinkles when applying them, and help you when peeling off the backing papers. Use a tiny bit on a lint-free cloth to prep the area. Position the graphic in place with both paper faces still attached, by taping the top edge only to the fuselage with blue tape. Soak the transparent outer paper with Rapid Tac and give it a minute to soak in. Peel off the solid paper from the adhesive side. (Meanwhile the outer paper remains taped to the fuselage, keeping your graphic positioned.) give the airplane another light spritz of Rapid Tac for good measure. Then use the squeegee they gave you to work the graphic onto the airplane, starting at the top middle, and working downwards and outwards. Lightly at first, then hard. If you botch it you'll likely need a new graphic made, but the good news is it comes right off with a heat gun, and if you're quick you have a couple seconds when you can adjust a mistake. A small simple graphic like that shouldn't be any trouble at all though.

Your airplane looks great!

Waterboy wrote:Your airplane looks great!

Yes it does!!!

Just in time too!!!

I added a cessna logo to the extended baggage bulkhead cover which I think finishes it off nicely.

Damn. That is tight.

Looks good rob!