iowa's L-4 project!

and other stuff up in the air
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petesilfven
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Post by petesilfven » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:56 am

Just a suggestion to those looking for books. Here are some places to search for them. Go to these before ebay, there's a good chance it'll be less expensive.

www.bookfinder.com
www.abebooks.com
www.alibris.com
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iowa
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Post by iowa » Sat Nov 10, 2007 7:55 am

thanks pete
you always know
about everything!
thanks
iowa
Image
GPW 31262 DOD 6 23 42
Slat 122876 DOD 2 26 42
L-4B 43-572 DOD 8-31-42 82nd of 100 Silver Fort Sill planes!

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Post by petesilfven » Sat Nov 10, 2007 1:13 pm

Iowa, check your e-mail.
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iowa
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Post by iowa » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:04 am

i mainly post on the L-4* forum listed below
if anyone is interested:

http://www.j3-cub.com/index.php?option= ... ic=685.120

dave
Image
GPW 31262 DOD 6 23 42
Slat 122876 DOD 2 26 42
L-4B 43-572 DOD 8-31-42 82nd of 100 Silver Fort Sill planes!

Paul Smith
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request for pictures

Post by Paul Smith » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:38 pm

Hey Iowa,

Get in touch with me. I just finished up a 4 year restoration of a combat veteran H model. I have many details and places to go.

Paul Smith
n36973@hotmail.com

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iowa
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Post by iowa » Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:12 am

would this be correct for my L4?
thanks
dave

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WWII-Air ... enameZWDVW
Image
GPW 31262 DOD 6 23 42
Slat 122876 DOD 2 26 42
L-4B 43-572 DOD 8-31-42 82nd of 100 Silver Fort Sill planes!

Paul Smith
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FE

Post by Paul Smith » Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:44 am

Hi,

That's one of several correct ones. The drawings called for one type, but I have seen several. The bracket looks right, but I think the "aircraft" marked ones are more likely to have been found on USAAF Liaison Squadron birds than on the AGF airplanes. The USAAF wasn't speaking to the AGF guys, and didn't supply them with much of anything until the stars got involved. I have a similar one, but with a vehicle bracket which I think would be more likely in an AGF unit. They got banged up and had to be replaced pretty regular.

Paul

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Post by L-4JFlyer » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:26 am

It's the right size, and looks like the right bracket. I used a Fyr-Fyter that had a USAAF label on it. You can find them through restorer's, and on Ebay if you watch for them. The Stearman restorers are always on the lookout for them, and you can end up paying big $ for a really primo example. They had an USAAF label, if produced before the switch of the name from USAAC/USAAF, otherwise it's a USAAC label. I can't remember if that was in the parts manual, or in my specific aircraft's "Aircraft Checker's Logbook", but I know that the Fyr-Fyter was correct for mine. I will take a look in my notes to see where mine had been noted. The fire extinguishers were supplied to Piper from military contracts, and installed as the airplanes were being built on the line. As one old timer said, it wasn't so much about where it came from (several contractors), but that something was there to use. And, it's so buried under the seat, noone would be able to tell if it had the label, or not.

Jim
Jim M.

Former owner: 1945 Piper L-4J 45-4809

Minneapolis, MN

Paul Smith
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FE

Post by Paul Smith » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:04 am

Hey,

The ones bearing USAAF markings went to USAAF units, like Liaison Squadrons which were served by an entirely separate supply system. The artillery birds were called by the same generic name of Liaison Aircraft but they had nothing to do with the USAAF units. They didn't fly out of the same fields, missions were different, their command structure beyond the Army level was entirely separate. The artillery birds didn't get AAF support of any kind except when they went back for Level 3 or 4 maintenance at a Depot like mine did after she was damaged in action in Feb. '45, and that was rare.

I don't think that you saw much USAAF marked equipment on AGF airplanes.

Paul Smith

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Post by L-4JFlyer » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:10 pm

Paul,

My L-4 was assigned to an USAAF unit for stateside training. All L-4's had a conformity inspection after they left the factory, and that started the "Aircraft Checker's Logbook". My logbook had a notation after the war that the fire extinguisher was replaced with an A-20 type (I'm going from memory now, since I don't have a copy of the log in front of me.)

It may have been that the extinguishers got switched around, etc, after the planes that went to the Army units got there. L-4s left the factory with a fire extinguisher and an RCA AVA-120 reel antenna installed. Both were supplied from manufacturing companies, to the factory for installation. The units then installed what radios were to be put in them, when they got out in the field. Mine did not receive any radios, because it was sent to Sheppard and Randolph Fields and was used by a couple USAAF training squadrons. I got my fire extinguishers from a guy who had pulled them from a couple state side L-2s he had owned. They had the USAAC/USAAF labels on them.

It could head toward the argument if the front seat covering was canvas, or vinyl, and did it have buttons, or not? There's examples of all of them in pictures, etc. The factory workers would tell you that it was what they had on hand. When materials were short, they switched to canvas, and buttons were metal, and metal was scarse.

All in all, do what you want. Even the judges at Oshkosh don't know what's EXACTLY right, or not.

Jim
Jim M.

Former owner: 1945 Piper L-4J 45-4809

Minneapolis, MN

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iowa
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Post by iowa » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:56 pm

thanks for info jim and paul!
my L4 parts list
says mine should say detroit somewhere on it.
BTW
right now
i'm prefecting my TIG welding!
dave
Image
GPW 31262 DOD 6 23 42
Slat 122876 DOD 2 26 42
L-4B 43-572 DOD 8-31-42 82nd of 100 Silver Fort Sill planes!

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iowa
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Post by iowa » Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:39 pm

this radio is a 12V
the seller states it is correct for WWII
but is it?
dave
Image
GPW 31262 DOD 6 23 42
Slat 122876 DOD 2 26 42
L-4B 43-572 DOD 8-31-42 82nd of 100 Silver Fort Sill planes!

Paul Smith
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radio?

Post by Paul Smith » Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:16 pm

Which radio are you talking about?

paul

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iowa
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Post by iowa » Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:20 am

we have the greenhouse about done.
an lining up the stringers to the side angle piece now.
does anyone know if a slight 'bow' is okay
or was the angle piece and stringer in a perfect straight line?
dave
Image
Image
GPW 31262 DOD 6 23 42
Slat 122876 DOD 2 26 42
L-4B 43-572 DOD 8-31-42 82nd of 100 Silver Fort Sill planes!

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iowa
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Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2004 7:21 am
Location: iowa

Post by iowa » Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:49 am

here is my A65-8!
got it last week.
i had it pickled after Central Cylinder ran it up.
they told me to store it upside down!! :shock:
hopefully, it won't sit too long
dave
Image
Image
GPW 31262 DOD 6 23 42
Slat 122876 DOD 2 26 42
L-4B 43-572 DOD 8-31-42 82nd of 100 Silver Fort Sill planes!


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