AirPigz
Registered User
Warsaw, Indiana
I'm restoring a PA-18A-150 (N9460D) and it'll likely wind up on floats sometime in the future, possibly next summer. With the fuselage bare, now's the time to make some decisions about float fittings. Btw, planning to do the Wipline 2000# gross upgrade as well.
I was leaning toward weld-on until I considered what they might look like under the fabric when it's spending time on wheels. I know I can install the fabric nicely around the fitting, but it's still a pretty thick, clunky piece of metal, and you'll be looking at the tabs all the time. Seems like the bolt on fittings might be a better option (EDO or Wipline) since they can be removed when not on floats. Can care and attention-to-detail keep the fabric and the bolt holes looking good when the fittings are removed?
So... I wondered if some of you could share pix of weld-on and bolt-on floats fittings as installed on a Super Cub. That would really help figure out the visual part of the decision about which style fitting to choose. My google searches aren't finding close-up (installed) fittings pictures.
I realize most people might not care so much about how the fittings look, but since the airplane is likely to spend the vast majority of its time on wheels, it's an issue to me.
9460D also has the aluminum lower fuselage panels which I assume would make installing the bolt on fitting easier, but maybe it brings other issues up as well?
Info and pix would be greatly appreciated...
Martt
N9460D
Indiana
I was leaning toward weld-on until I considered what they might look like under the fabric when it's spending time on wheels. I know I can install the fabric nicely around the fitting, but it's still a pretty thick, clunky piece of metal, and you'll be looking at the tabs all the time. Seems like the bolt on fittings might be a better option (EDO or Wipline) since they can be removed when not on floats. Can care and attention-to-detail keep the fabric and the bolt holes looking good when the fittings are removed?
So... I wondered if some of you could share pix of weld-on and bolt-on floats fittings as installed on a Super Cub. That would really help figure out the visual part of the decision about which style fitting to choose. My google searches aren't finding close-up (installed) fittings pictures.
I realize most people might not care so much about how the fittings look, but since the airplane is likely to spend the vast majority of its time on wheels, it's an issue to me.
9460D also has the aluminum lower fuselage panels which I assume would make installing the bolt on fitting easier, but maybe it brings other issues up as well?
Info and pix would be greatly appreciated...
Martt
N9460D
Indiana