• If You Are Having Trouble Logging In with Your Old Username and Password, Please use this Forgot Your Password link to get re-established.
  • Hey! Be sure to login or register!

Another One (PA12) Finished

robertc

FOUNDER
Idaho
Just finished a PA12 project that started shedding the fabric in flight a little over three years ago a few hours after an engine upgrade to 150 hp. Stewart System process on the recover with the owners color scheme, plus the owner didn't want any major mods, so they didn't happen, as a result it weighed in at 1117 pounds. My post retirement plan was to close my wood shop door behind me on the way in and stay. Apparently that's not going to happen, I'm rolling into my third project, a J3, with other people throwing projects at me. Pierce didn't tell me that would happen when I attended his seminar and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express.

DSC01168.jpg

I sent Aerographics the metal Piper emblem and had them cut the vinyl for it, that is much easier than trying to paint. They have saved that design so you can do black or any color you want.
The interior side walls have aluminum panels installed instead of fabric which I thought would be easier for installation and future maintenance. The headliner is Airtex, my first, and is two days out of my life I won't get back. Clyde Smith cut the very basic VFR panel and recommended that we move all the electrical "stuff" to the side panel, so he made an enlarged side panel to accomplish that. A great idea. The seats were covered locally with leather and the three layer foam was from Jim Fix. The 150 hp upgrade was accomplished with the Kenmore STC and a Sutton exhaust. The old fuel tanks were replaced with Wag Areo tanks, and they dropped right in. Craig Frisby at Rexburg Air Service is the IA I work with and he does the systems and assembly, all the hard stuff.
I know there are plenty of PA12 mods that are popular to install at recover/rebuild time, but the owners just wanted a good basic PA12 and didn't want the added expense. It should be a great flying machine, I'll find out in the next day or two.
 

Attachments

  • DSC01168.jpg
    DSC01168.jpg
    81.8 KB · Views: 2,506
  • DSC01169.jpg
    DSC01169.jpg
    68.1 KB · Views: 337
  • DSC01166.jpg
    DSC01166.jpg
    77.9 KB · Views: 304
  • DSC01176.jpg
    DSC01176.jpg
    85.4 KB · Views: 358
  • DSC01177.jpg
    DSC01177.jpg
    80 KB · Views: 369
  • DSC01179.jpg
    DSC01179.jpg
    58.4 KB · Views: 391
  • DSC01185.jpg
    DSC01185.jpg
    44.6 KB · Views: 434
  • DSC01160.jpg
    DSC01160.jpg
    87.1 KB · Views: 402
  • DSC01165.jpg
    DSC01165.jpg
    77.6 KB · Views: 312
Robert,

Once again, I'm very impressed.....that 11 of yours is impressive, no doubt, and this 12 looks about as good, at least as far as one can tell from photos.

Taking this one to OSH to collect another Lindy?

MTV
 
That is a BEAUTIFUL airplane! Nice clean, simple beautiful scheme. Great job!
 
Robert,

Once again, I'm very impressed.....that 11 of yours is impressive, no doubt, and this 12 looks about as good, at least as far as one can tell from photos.

Taking this one to OSH to collect another Lindy?

MTV
b

Nope, Pierce just makes fun of me.
 
What was it Jimmy Carter confessed of having lust in his heart? At my age this is enough for me! Wonderful.
 
Beautiful job on what is now a whistle clean airplane! My father said that the PA-12 is the nicest flying airplane Piper ever built, and I agree with him. He and my mother had N3648M in the early sixties and that's the airplane I got my first stick time in. It is also the Super Cruiser that Clyde Smith later rebuilt for himself.
 
9126032C-4E66-4F40-B362-37F86FE80772.jpeg

Looks great Bob. You’ll bring it to Winifred this June?

How about a Travelair 6000 for your next project?
 

Attachments

  • 9126032C-4E66-4F40-B362-37F86FE80772.jpeg
    9126032C-4E66-4F40-B362-37F86FE80772.jpeg
    270.7 KB · Views: 279
View attachment 36025

Looks great Bob. You’ll bring it to Winifred this June?

How about a Travelair 6000 for your next project?

I would like to bring it to Winifred, but the owners while they usually don’t fly it that much, think they are going to try to wear it out. They think I take too long and are anxious to fly it. The Travelair would be a dream project, I know where one is but I don’t think there are enough pages left on the calendar to try that project. We could just go fly Clyde’s.
 
Beautiful job on what is now a whistle clean airplane! My father said that the PA-12 is the nicest flying airplane Piper ever built, and I agree with him. He and my mother had N3648M in the early sixties and that's the airplane I got my first stick time in. It is also the Super Cruiser that Clyde Smith later rebuilt for himself.
Waldo, me and two buddies have a PA12 with that same N number. It lives in KRNH

Jake20180315_151106.jpg20171010_111405.jpg

Sent from my SM-G930V using SuperCub.Org mobile app
 

Attachments

  • 20180315_151106.jpg
    20180315_151106.jpg
    58.3 KB · Views: 232
  • 20171010_111405.jpg
    20171010_111405.jpg
    69.8 KB · Views: 174
That's great to hear, Jake. Its nice to know that airplane is still flown, enjoyed, and obviously well take care of. I have a PA-11 myself, but I have two friends with stock PA-12s that I get to fly occasionally.
 
He's working on a J3 now boys. I think he's addicted........or bored. If you bring him cashews he will cover your airplane for you.
 
Last edited:
"If you bring him cashews he will cover your airplane for you."

Sign me up! I just need one wing done.

Working for peanuts was hard on my self esteem, so now I aim high and go for cashews. I had to make a change for sanitary reasons though, visitors to my hangar would grab a handful of cashews out of the container after peeing outside. Now the dispensing is high tech. Bring your wing, bring cashews, you're in.
DSCN0269.jpg
 

Attachments

  • DSCN0269.jpg
    DSCN0269.jpg
    83 KB · Views: 782
Back
Top