Flap and Aileron Skins (Control Surfaces Skins)

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

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N1264D
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Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2003 9:57 pm

Flap and Aileron Skins (Control Surfaces Skins)

Post by N1264D »

My plane is ramped at the Naknek airport, near King Salmon, AK. We have some fairly high winds that have done damage to my flap and aileron skins. The flap skins have been repaired by an A&P by installing a doubler near the flap attach point. It looks ok however there are other repairs and patches that I would like to see gone. Does anyone know where I could order a new set of skins or similar stamped aluminum from and prices? I would also be interested if anyone knew of someone who supplied the skins for the rudder as I have a patch problem there also. Any help would be appreciated. I am just trying to keep the plane in top shape! She deserves it!!!!! :D
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blueldr
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Post by blueldr »

Look in TAP under cessna parts for "Karl" in Bo, Washington.
His skins are excellent and are priced right. If you're going to reskin your flaps, Order his Bolb extrusion trailing edges too.
BL
zero.one.victor
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Post by zero.one.victor »

Karl Anderson 360-757-1946. There's also an ad for Air Metal fabricators in eastern Washington 509-923-2274

Eric
mrpibb
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Post by mrpibb »

Do they(he) make skins for the Ragwing, thinkin of redoing the flaps and rudder.
Vic
N2609V
48 Ragwing
A Lanber 2097 12 gauge O/U Sporting
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Andover NJ
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" Air is free untill you have to move it" BB.
zero.one.victor
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Post by zero.one.victor »

You'd have to ask Karl & the other outfit. I think that they sell sheets of aluminum with the "corrugations" formed,but you have to cut out the exact size & shape to match the part you're reskinning.

Eric
N170BP
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Post by N170BP »

Speaking of which, for folks who have done this, what's the
best way to cut this corrugated sheet metal / material? I mean,
hand shears won't work.... (because of the corrogations) Maybe
the world's biggest band-saw?

I've been thinking about re-skinning one of my elevators to
get rid of some hangar rash....

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP
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N1478D
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Post by N1478D »

zero.one.victor wrote:You'd have to ask Karl & the other outfit. I think that they sell sheets of aluminum with the "corrugations" formed,but you have to cut out the exact size & shape to match the part you're reskinning.

Eric
The rudder skins from Karl are beautifully shaped, both the upper and lower skins. You do have to cut the notch for the elevator, very little cutting.

Bela, my plan is to cut within a 1/16th inch of the final cut with a cutting wheel, and then hand file to the final shape.
Joe
51 C170A
Grand Prairie, TX
N1264D
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Post by N1264D »

Thanks for the help! I am looking into the skins now. 8O
N170BP
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Post by N170BP »

Good idea (the cutting wheel & then patience with a file).

Thanks,

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP
AR Dave
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Post by AR Dave »

On my elevators the top metal is kinda Wavey. Sometimes bowed out or other times dipped in. Bugs me!
Is this stretched and should I re-skin them before gettting a new paint job?
Dave Clark
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Post by Dave Clark »

AR Dave

If you're talking about a bow in the V area I've had some success on shorter lengths like ailerons and flaps in using a very long Phillips screwdriver small enough to stick in there and then work it with a little pressure back and forth :oops: Take it easy at first.

Maybe some other tool would work but it takes a bit of pressure and my Snap On is tempered.
Dave
N92CP ("Clark's Plane")
1953 C-180
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blueldr
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Post by blueldr »

The best way I've found to cut corrugated skins is on a bandsaw with fine teeth. You can cut right to the line.
BL
N170BP
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Post by N170BP »

I agree a fine-tooth metal and saw blade would make quick
work of cutting said skins.

I guess I'd like to know how "oversize" (dimension-wise)
the skins come for, say, an elevator panel or rudder.

Logic says the replacement/new skin panels wouldn't be much bigger
than required (minimal cutting / trimming required) in which case,
you're right... A decent metal-cutting band saw would work quite well.

Guess there's one way to find out (call Karl in Bo and ask him!).
I need a new upper elevator skin for a '54 C-180 as well anyway, so
I might as well do just that.

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP
DensityDog
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Post by DensityDog »

N1264D,
I have used Karls skins for 170 ailerons, they are good.
There is a slight difference from the originals, kind of hard to describe, but on the original skins, the corrugations are cut with an angle at the trailing edge, whereas Karl's are cut straight. It is a subtle difference, but noticeable, and I'm sure that you would be hard pressed to find the original style today. (I still have an original 170B R/H aileron in decent shape for sale to anyone in need of one, if you don't want the hassle of re-skinning).
Max
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blueldr
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Post by blueldr »

I have found that a metal cutting band saw is not at all necessary when cutting aluminum sheet. I have, and regularly use, a ten inch Craftsman that must be at least fifty years old. Just use a relatively fine tooth blade for a smooth cut in the thin stuff.
BL
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