The International Cessna^® 170 Association

N9149A wrote:Miles the problem I see with music wire is that it will rust. I think 3/32 is bit light. 1/8 I think and maybe 5/32 is right. Music wire is available at most good hobby shops in 3 foot sections.

I was just trying to be original with the high-carbon steel (thinking waaaaay to much like George! ). My 55 year old ones are rusty, but they're still there, and still have their temper. The McMaster-Carr stuff I referenced in my post is phosphate coated, which I ASSuME is for rust protection. Cleaning, priming, and painting would also be good. I'm guessing that 36 inches would leave you a bit short, requiring welding (which I know Paul can do ). By the same token, if the coiled stuff is coiled too tight, straightening it out could be a b***h. Again, for about 0.01AMU delivered, it might be worth a try. I'll try to remember to take my tape measure and caliper to the airport the next time I go.

Miles

Well guys, I've enjoyed all the suggestions and think I've found the winner. Roesbery's suggestion of antennas got me thinking about an old two way antenna thats been in the way in my shop for years. A little scrounging thru the junk corner in the fire hall turned up three more orphans. The stainless bends to the contour of the roof but doesn't seem to take a "set". A neighbor had some stainless welding rod but it was only 3 feet long and I don't have the equipment or skill to weld stainless and it didn't seem to be as springy as the antenna. The antenna are long enough without a splice. Miles, I bought the wool headliner from Spruce several years ago for I think $125, I remember it was half what Airtex was asking for a wool headliner and someone who's opinion I respect liked Spruce's product better than Airtex.

Miles you don't have to go to the hanger my headliner is right here at the house on a shelf where any good headliner should be.

The bows are .123 thick and the longest one seems to measure 49". Mine are not rusted but are painted

N9149A wrote:Miles you don't have to go to the hanger my headliner is right here at the house on a shelf where any good headliner should be.

The bows are .123 thick and the longest one seems to measure 49". Mine are not rusted but are painted

Too late, I just got back from the hangar. My bows measured 0.118. A 2.5-mil coat of paint would bring them right up to yours. McMaster-Carr has a 1-lb (24-ft) coil of 1/8" phosphate-coated spring-temper carbon steel wire for $5.66.

Miles

How about some fishing rod blanks? To buy them new would be fairly pricey, but one might find something in a yard sale cheap enough. One would want to remove the guides, of course. I would think a 4 or 5 weight flyrod would be about right. To have a symmetric taper across the cabin, cut two of them and join them at their larger diameters with a ferrule.

I've also seen the fiberglass rods that are used for field markers (flags) on athletic fields. those are about 4-5' long and are about a buck or two.

Well if your going to waste your time with a headliner I think we've pretty much covered it.

Thread started a bit slow but we got on a roll and managed to go to two pages. We will be inspecting this headliner in Duluth Paul.

You know, Bruce... that antennas are usually tapered ever-so-slightly and that would be detectable as a non-original part if a good judge were to pay close attention.....

HA HA--now you started it George- - so will a baggage door and right wing landing light!!!!!!!!! Ron

oh yea and a non standard "C" engine.. got there before Bruce. Ron

Ron I was thinking the tapered headliner stringers should be penalized as much as a non-standard 6 bolt prop and spinner back plate. Forgot about that didn't ya.

You guys might wish to re-read the judging rules and the explanation of non-authentic items if you are planning to judge aircraft.

The prop is not mentiond. The engine rule is : "Any engine other than the Continental C145/O300 series or Franklin 165." My engine/prop therefore is not a deduction.

gahorn wrote:....The prop is not mentiond. The engine rule is : "Any engine other than the Continental C145/O300 series or Franklin 165." My engine/prop therefore is not a deduction.

Props aren't mentioned YET but we will be sure to consider it when we consider tapered headliner bows. Until then it could be said that props and headliner bows should be penalized the same under our judging rules just as I stated. And the penalty is zero because they are not considered.

Thank God I have genuine Cessna headliner bows. I was beginning to sweat this.

I think we should check George's headliner bows (his head too). There just might be one of them (the bows or his head) that isn't an original.

gahorn wrote:You know, Bruce... that antennas are usually tapered ever-so-slightly and that would be detectable as a non-original part if a good judge were to pay close attention.....

170C wrote:I think we should check George's headliner bows (his head too). There just might be one of them (the bows or his head) that isn't an original.

Frank, are you saying George's head might be tapered? If it isn't immediately obvious to the naked eye, we might have measure his head. I'm quite sure that my calipers aren't as large as George's head.

Miles