parts availability?

[Guest rocketdriver]

Hi everyone.

 

Having previously flown a hired T300 (many years ago!), I am considering looking out for either a T300 or T500, but I'm a little concerned about parts availability issues ... Are parts, skins etc available?, expensive? And is there any guide regarding how to tell if new skins are needed? It appears as if TOSG hads gone quiet after Tony's passing or are they regrouping and still available for support?

 

Regards

 

RD

 

 

[Guest terry]

Hi, RD parts are available from the people Tony got them from so there's no problems with parts or skins etc. The fibreglass items might be a problem depending where the moulds are, but you only need them if you have a crash. I'm sure bob would help with that if it was needed but do the rest yourself. The advantage of Tony ofcourse was the powerhouse of knowledge he had and the advice he willingly gave but having said that there's no reason you couldn't source the info from this site and put it all together yourself. I've just finished rebuilding my t500 from a complete wreck after a serious crash back to it's former or if not better condition with nearly every thing new and I had no trouble but I did need to be creative at times chasing bits and pieces.

 

Regards Terry

 

 

[pudestcon]

It would be interesting to know how many people around Australia are restoring Thrusters right now!

 

I am involved with restoring a T500 at the moment and it is a challenge at times to source parts at a reasonable cost. I have had stainless steel parts made up by ss specialist fabricators from sample parts I have provided; same goes for things like chrome moly jury struts. Obviously AN grade bolts can be sourced from aircraft hardware suppliers as can the aluminium tube we need for Thrusters. Skins can usually be produced by yachting sail makers in dacron or ultralam. The Clear Prop shop accessed from the this web site is also a good source of parts such as instruments, wheels and tools you might need.

 

Good luck with it if you decide to proceed and check out the photo below of my pile of tube before commencing the restoration.

 

Pud

 

 

 

[Guest rocketdriver]

Thanks Terry and Pud for your advice ..... Looks like a MAJOR rebuild Pud!!

 

This is by way of preparative homework as I don't currently have any specific aircraft in mind but as I want a project and possibly have the skills, it probably won't be a fly away when I find it ..... so. Dimensions. If I find the right a/c and its in the middle of Woop Woop, what size truck/trailer do I need?? what size does the fuselage break down to? wings? ... I guess you de skin them and roll the tubes into a bundle? How long? All thoughts welcome so that, come the day, it all runs smoothly (HA HA HA!!)

 

 

[pudestcon]

Well Rocketdriver, I guess it really depends on the aircraft you eventually buy but the trailer in the photo above is a purpose built trailer for moving Thrusters.

 

Here are some photos of a 'move' for a Thruster Gemini I was involved with last year.

 

Cheers,

 

Pud

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest rocketdriver]

Thanks Pud, that gives me some ideas .....

 

RD

 

 

[pudestcon]

G'day Rocketdriver,

 

On the question of parts availability..... I've just received the latest TOSG Bulletin from Bob Llewellyn with a form for renewing my membership of TOSG. The TOSG website is still not up at the moment so you could contact Bob at [email protected] if you want to subscribe. Bob has some parts available and looks like he is going to have more as he progresses.

 

By the way - I'm not associated in any way with Bob or TOSG in a business sense; just keen to have the TOSG resource remain for us all.

 

Cheers,

 

Pud

 

 

[Guest rocketdriver]

Thanks Pud ... I'll do that ....

 

Regards

 

RD

 

 

[bones]

Well Rocketdriver, I guess it really depends on the aircraft you eventually buy but the trailer in the photo above is a purpose built trailer for moving Thrusters.Here are some photos of a 'move' for a Thruster Gemini I was involved with last year.

 

Cheers,

 

Pud

OMG that brings back some horrible memories from a long time ago been a while since i seen one those ol girls in the flesh, done my training and my fair share of crashing in one of those, mumble mumble fr*ging 2 stroke POS's.

Just one thing on the trailering, wouldnt turning the machine around be better, as then the wind is not behind the screen, trying to tear it off?

 

I will put some pics up one day of a build i done in the shed.

 

 

[pudestcon]

Just one thing on the trailering, wouldnt turning the machine around be better, as then the wind is not behind the screen, trying to tear it off?

You would certainly think so bones. The trailer we used was purpose built for transporting Thrusters and that is the way you load the aircraft on this trailer. I must say it towed really well with no issues from driveability or damage to the aircraft at all. Wind resistance was not an issue in this case but this aircraft has a see through polycarbonate rear bulkhead that would have helped not tear off the windscreen.

 

Pud