Below, photo of Elmer with our used R-680-E3 radial. The engine was not in running condition but could be rebuilt. We decided to strip it down and rebuild it as a display engine, at a later date we’ll mount a running engine on the sled for its evaluation.

Below, photo of engine cylinders with a thick coating of oil and dust. We degreased the cylinders and hired Dave Cook from Washburn WI. to strip the remaining layer of paint from all 9 cylinders.

     Date 12 / 21 / 2000
Below, photo of stripped cylinders. Dave did a great job on stripping them down! I couldn’t believe how good they looked.

Below, photos show engine mount as purchased and after being sanded down and painted with zink primer.

Below, photo shows windsled with angle iron framework bolted into place and tube engine mount installed.

     Date 12 / 23 / 2000
Over Christmas a few people stopped by to look over the windsled so I mounted a few of the cylinders in place as shown below.

     Date 12 / 24 / 2000
Started to construct the main portion of the tail. As shown in the photo, the lower portion was constructed out of steel tube with aluminum ribs on the top. Below photo shows the start of construction.

Next photos show main portion of tail welded and zinc primer applied.