Gday y'all from down under, this fix is for the waco but could also apply to some other arf's that need the u/c and firewall strenghtened.
first a few abreviations....firewall-f1 to the back former in order..f1,f2,ect
main ply crutch pieces..7/8"x1/8" ply...crt
ok, now after finally getting mine $357 aussie...$264 us, I am not about to have it self destruct on landing...so after a lot of thought and reading all the theads...I didnt want to take all the sheeting and stringers from around the u/c area, or operate through the wing opening, I had this great idea...
cut a hole the same width as the crt in f1, 4.1/8" wide and 2.5/8" deep, this is 2.5" from the bottom-centre, and 2" from the top-center, mark f2 + f3 in line with the inside of crt..4.1/8" wide and cut down to the u/c plate on these then clean off glue ect from the u/c plate ready to take a piece of 1/4" 5 ply which goes from f1 across the top of the u/c plate to f4...approx 6.3/8 x 4.1/8"...fit it good up to the firewall f1 which is angled for right thrust and to f4...the wing le former...glue it onto the u/c ply plate,f1+f4 with good epoxy then reinforce front and rear with tri stock made from 1/2" square pine(cut diagonally) .
next cut 2 x 1/8" lite ply pieces to go vertically ontop of new 5 ply u/c plate to crt...these bits are approx 6.3/4"x 3.5/8"x 11.5" and taper up to the crt from f4 to f5 , glue to crt, f1 ,f2,f3 and new u/c plate... at the rear clamp to crt... reinforce with tri stock where needed.
a good way to mount the cowl is ...cut a ring from 1/4" 5 ply..7.3/16 " dia x 5/8" to fit the cowl...install the cowl carefully ..dont forget the f1 is angled for right thrust ...about 3/8" overlap...then with the ply ring against the f1 , glue it to the COWL only...then attatch to f1 with screws...use a long screwdriver through the front, much neater and stronger.
cut a new cover to mount the engine on out of 1/4" 5 ply 5.3/4" dia and either glue it on or bolt it useing blind nuts...u can inspect the inside/ fuel tank ect.
mine also had one cabane strut shorter ...made a newy, also I didnt like the wing joiners...made new ones out of solid oak.
I'm now working on a fiberglass u/c which wont bend!!. please read this over a few times... its not as bad as it seems.
sorry no digital camera...so if you've got any questions, post a thread or email me at ...
[email protected]
Ian White...Yankalilla...South Australia

Yeah , I forgot to add that the vertical light ply side bits , come thru into the edge of the firewall hole and glue to it . and also that the total weight of the reinfocement , including the new firewall is around 6.5 oz. This bird needs extra noseweight anyway.The fiberglass u/c leg came out great , and only 1 oz heavier. way to go.

Just read your message on the repairs to the Waco. I have a few dumb questions... on abbreviations what is u/c ? undercarriage? and crt center? (I'm from Kansas and we get confused what with all these tornados and all. Did you do anything else to beef up the landing gear other than these fixes you have done? I think this bipe is worth the trouble to modify and I appreciate the discource on the modifications to the landing gear.

SON OF PALEFACE
I haven't gotten to fly yet this season as the winds have been 30 to 40 mph of when it was less it was raining so I think I will try your modifications until the winds die down
thanks for your help

Thanks Oppie, I havent flown mine yet , I thought I'd finnish and fly my Phoenix Giles 202 first to brush up on taildragger flying before the WACO

Son of Paleface
the pictures are a great help I will proceed with the mods while it is raining here. So just what are you doing to stiffen up the landing gear in fiberglass and how is that going to be stronger than what is provided in the kit? good luck with the Phoenix Giles let us know how it goes

Hi Oppie,what are you doing up at 3.43 am?? its 1.40 pm saturday here....see we aussies are ALWAYS ahead of you yanks!!!! HAW!
I really am glad that the pic's and the post's can help you and others...the f/glass u/c is because of other posts saying that the kit one keeps bending...I dont know yet , but Iv'e had that with previous s/east asian planes..the alumin' is not springy enough, but I reccon mine will be hard to bend have you seen that post with the pic's of it ??? I'll be bolting it on with nylon bolts also. have you flown yours yet?? if so how did it go?? I see a lot don't check the wing incidence properly- with a meter, there's a problem with the cabane struts, one of mine had a short end piece. if your interested see my posts on the giles at; Phoenix Giles 202-Thrust Line + cowl Fix...just search for Phoenix Giles.....don't know how you can live with those tornadoe's...are you sure its not raining cow's. TTFN
Ian.

I forgot this one for you guys in tornado alley.....whats worse than raining cats and dogs??.........
HAILING TAXIES