Hatz Biplane Association

Dear Doug,

Thank you very much for your response! The forum seems to be very quiet these days!
Yes, I think we will start a new thread for a collect wire order for Steen Aerolab. We have the possibility to have the wires shipped back to Switzerland in a container trough a Swiss owned corporation located in North Carolina.
You are right about our website: it should be updated, it's overdue and will be made in the next couple of months. Yeasterday we started final color coating, will post a few pictures of completed parts a.s.p. We are very happy with the Stits system and PPG PU paint!

Best regards
Hans & Sam, H.C.#78, Switzerland

Sounds like great progress! How about some pictures? I still check your website, but it doesn't look like it has been updated in quite some time.

I'm not aware of any group orders going on for the flying wires. We just completed one a little over a year ago, so I don;t know if anyone else is looking for wires right now. Feel free to start a new thread and see if you can get enough people... you need a minimum of 5 in order to get a discount and that can be a combination of CB-1 and Classic builders.

Hi Hatz friends,

Progress report: Our Hatz is fully covered, all Poly Spray applied and all metal parts primed! Next week we start final painting!

Most of you may know, that we intend to produce full size flying wires - however due to the Hatz having the priority, the building of our machine has been delayed. Hence we are in need for a set of flying wires as we are not able to make them ourselfes in time.
Is there anybody wanting to sell his set of Classic wires or might it be possible that a new group order is set up, where we could participate?

Any hints would most be appreciated!

Best regards
Hans & Sam, H.C.#78, Switzerland

Looking good, guys! I'm jealous!

Hi all,

After initial problems with importing the desired covering system we decided for the Stits Poly Fiber process, since this was available in Europe (Stits Poly Fiber agent in Belgium) and after having covered the tail feathers and 2 top wings we are more than happy having choosen this. The final paint, however, is planned to be made with PPG Delflite polyurethane in a not to glossy (not wet gloss) finish. This is a system, which is well proofen by several professional builder over here.
Also last Friday, we received our long awaited Rotec 9-cyl. radial engine with TBI carburettor. See pictures!
Best regards
Hans & Sam, H.C.#78, Switzerland

Mark supplied me with white polybrush to maintain character from inside the cockpit.

The wings are silver polytone over polyspray (silver u/v protection). I don't know if the two products are of different formulation

Yes, the un-stamped fabric is great for experimental planes here in the USA, do not know what is required in Europe. Its also a little lower cost and in reality the same material.

The white base coat is a great idea to brighten up the color coats, makes a big difference.

I think they just make the poly-brush pink so its easier to see when applying it (?). It uses zinc as a filler, I believe, that is why one can get it un-colored, I did that too. Have tiny white flakes in it.

John, did you add the silver coat at all?

Blue skies,
Keri-Ann

With regard to the interior appearance, Mark Marino supplied me with unstamped fabric and white polybrush which went on the fuselage. No distracting printing and and the white underside is much more acceptable than pink or silver. As an aside, the base coat of my Stinson Maroon fuselage is white to give extra punch to the color. The gray/silver polyspray u/v coats will darken the finish coat, to a greater degree the lighter the final color.

John, hardly flew enough to justify having the plane this summer.

I too like the Steward waterborne system. I did the dope finish on the Pietenpol over Stits covering. With years of finishing experience I would not do dope over the new coverings, only over cotton or linen, to many issues start to show up down the road. An since the Hatz is not a restoration or reproduction of any particular airplane, I plan on using more up-to-date covering processes. ... but thats just me.

Now when they painted planes or parts sliver back then, did they not just add silver powder to clear dope to make a silver paint?

Hans & Sam, your plane will be fantastic no matter what finish system you use!

Blue skies,
Keri-Ann

Hi Ryan,

You are right: I forgot to mention the Steward waterborne sytem! Of course, we know about and considered as well! It has many advantages compared to the other solvent contained systems, the main are:
Non hazardous solvents/fumes
no danger to burn
No problems for overseas tranport

Before we decided for our colour scheme, we considered also silver wings. As those should look like a butyrate silver finish, we asked for a sample piece of silver painted fabric from Steward's.
This silver may work for a modern style composite aircraft, but definitely not for a biplane that should look vintage as it came out the factory in the 1930's! The general appearance of the coating is perfect for modern aircraft, but (and this is a personal taste) not for "vintage" airplanes.
Due to my profession I have some knowledge from solvent and waterborne polyurethane paints and my experience is that the application of a softshine (not wet high gloss) finish is more easily to achieve with the "old" paints containing solvents that with the waterborne system.
Another disadvantage is the grey primer/UV base, which shines trough the fabric on the inner side. As our Hatz will not be upholstered in the cockpit area (remember, we want a 1930 aeroplane), this won't work for our purpose.

We now hope to get a solution to import the Stits system up to the silver UV paint. Will keep you posted.

Kind regards
Hans & Sam, H.C.#78, Switzerland