Aluminum button for the brushed Reo Grand LP

[CaptSteve]

After seeing the fine work Quigsworth did with his brass modded Reo Grand I figured I'll try making a new button for my brushed aluminum Reo Grand LP. I stripped this Reo and brushed it because I was after a clean all aluminum look. The thing that's been bugging me is that it looks and feels great but that delrin black button just looks wrong on the look I'm after.
Quigsworth gave me some of his great tips and today I was going through my aluminum stock and found a round bar that was almost perfect. Did some milling and shaping on the drill press down to a final diameter of 8mm



I then cut a a 10mm round stock of delrin and used epoxy to secure it under the aluminum button and clamped it and waited a couple hours for the glue to set.



In the meantime I drilled out the original Reo button hole to 8.1mm with a 1 degree off vertical in order for the button not to stick when I press it. (issue of alu on alu friction). I also highly polished the body of the button to avoid friction.

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End result is the button works great and looks absolutely great on the brushed aluminum. I also made the delrin base of the button that contacts the spring blade a bit fatter than the original which resulted in a really short throw which is excellent.

Big thanks to Quigs for his inspiration

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Next is brushing the Odin and router drip tip to complete the brushed look

 

[olefolks]

Very nice, Capt.

 

[redeyedancer]

Very nice I love the look

 

[Big Hitter]

Very sharp .... Nice job!

 

[CaptSteve]

Thanks guys, only drawback is the switch doesn't lock anymore as I drilled out the lock groove but I don't ever lock my button so I'm not too worried

 

[Filthy-Beast]

Nice clean look, congrats!

 

[Raynman]

Purdy sharp there Capin'

 

[Evilocity]

That's awesome! Looks very clean and I love how all you can see is aluminum.

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

Nice bit of detail, capt. I still think she looks like one of these...

 

[CaptSteve]

I would give a kidney to fly the P51 one time. I was lucky enough to have seen a fully restored pristine Mustang at Stuart field in Stuart FL up close about 15 years ago. What blew me away was the size of that prop. Amazing piece of history Papa

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

There's an airfield in Scottsdale AZ that has one. It is a thing of beauty to see in flight and it gets me running out of the house to get a glimpse of it whenever I hear it. It has such a distinctive engine note. It and the spitfire (another unique sound) are my favorite flying machines.

I think you should name this rig in honour of it.

 

[CaptSteve]

Mustang it is then

 

[pennysmalls]

I'm still working on my brushed mini with the stripes and now you're giving me the itch to mess with my button Capt lol! Your button looks soooo good.

 

[CaptSteve]

Here is a beautifully restored Mustang. Aviation porn in full glory if you ask me

 

[CaptSteve]

I'm still working on my brushed mini with the stripes and now you're giving me the itch to mess with my button Capt lol! Your button looks soooo good.

Just try something with the same diameter as the Reo's button and if it doesn't work you can always go back to the original button. What I did was a bit risky as there was no going back after I drilled out wider the button hole.

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

Here is a beautifully restored Mustang. Aviation porn in full glory if you ask me

Very cool vid. God, I love the sound of those RR merlin engines. The allison had its charm, too.

I'm not sure the altimeter reads at all during those 20' fly by's That would be such a kick to do.

 

[CaptSteve]

#1 on the bucket list

 

[SITS]

You have a beautiful looking mod Capt Steve. I love the button you made for her.

More power to all of y'all who take such liberties with your REOs. I just don't have the stones to attempt those kind of changes with my gear. I am very tough on myself and would have stroke if i messed up any of my REOs by messing with them. I do have some spare springs if I ever suffer a short but that is about the extent of the work I am willing to do. My hats off to all of y'all with those skills. I am an accountant by trade and have never had any experience working with tools. I am pleased with myself just being able to wrap my own coils. Lol...

 

[DasBluCig]

Very cool vid. God, I love the sound of those RR merlin engines. The allison had its charm, too.

I'm not sure the altimeter reads at all during those 20' fly by's That would be such a kick to do.

Back in the '50s....the guy who owned and operated a small airstrip in the New Hampshire north country had a 51...with the RR powerplant....
He'd gas up early in the morning (remember --- fuel was super cheap back then!!) and cruise on down to Florida.....for LUNCH.....then head back home in time for supper!!
Never got to fly in it....but DID get to see it up close a couple of times....it was, of course, kept in pristine shape!!
Let's see CHINA try to "clone" one o' these......!!!
Happy (vaping) Trails!

 

[BockinBboy]

Very clean look! Props to you cap'n

- Bboy