Chapter 47: 47, Overhauling The Potez 25, Coppersmith And Parts
Transaction completed. With the voucher stamped with the military order, this airplane is now converted from military to civilian.
Or rather, a private means of transportation. Anyway, Republic of China traffic management is chaotic, not to mention aviation. Piloting an airplane as a means of transportation is fine as long as there’s a place for takeoff and landing, and no one will care.
The next day, the Young Marshal’s Ford Trimotor took off and returned to Northern China.
Before takeoff, the adjutant in charge of the transaction politely conveyed an invitation for Fang Wen to join the Northeast Army.
Fang Wen did not go and politely declined.
Once the airplane flew away, Shopkeeper Liu spoke up:
“The Young Marshal loves flying. He and Feng Yong established the Air Force in the Northeast together, and he even learned to pilot airplanes himself. Back then, the Northeast was full of new vigor.”
Fang Wen said nothing, but in his heart, he recalled the adjutant’s words from yesterday’s drinking table.
More than two hundred airplanes, just abandoned like that—it made him, who loved airplanes, feel quite uncomfortable.
Even if only a small portion were combat-ready, they were still decent fighting strength, yet they were left in the Northeast without firing a single shot.
Brushing aside his thoughts, people must look forward. Fang Wen turned and strode toward the Potez 25.
Now, it was time for major surgery on this military aircraft.
Inside the Potez 25, some structures were aging, especially the engine and oil pipes.
According to the adjutant, without original French accessories, these fighter jets bought in Republic of China year 16 were just scrap.
Fang Wen did not see it that way.
He could use mechanical perception to understand the internal situation of the airplane, so he naturally knew where the problems were and how serious they were.
Most were minor issues, mainly due to years of improper maintenance, accumulating bit by bit to cause the current situation.
Replacing the aged and damaged components should restore the equipment to new life.
He and Howard discussed under the airplane.
“I found the cause of the oil leak. This section of fuel line is damaged and needs replacement.”
“This is a French style oil pipe. I don’t have piping of the same specifications to replace it.”
“The spark plugs and ignition coil have some minor issues too.”
“Let me see. Cleaning them should make them work.”
“I feel the sealing of the valves and valve seats isn’t good either.”
“The rubber rings there are aged. I can replace them.”
“What about the piston, cylinder, and crankshaft components? Can you replace them with new ones?”
“I’m powerless on that. Those large parts require specialized forging. I suggest not doing major repairs on these parts while they can still be used.”
After some discussion, Fang Wen confirmed with Howard.
Some components can be replaced, and usable ones should not be tampered with unnecessarily.
But some issues Howard couldn’t solve.
Fuel line, fuel filter.
These two items had major problems after multiple runs with engine malfunctions and had to be replaced.
Howard removed the two damaged parts and handed them to Fang Wen.
Fang Wen crouched down and crawled out from under the airplane, looking at the items in his hand under the sunlight.
A copper pipe, a section of the fuel line, with a breach on the wall surface. Fuel would leak when delivered here.
A metal sieve, or rather metal mesh, which was the fuel filter used to remove impurities and contaminants from the fuel, ensuring clean fuel entered the engine.
These two small items—who knew if there was a place domestically that could produce replacement parts.
Shunzi came over. “Young Master, what’s in your hand?”
“Parts from the airplane. These two things are broken. If replaced with new ones, it should be able to fly again.”
“Then just replace them. We already spent three thousand silver dollars; these small things aren’t worth much.” Shunzi asked puzzledly.
“Not easy to replace. They need to be made to the exact same specifications without any error,” Fang Wen replied.
“This is copper, right? A skilled coppersmith should be able to make it,” Uncle Fang suggested.
This gave Fang Wen a direction. Regardless of whether it would work, he would try first.
“Uncle Fang, you and Shunzi go find a coppersmith—the best one—and bring him here.”
Uncle Fang and Shunzi set off immediately.
Fang Wen crawled under the airplane again and repaired it together with Howard.
In the afternoon, Uncle Fang and Shunzi brought in an old man and a young one.
Each carried a wooden box on their back and was dressed very plainly.
Uncle Fang introduced: “Young Master, this is the best coppersmith nearby, with ancestral craft. His son learned from him since childhood and can assist.”
Fang Wen handed the fuel line and fuel filter to the old coppersmith.
“Can you make these two?”
The old coppersmith first examined the fuel line. He wiped the copper pipe clean with cloth, tapped it with a small fork, and even bit it with his teeth.
“Not pure copper, nor brass, but hardness similar to brass. I can forge one the same with brass. As for whether it will work, I can’t guarantee.”
“Fine, take a look at that one too.”
The old coppersmith wiped the black oil stains off the fuel filter, but there were still many in the small holes between the meshes. He carefully hooked out some impurities with a thin metal hook.
“This filters stuff, right? Same material as the previous one, but different craftsmanship. To make it, I’d have to chisel out the whole brass sheet and could make a similar filter mesh.”
Hearing the old coppersmith so confident, Fang Wen was somewhat surprised.
“Go ahead and make them. Price is no issue once done.”
Immediately, the old coppersmith and his son took out tools from their respective boxes and got to work.
They started with the copper pipe.
Melt wax to fill, make plaster mold, then melt copper and pour.
Knock off the plaster, and there’s a rough copper pipe of similar specifications.
Next came the time for fine, patient work.
The old coppersmith used a small hammer to tap the mold bit by bit, polish, and carefully carve threads on both connecting sides of the copper pipe, finally polishing it.
Meanwhile, his son began making the fuel filter.
This time the technique was different again. He took a whole brass sheet, compared it, and cut it to size.
Once cut to approximate size, he kept hammering to shape it similar to the fuel filter.
After finishing the outer retaining cover, he took out a small chisel and carefully chiseled out holes one by one according to the original fuel filter’s mesh size and wall inclination.
This craftsmanship was truly not something ordinary people could do. Indeed the best coppersmith nearby.
Even Howard watched in fascination. Such meticulous and precise handmade work was art in his eyes.
After more than three hours, the old coppersmith finished the fuel line first.
Another hour later, his son also completed the fuel filter.
Howard eagerly took the two handmade parts and installed them.
The copper pipe made by the old coppersmith had threads on both sides identical to the original, screwing steadily into the joint. Except for the color difference, the specifications matched.
The fuel filter seemed slightly larger.
But Howard soon realized the largeness was visual illusion. The new handmade fuel filter also screwed into the interface perfectly sealed.
“Fang, start it up and test,” Howard called after installation.
