Recoating a DC-3/ C-47 control wheel

It is actually a bakelite/thermoset covering…the best thing is to fill the cracks and holes with a decent fine grain filler like Isopon Metallic, if you can pop some black resin pigment in it….if you are anywhere near Salisbury/Andover I have all these materials.

Hello,

I have a DC-3 / C-47 pilots control wheel / yoke which has had a bit of a hard life. The thick black rubber coating has split & flaked off in many places (the metal core is still in excellent condition though). I’d like to restore it to install in my cockpit section, but cannot find a company or individual who can redo the rubber coating.

Can anyone help me with contact details for a company I can approach to do this type of work? Any leads most appreciated!

Many thanks

Rich

It’s worth Googling ‘steering wheel repair’. Classic car restorers have been down this road many times and have it down to a fine art. There is actually an epoxy resin available that replicates the bakelite covering…I’ll stand corrected, but I seem to recall it was made by the Eastwood Company in the US.

Good luck!

I’ve used wood glue and black acrylic craft paint mixed together as a good substitute.
Step 1
You mix the paint and glue.. ratio 1 paint to 3-4 glue
Step 2
Paint the column with reasonable layer and allow to dry
Step 3
Redo above until you reach the required thickness

I’ve used it on spitfire and vampire stick grips. The beauty is that if done in thin layers the paint is self levelling.

If you’re looking for a thin rubber coating, you can buy rubber paint-like stuff in spray cans and as a brush-on from some automovite shops.
I used some on the ends of the headlamp mounting bar on my antique car to prevent squeaks, prevent rust and to prevent damaging the paint on the wings while fitting it.
A couple of coats should work nicely for your application.

I have a Convair 2-3-440 wheel and it was coavered with a hard plastic like substance. I could not find a substitute for that.