Curtis Wright screen replacement

[chris hart]

I have been working on my 1948 Curtis Wright for several months and finally had a chance to work on the screens. I wanted to replace the screens without having to pull all of the rivets and remove all of the windows. I finally figured out an excellent way to do it. I made frames from aluminum bar (1/2" wide x 1/8" thick). I cut these bars into lengths that, when put inside the window frame, they fit just around the original metal groove where the original screen was splined into. I had to trim 1/8" off of the width of the top bars so that it had enough room to fit between the top of the window frame and the spline metal. I then placed the bars into a rectangle and riveted them together using 1/8" rivets. I smashed the rivets flat with a hammer. I put 5 minute epoxy on one side of the frame and placed galvanized heavy duty screen material over the frame. I weighted down the screen with 2x4s inside and out for a good gluing. After the epoxy had cured, I trimmed the screen excess off and put in the screen. I installed the window closing hardware and put the interior trim pieces on. The benefit to this replacement is that, if I need to replace a screen in the future, all I need to do is remove the interior trim pieces, pull the screen
with its frame out as one piece, cut the screen out and glue another one in its place. I cannot tell that the screen has been replaced in this fashion. It looks original and doesn't show inside or out. I glued D shaped weather strip from Vintage Trailer supply on the frame on the outside of the window. Very clean install. Water tight and very nice! Here are a few pictures of the screens. Chris

[jrjackson]

I just replaced the windows in my 1950 Curtis Wright Clipper. I bought the screen tool and material from VTS but have not tackled replacing it yet. Thanks for the pics and suggestion on how to replace the screen.

[chris hart]

I looked at the original screen install and determined that the whole window had to be removed (drill out rivets from outside), spline the new screen in, and install a new gasket reinstalling the window. I don't think you can reach around the spline channel to install the new screen even when you take the trim off around the windows. It sure seemed like a whole lot of work. Making the screens the way I did, one can easily replace the screen in the future without too much hassle. The D seal on the outside works great.

[dpaul0265]

So if I understand correctly did you cut out the old screens and then insert the new framed ones place?

[chris hart]

Yes. The old screens are just attached using a spline tool that jams the screen into the frame. No spline. I removed the screen and left the frame there in it's original state. The screen and frame I made fits in like a glove. No screws needed to attach it since the frame trim inside covers the new screen and frame holding it in place. Easy to remove if damaged.