Glider resto update: before&after:interior plastic

[beaky]

We finally finished the tent/spray booth inside the hangar the other day, and yesterday was a good day to paint all the interior plastic panels. It was painful, though, to be still working on it- yesterday was a pretty good soaring day.  :'(  Oh well.

Before...




... and after. Like the fuse frame, they don't look perfect up close (lots of dings, scuffing, and small cracks), but they sure look a lot better, and this was a lot cheaper than replacing them.  The can of paint was a gift- luckily, it's a nice gray, and not hot pink.



The tent will, I think, work fine for recovering and spraying the fuselage and tail feathers- fits in there no problem.  

It will probably be flying early this season... all we have left is:


-spot welding on the frame and the elevator, and finish painting them
-re-finish all of the aluminum interior panels and the vertical stab
-spruce up the canopy frame
- repair or replace the long-inop mechanical vario (we've been using the electrical backup unit), and re-install the instrument panel
- re-install all controls, rigging, and interior panels
-cover the fuselage and paint it (which was the main purpose of this     whole project, LOL)
-re-assemble the glider
- get some fool to test-fly it

It'll be done any day now...

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning Sean and a very wet one it is here indeed.  

You folks are doing a wonderful job on that project.

Just a bit curious on what the procedures are when doing a rebuild where you live.
Do you have to have a licenced welder and a what point does the FAA inspect the unit?  If they are anything like they are here they will have several inspections prior to the test flight.

Looking forward to seeing her painted.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[beaky]

[quote]Good morning Sean and a very wet one it is here indeed.

[Flying Trucker]

Thanks for the reply Sean...

Now can I talk you into painting her International Orange with a nice double yellow and blue stripe?

I always wanted to get the old girl a dress the colour of International Orange with yellow and blue trim but she threatened to leave me in the corner of the barn for a decade and cut me off from sex ......years.  I didn't have the dress made.  

Some folks just have no taste!  

Hey Sean if you need rain will be glad to send you some, I am starting to forget what the sun looks like.  

Please keep us all informed on how the project goes as you folks are doing a wonderful job and I bet you a beer you are all having a fun learning experience doing it.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug
P.S.  I am sure I just saw some wet snow mixed in with that rain.

[BigTruck]

Thanks for the reply Sean...

Now can I talk you into painting her International Orange with a nice double yellow and blue stripe?

I could think of a nice camoflage Marine Corps pattern that would look good on her as well, if you don't like the International Orange idea  

[flyboy 28]

I'm thinking a group photo with the banner "We f**kin' did it!" hanging in the background is in order.

[charlesed]

[quote]

I could think of a nice camoflage Marine Corps pattern that would look good on her as well, if you don't like the International Orange idea

[BigTruck]

I'm thinking a group photo with the banner "We f**kin' did it!" hanging in the background is in order.

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product, and even more anxious to see the 47N shots continuing again  8-)

[flyboy 28]

I'm thinking a group photo with the banner "We f**kin' did it!" hanging in the background is in order.

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product, and even more anxious to see the 47N shots continuing again

[beaky]

I'm thinking a group photo with the banner "We f**kin' did it!" hanging in the background is in order.

Sh*t, we might just paint that on the sides of the fuselage. And under the wing. Great idea.

No, it's going to be white... with a shark's mouth, if I get a chance to do that. By the time it's done, everyone (including me) is going to want to get it in the air ASAP.

[flyboy 28]

Any idea of when the test flight will be, Sean? Or more rightly, when will all the nuts and bolts be properly fastened?

[beaky]

Any idea of when the test flight will be, Sean? Or more rightly, when will all the nuts and bolts be properly fastened?

Too many variables to say, really. I think by the end of next month, if all goes well, it will be ready for the wings to go back on. Maybe sooner.