First peek under the skirt; 88M

[mhorowit]

I opened the elevator for 88M; attached are the pics.
My mind set was based on the restoration pics on Capt.Jon's site, so this was expected and not a real shock.
Next, I'll strip the paint, and see if the rust can be wirebrushed off, then visit my A&P.
I'm thinking at some point we'll need to decide if it would be cheaper to simply purchase another elevator rather than attempt to repair this (and other parts, no doubt) - Mike (really, not discouraged; I expect worse)

[crispy critter]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

ALRIGHT,,,,PICTURES!!!! Keep'em coming mike...pleeeease give us more .

[Robert Lees]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

Just on those few photos, Mike, I would repair by replacing the aft curved tube.

Also: don't wire-brush. Only bead-blasting will tell you what's underneath. Purchase a cheap beadblaster, some bead (walnuts, etc), a few paper overalls, some goggles, gloves, mask etc (you get the idea) and have a look under the rust.

The risk with spending money on a replacement is that you might not know what you are buying. Then you might have two duff components. At least with 88M you know what you have got.

Rob

[VictorBravo]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

Rob's right. You can take the elevator home and practice your new welding skills on the workbench, where you can nail wooden blocks into the bench as a repair jig to hold all the parts together.

Based on that rust, I'd be cutting fabric off the lower rear fuselage and rudderpost, taking a small dental inspection mirror, and getting in there up close and personal with the tube clusters.

Same with the landing gear, lower wing struts, etc. An "automatic center punch" would be a good investment.

You are going to love the Stits Poly-Fiber process. It is actually a lot of fun and quite easy to do. If I may be so bold, you should be getting to know the local EAA chapters and finding someone who has worked with covering, start picking their brains, start going to see some covering work happening on other airplanes, etc. Buy the Stits / Poly-Fiber video and their covering manual now. Put the video in at dinnertime, and put the manual right on top of the stack of aviation magazines next to the commode

In my personal experience, covering work is fun, and a LOT less stressful than losing sleep wondering what is underneath old covering.

[mhorowit]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

Rob's right. You can take the elevator home and practice your new welding skills on the workbench, where you can nail wooden blocks into the bench as a repair jig to hold all the parts together.

Based on that rust, I'd be cutting fabric off the lower rear fuselage and rudderpost, taking a small dental inspection mirror, and getting in there up close and personal with the tube clusters.

Coming up

Same with the landing gear, lower wing struts, etc. An "automatic center punch" would be a good investment.

Yup

You are going to love the Stits Poly-Fiber process. It is actually a lot of fun and quite easy to do. If I may be so bold, you should be getting to know the local EAA chapters and finding someone who has worked with covering, start picking their brains, start going to see some covering work happening on other airplanes, etc. Buy the Stits / Poly-Fiber video and their covering manual now. Put the video in at dinnertime, and put the manual right on top of the stack of aviation magazines next to the commode

Got the video; getting the manual; got the EAA chapter behind me and someone (an A&P) itching to help.

In my personal experience, covering work is fun, and a LOT less stressful than losing sleep wondering what is underneath old covering.

Well, yes - MIke

[N96337]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

Mike, if you have a chance to attend a covering seminar, by all means do it!!! I've been covering airplanes for 20+ years and teaching covering for more than the latter half of that.... and I still go to seminars and pick new stuff up! I've yet to walk away without learning something.... I've also never taught a class that I didn't learn something...either from a student, from myself, or from the process.... anyone that says they don't isn't going in there with the right frame of mind.
JH

[mhorowit]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

Mike, if you have a chance to attend a covering seminar, by all means do it!!!
JH

You bet!
I've been watching the EAA schedule for covering seminars.
Can anyone suggest another covering seminar equally as good as the ones put on by EAA? otherwise may have to wait quite a while until something comes up within reasonable distance. - Mike

[N96337]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

Poly fiber puts on quite a few... keep your eyes peeled...there'll be one!!
JH

[Norm G]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

If your intrested, Heros Aviation in Vermount is hav'ing a weekend workshop on Poly-Fiber fabric covering April 22 & 23. VA is a long way but it may be worthwhile to get a little hands-on fabric work. I plan on going but Connecticue isn't such a bad drive or flight for me. In the past I've covered 2 Areonca's but that was 20 years ago so this workshop will definitely help . My 41 BC-12 will be ready to cover this summer so a refresher will no doubt take some guesswork out of this project.The web page for Hero is www.herosavaition.com.
Norm

[NY86]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

The web page for Hero is www.herosavaition.com.

Typo...

Try www.herosaviation.com.

[hangarb7]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

Gee Mike,

If you decide to travel to a recovering seminar, then travel to Oshkosh in July. You won't need it before then, you'll be ready for a vacation, and there is no better place to attend than Air Venture for getting your batteries recharged. And you can attend the seminar more than once in a week.

Jack D

[Norm G]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

Not only a typo but I have dyslexa too. Getting old is not good, and my antique T-Craft is younger then me.
Norm

[mhorowit]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

Hey - Jim and Dondi are teaching a covering seminar about an hour away:

May 21-22, 2005
EAA/SPORTAIR FABRIC COVERING WORKSHOPS
FREDRICK, MARYLAND
CONTACT: EAA AT 1-800-967-5746

[mhorowit]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

Hey - Jim and Dondi are teaching a covering seminar about an hour away:

May 21-22, 2005
EAA/SPORTAIR FABRIC COVERING WORKSHOPS
FREDRICK, MARYLAND
CONTACT: EAA AT 1-800-967-5746

Geeze, wrong year

[Richard Boyer]

Re: First peek under the skirt; 88M

ahhhhhh.......to have a time machine!!!

(Not counting the one I fly in!!!)


Richard Boyer
N95791