Removing 40 years of oxidation
 

A good friend of mine is a high end automotive detailer. He's tackling my 337 and the initial results are EXCELLENT.

http://imgur.com/a/1f2Pm

Opened the hangar to get some natural light. It's crazy how much brighter the plane is. Only the port wing left to do.

http://imgur.com/4Dv3yNE

She is looking very sweet and fresh!
Great job of bringing her sheen back to her glory...

Very very nice! Astonishing actually! Great work! Enjoy it!

Ed

John

Looking good, are you using a mechanical device? What compound?

BTW, I have found that the belly can be abused without attention for many years the grease and soot can really attached itself to the surface. I like to use Simple Green Aircraft cleaner and a semi stiff brush. Even a toothbrush around all the rivets to loosen the contaminates. Makes a big difference and then follow up with a nice coat of NON-CARNAUBA wax. This will eliminate any static.

Get that craft ready for the flyin over to Nova Scotia......

Thanks gents...ALL credit goes to my buddy Kevin and his years of detailing experience.

The initial cut and polish was with this: http://www.cquartz.com/product/carpro-essence/
He'll seal it with this: http://www.cquartz.com/product/cquartz/
He'll instruct me to keep it clean with this: http://www.cquartz.com/product/ech2o-waterless-wash/
And if I need to reseal any sections it will be with this: http://www.cquartz.com/product/reload/
As far as machines he uses various Rupes and he has a MOUNTAIN of different pads.

Yeah, it was GROSS. He needed a degreaser and all purpose cleaner before any paint restoration.
One step at a time...first thing is get her airworthy/annual/install MT props/panel updated a bit/knock off the hours for the insurance company, etc.

MT is telling me April before I see the props. :(

Detailing the paint is a major project. I just finished doing a plane. As with most, the paint had been neglected for years. My procedure was a series of steps:
1. wet sand 3000 Trizact;
2. wet sand 5000 Trizact;
3. cut with 3M Rubbing Compound A;
4. Polish with 3M Polishing Compound B;
5. Wax.

Takes a considerable amount of time but the results are gratifying. I used a combination of rotary, DA, RO, EG (elbow grease).

Dave

First flight in 6 years:

https://youtu.be/8SHRp6Mm0vQ

:)

It's been a long road but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Props are on, gear swing is done, annual is done, panel is nearing completion and new interior is ready for installation.

Looking great John, what A/P do you have?

The original 400a. Working fine so far.

Did you replace windows?

No. The windshield had been replaced not that long ago. The side windows were in decent enough shape after we polished them up. All the side window seals and door seals are being replaced.

Coming down the home stretch now....

Hey that's looking mighty fine John. I like//////////:)

Thanks Herb. If all goes well she'll be converting avgas into noise this week.

Paperwork and logs will be completed this weekend. Post maintenance test flight on Monday and if all goes well I'll get to fly her on Tuesday.

Looking good. I like the colors.

Getting some quality time in the left seat this week. :)

Panel
 

I love the instrument panel!!!! any more photos?
Jeff

Thanks. I've been meaning to grab a couple more pics; I'll do that this week.

looking good John, can't wait to do some flying with you. You have done a really good job through the process of getting this aircraft in the air and very respectable

Copy that; same here.

Although the budget got nuked, this has been a very rewarding project. This list of snags is getting smaller every day and she's a real joy to fly.

Looks really good. Did you mount MT props? I am debating those right now...

Yes I did, they're awesome.

Edit: Aren't you turbo'd? I don't think they are STC'd for the turbo birds...