That was about it Stu, after $1500 in steel and a weekend of cutting, welding and cleaning, no wait, a week, the jig was done. Lets go flying!
Oh wait. Forgot the wing...
OK, 2 weeks of drilling 4400 rivets on the external.
Lets go flying.
Oh wait. the stringers need replacing and splicing etc. Should only take a day or 20! Gonna need an angle drill for that, and an offset squeezer. No problem, came with the Jig from, ah, nope, had to find that to...
Ok, lets go flying!
Oh wait. Gotta put it back toghether...
Lets see, strip everything even the stringers, but thats hard!. Ok, Ok...
Do you know how many stringers there are?? What do you mean the ribs are bad, corroded, bent, look like crap etc.. Ok, Ok, should take a day or 2 OR 30!! to remove, strip, etch, alodine, prime and rivet back to the spars.
Ok, Lets go flying...
What do you mean that skin is bad?! Oh yea, thats why we built the Jig! Ok, Ok, Lets fab a new skin. Shouldnt take long to match drill a few holes, right. Andwho needs those access panel cutouts, just more drag. What do you mean the skin is so bent you cant match drill. You have to what? Back Drill? But that could take a day or so...
Ok, get it done and let go flying..
What do you mean you cant replace that skin without taking off those other 2(or 3), Or 4!! Just put your hand up inside there to buck the rivet, uuhhh,...put it up where... Well heck while in Rome... Lets just make all new skins. should only take, maybe 1 skin per day? Opps, gotta mow the yard. Ill do it tomorrow!
Lets go flying...
Oh yea, gotta rivet the skin on. What do you mean you gotta etch, alodine, and prime the insides of the skins FIRST. Ok, Ok, I'll be ready to rivet tomorrow.(or whenever).
Ok, got all 16 skins and 2 leading edged primed, drilled and we are ready to rivet. hummm, Hey Buddy can you come over and help Rivet.
Sure I can spend a few hours helping.
Uhh, few hours? There are about 4400 rivets on the outside of the wing. Can you take a 2 week vacation from LIFE ! Gonna need several weeks!
Ok, Done paint it, what about the attatch angles, rivets, screws, AD check, Bla Bla Bla.
can we go flying yet...
Oohhh gotta paint it. No problem. How much primer? HOW MUCH PAINT ??,
Ok, Ok, let it dry, we'll have it back on the plane in 2 days. Ok, 5 days. Opps, you wanted 2 colors, and a star? Ok, 10 days. honey, dont forget about the yard, and the pool!(and the kids, and me). awww, I'll finish it next week.
Ok, Ok, Did it. wings back on the plane and looking pretty fricken great! BINGO...Only took 4 months !
WHAT !!! WE GOTTA DO THE OTHER WING TOO !!
Well now the flaps and ailerons look like crap.
Back to the top and read again...
All cause a Jig was so easy to make, right STU ??