Stupid stuff I do

Clifford Bossie · **Posted:** Fri Apr 22, 2016 7:24 pm

For some years I have looked at the A-26C in our collection (or more properly the War Eagles Air Museum collection) and thought "gee, I would sure like to polish her up and paint her". So... A couple of weeks ago I ordered a can of Met-All aluminum polish. And for two weeks I have played Karate Kid.

Before (about 10 year old picture):

A little test area:

A couple of days later:

"Hey I got the nacelle done, how about some anti-glare."

Started the fuselage Sunday:

Where I started from this morning:

And where I called it quits this afternoon:

So far my help has consisted of... well, me. Starting in June we are promised help from JROTC, several hundred kids over several weeks. They get to do the undersides of the wings.

I had looked into aircraft buffing tools, like Buffmaster drum buffers, but at $2,400 they are out off the table. Oh well, "Wax on. Wax off."

And the final scheme has been agreed upon.

Stoney · **Posted:** Fri Apr 22, 2016 11:03 pm

the bad thing about polishing is you have to keep doing it, that's why I like paint :lol:

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sat Apr 23, 2016 7:45 am

nice work there! :drink3:

APG85 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 23, 2016 7:55 am

Wow...makes a big difference...!!!

Ken · **Posted:** Sat Apr 23, 2016 7:57 am

You are a good man, thanks for sharing.

Pogo · **Posted:** Sat Apr 23, 2016 7:55 pm

CB, hooray for you! I spend hours and hours busting my butt doing just this sort of stupid stuff ... for free ... always nice to see I'm not alone... :drink3:

Here's to us volunteers! :drink3:

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2016 4:46 am

Looks a lot better. good job!

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2016 11:04 am

As one of two who had the same idea about a certain C-47 I can appreciate all the hard work it takes. We did everything from hand metal polish to finally agreeing that the Nuvite process is best. Not cheap but great results.
We started with a 2 sq. ft. area as a fluke, but had to proceed from there.

Clifford Bossie · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2016 3:42 pm

The museum is closed today, so I got a day off. Yesterday a friend, Mike Garcia, came by and helped, so I can no longer say I have done it all by myself :lol:

I got the area of the fuselage above the wings and then we went from where I left off the day before to the tip of the aft fuselage. Then I went ahead and polished the tail cone on the other side. ( The big flat screens were temporarily in the hangar for an event Saturday night.)

There are areas under the wings where the paint was not completely removed, so I have to get those before our "volunteers" show up this summer.

Clifford Bossie · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2016 1:29 am

A little progress:

I did some issues with the national insignia: Blemishes and blisters. I thought I had followed the procedures fairly well, but one learns as one goes.

CoastieJohn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:37 pm **Posts:** 1380

Excellent work! It really does make a difference.

I guess the next question is once you're done, how do you keep it in that condition without oxidizing or fading again?

Saville · **Joined:** Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:45 am **Posts:** 518

Wow good for you!

When I saw the first picture, I thought it was painted white.

Great job!

I'm sure she appreciates it.

Malo83 · **Joined:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:31 am **Posts:** 309

Looks good :supz:

how about a few action shots :wink:

Brenden S · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2016 10:18 pm

Well done. At least it will stay that way for a while and will not be as hard to keep it up.

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2016 11:05 pm

Who gets to do the tail??! :lol:

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