T-6 gets an engine

[ThinkingManNeil]

Looks great, Brandon! I always enjoyed flying the Six when I did and it looks like yours'll be a beauty when she's ready to fly. What kind of paint scheme have you got planned for her?

Cheers,

Neil H.

[bdk]

Looks great, Brandon! I always enjoyed flying the Six when I did and it looks like yours'll be a beauty when she's ready to fly. What kind of paint scheme have you got planned for her?

My buddy Bill did such a good job with the firewall I'm trying to convince him to attack the rest of the plane with the Cyclo polisher as well! I don't have any scheme in particular picked out yet. I'm seeking recommendations, but something that is predominantly bare metal would be preferred.

[Eric Friedebach]

Excellent work!

It is nice to be working with clean parts and bolt them on. No busted knuckles trying to get rusty hardware apart.

I hear ‘ya!

[Lynn Allen]

It looks great and won't be long now, you will be flying, keep up the good work and photo's coming.

Cheers,

Lynn

[Matt]

Thanks for showing us those photos Brandon. The T-6 is looking great. That's some stunning work that your friend Bill did on the firewall. She's going to be one very clean airframe when finished. Look forward to hearing more on your continued progress.

Cheers,
Matt

[TEXANTOMCAT]

Gorgeous Brandon - only problem is we now have something to live up to ULP!

All the best

TT

[snj-5]

So Brandon, what kind of shmooey (technical term) did your buddy
use while polishing your firewall?

I have an NOS exhaust outlet (stainless steel) panel and I thought
it'd look nice if I polished it up to match all the new skins on the
fuselage.

Just came in out of the hangar after rubbing on that danged exhaust
shield for 4+ hours.

It looks way better, but it has nowhere near a mirror finish like
your firewall does....

I'm using an 8" bench grinder with an 8" spiral cut buffing wheel on
it, and I started with PPG rubbing compound and moved to Nuvite
(aluminum) polish.

Bela P. Havasreti

[bdk]

So Brandon, what kind of shmooey (technical term) did your buddy use while polishing your firewall?

Nuvite G6. First went over the edges and details with a pneumatic die grinder with a 6" buffing wheel, then over the remainder with a Cyclo polisher. The G6 worked better than the various grades of rouge, Mothers, etc.

[snj-5]

Thanks Brandon, I will have to try some G6. I think I may need
some more speed at the buffing wheel too....

Bela P. Havasreti

[B-29 Super Fort]

That firewall looks so good it's a shame that you have to cover it up. Looks beautiful! What's your best guess as to when you expect to be ready to fly it?

[bdk]

What's your best guess as to when you expect to be ready to fly it?

Well, I've been saying 2 years for the past ten, but now I am ready to say it will be finished in 1-1/2 years. I have a little one due in early July, so I suspect that may impede progress!

I think I may need some more speed at the buffing wheel too....

I recently bought a chintzy polisher buffer at Harbor Freight on sale for $27.99 that seems to work well, just not sure for how long it will work. The bonnet is junk, so I got a wool bonnet with mandrel from Lowe's that fits a Makita I think and now use that for initial buffing of aluminum. Careful! It can get the metal really hot!

I'm sure it is all about tip speed. A small buffer needs to go fast while a large one can go much slower. You need to put some pressure on it too.

I'm a polishing beginner, so we'll see how long before I give up on polishing the airplane. For now though I need to concentrate on things more mechanical rather than just appearance.

[Eric Friedebach]

For that kind of job you really need a flexible shaft polishing machine fitted with a spiral sewn cotton cloth wheel. Basically it’s a 1hp electric motor mounted on top of a heavy caster base. You can use a combination of rouges. The cotton wheel can be dressed with a rake, so it can last quite a long time.



New models go for over $1,000, but the one I used was purchased for about $150 at a used equipment dealer.

I have a little one due in early July, so I suspect that may impede progress!

Sounds like congratulations are in order!

[Rob Mears]

If that was my project and I had done the work, I'd be real tempted to use the completed plane as a "flying resume" for a new upstart restoration company. Not sure if that's the kind of day job you'd prefer or not though. You no doubt have the passion, skill and patience to see a project like that through. Is restoration your forte, or would you rather be flying?

[bdk]

If that was my project and I had done the work, I'd be real tempted to use the completed plane as a "flying resume" for a new upstart restoration company. Not sure if that's the kind of day job you'd prefer or not though. You no doubt have the passion, skill and patience to see a project like that through. Is restoration your forte, or would you rather be flying?

I've spent a lot more time restoring than flying... But I think I would rather be flying.

With the management position I have now, I have the skills to handle the employee issues inherent in a small business. I think that my career is more promising financially where I am at the moment though. Who knows what the future may bring!

[systemofadown1162]

Shiny