A few more things to address

Wade came over this afternoon and looked over the covering job on 98K's fuselage.  His eagle eye found a few places I need to work on.  The biggest issue is I do not have any drain grommets installed in the bottom of the fuselage (oops).  These are like the ones installed in the wing and let any moisture escape.  So, I have those on order from Aircraft Spruce and will do other tasks until they arrive.

Wade also brought over his paint spray outfit, a fan for circulating air through the paint booth, and a light fixture he made.  All this will be very beneficial to the paint process.  Hopefully, I can get these tasks accomplished in the next few days and be ready to start spraying after that.

I went to Mound Ridge on Friday at lunch and picked up everything I need for the fuselage except the final color coats.

I also had some friends from church stop by to inspect progress earlier this afternoon.  They had been to the Stearman Cafe for lunch.  It was fun to show them 98K.

Poly Brush, Poly Spray, and other chemicals for the process

Wade's spray outfit

Florescent lights to shed light on  the subject

Stinson in a box

I had all the other chores completed today, so attention returned to 98K.  I decided to brave the heat in the hangar and work on the paint booth.  While it was in the mid 90's outside, it was only in the upper 80's in the hangar.  I have been keeping doors shut while I work on the paint booth to keep the plastic from blowing everywhere, so no breeze to cool me off either.

I first worked on the the ceiling of the paint booth.  After that I decided to do an end.  Before I knew it, I had it all boxed in.  All that is left is to make a hole for the fan/filter and an exit hole covered with more filters.  I thought about getting a large box (like refrigerator size) and then have that go from the paint booth to the service door.  I could then open the door and let the fumes exit outside the hangar through the box, with the filters attached.  I'll work on that this week.

I spent 5 hours today getting this amount accomplished.  I also went to Ace Hardware and got 2 more rolls of Duck Tape.  I think that is 4 total.  About 750 feet of tap!  I bought a box of plastic that has 3600 square feet and most if it is now used.

I need to get a hold of Wade....he has a fan and some lights I am going to borrow.  Maybe I will be spraying by next weekend?

Ceiling on

A view from above

One end on

The back end covered.  You can see the service

 door I plan to use to vent to the outside.

Wall 2 up

I built the second wall of the paint booth tonight and now have it suspended.  Next up is to close off the top.

The great wall

Attention was refocused today on 98K.  It has been a busy spring.  Lots of flying opportunities and other diversions. 

After a false start a few weeks back on the paint booth, I decided to build a wall flat on the floor.  I then ran a 1/16 inch cable through the top support and connected one end to the hangar door and the other to the loft.  I then pulled it tight and raised the wall to the vertical in the process.  It worked pretty well. 

Then it was off to ACE Hardware to get more cable and duck tape.  Maybe tomorrow afternoon I will build the other wall.  Then it is just a simple matter of sealing off the top and ends.  How hard can that be?

Once raised, there is enough room to go behind

the wall and still access the work benches.

I centered the airplane and moved a lot of stuff to the south

in order to have enough room to build the next wall.

Paint Booth Started

It has been awhile since the last post.  Lots of other activities have been taking time away from 98K, including a trip to the Indy 500 last weekend. 

Today, I purchased a bunch of PVC pipe and connectors to make a paint booth.  It just so happened that friends Don and Mark were here in the afternoon, so I enlisted their help.  Wade had warned me this stuff is flimsy....boy is it.  I am planning a 30 foot long, 20 foot wide, 10 foot high paint booth.  Our first attempt did not work, but between the three of us, I now have a theory on how to better support the sides from above.  I'll work on that in the coming days.

Part of the raw materials

Don and Mark realizing this is a losing proposition