Extreme Aircraft Makeover: 1986 Piper

[imported_themightytimmah]

I never planned on getting into aircraft, but a good friend of mine won the bid on an aircraft fleet (37 planes, wash monthly, detail 5 a month) and although he had the washing down, he didn`t have the first clue on where to start detail wise. Long story short, I needed the money and went in on it with him. Out of the fleet, maybe 20 are brand new, 7-10 aren`t too bad, and the last couple are true horror shows. Well guess which ones we get to detail first :o.



This particular plane was the worst in the fleet, it had a crappy repaint about 10 years ago, and it had been sitting out in the Florida sun since then, with maybe a monthly wash and a wax every coupla years. I tried everything, including Poorboy`s PP cut 25/75 with HT EC and a wool pad, to little avail. Finally I lucked out and thought to try out a marine oxidation remover, which really saved me on this job. Even with a helper, it still took 8 hours of hard work (in a 98* hanger) to knock out this plane.



Process:



Wash with some crappy generic aircraft soap (they had it washed when I got there, they used a mop :nono. I might have to teach them a lil bit on wash methods)

Cut with Meg`s #49 Marine Oxidation Remover and a LC orange cutting pad @1600 (wool was leaving too much marring)

Polish/wax with Meg`s #66 via Cyclo/orange pads

Remove #66 with Aquawax

Plexo on windows (via paper towel, lol they really need some training)

AA Foam on tires



Before:



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/themightytimmah/DSC00214.jpg



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/themightytimmah/DSC00220.jpg



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/themightytimmah/DSC00221.jpg



During



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/themightytimmah/DSC00225.jpg



After



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/themightytimmah/DSC00235.jpg



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/themightytimmah/DSC00237.jpg



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/themightytimmah/DSC00233.jpg



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/themightytimmah/DSC00227.jpg



All in all, I ended up losing money on this job (they pay a flat rate per plane), but I`ll make it back in spades when we get to the new planes (all they need is a good wash and a coat of Aquawax).

[Scottwax]

Amazing! Looks brand new now. :up



I agree that planes, RVs, boats, etc respond better to gel coat specific products than regular automotive products.

[I.A.S.]

i am looking into doing boats..??......i know they use a gel coat also, i hear it harder to buff out and such...anything i should keep in mind when doing these?



and oh yeah, very nice work BTW...

[mcnab]

I did a plane several months back and I will NEVER again do one. They are WAY To time consuming (did you do the bottom of the wings and fuselage too?) and they really don`t pay enough for the time and effort it takes.



Good work tho!

[BoxsterCharlie]

Hey, I used to go to that school. Back when it was called F.I.T. I wasn`t in the flight program, but my roommate was. Cool place.



I always like a good airplane thread. My dad owned a plane and would stand by a claim of at least a few mile per hour improvement with a good wax. Makes sense to me.

[imported_KevinA]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/themightytimmah/DSC00233.jpg





I first thought, wow, that`s some mural, but then in the same thought, I realized the hanger doors were open and it`s just getting dark outside.



Great job on the plane. I hope you post pics of some of the rest of them.

[Beason]

Looks awesome. I miss detailing planes. I just miss detailing.

[mav63]

Don`t forget to polish up the fifth stage fetzer valve.... :chuckle:



Nice job! I wish I could do airplanes..hmmm