Now it has shiny clear coat on it.

Perhaps it will look OK after all.

Paint is on the fuselage.

Primer is applied.

This speed line took me about 10 hours to put on properly.

 If I had doubts about whether I was wise to build an airplane, I certainly doubted it after spending 50 hours of masking on the fuselage.

The stripe on the sides were a real concern. There are two uniform blue stripes on the top and bottom of the silver.

The tail was not as difficult to mask as it looks. Phil Kite (the painter) had a vinyl cutter machine which was programmable by computer. Actually, kind of fun.

 Looks kind of sleek. I am very happy with the result so far. Phil now has be apply the clear coat, which will give it the very shiny gloss. I hope to see that tomorrow.

Stay tuned. I hope to show the next stages.

painting has started!

In the spray booth.

big pieces to paint

The biggest parts of the lancair are ready for paint. i hope to haul the fuselage and wings to the painter tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Great looking help on sanding

On different days I had both my daughters out for a day.

Excellent technique!

Great job. Thanks Felicity!

Lookin good Karmin!

Thanks for your attention to detail.

You girls could teach a workshop.



New painter appointed

We have a new painter assigned to painting the lancair. Phil from Kiteair will be performing the task. I am pleased with this and we plan to give it another try around the beginning of September. 


In the meantime, Reg Clarke from Lethbridge has come up to help with sanding the airplane down with 600 grit in preparation for the paint. Things are progressing nicely.


I try to get some new pictures in.

Minor Setback

The wings, flaps, and ailerons are painted. Unfortunately, the paint turned out to be a bit of a disaster. The ailerons and flaps had about 8 runs, dripping, sagging. The wings also have problems. It is so disappointing that I didn't want to show anything more on the blog.

Now I have to decide whether to sand them all down again and start over. A bit discouraging for me. My wife Cheryl has been a tremendous support. Without her I would have given up.

ONE BIG STEP.  The wings, flaps, ailerons, nose gear door were painted white today. That means I can't fixate on them any more. They are committed. Whahoooo!. The rest of the airplane is committed for next wednesday. I still have a lot of work to do, to get the fuselage ready. Three more long days should hopefully do it.

One more trial fit of the ailerons and flaps. Hopefully tomorrow they'll pick up wings and controls to paint. They are ready.

The paint shop has the wings flaps, and ailerons scheduled for paint on wednesday. I'm working like a madman.

Upper cowling has highbuild.

Elevators are next

Lancair does a 180 degree roll !

Yes. Back on the wheels again. Bottom of fuselage and wings are ready for paint. I'll try to complete the wing tops by the end of the week. Hopefully have the wings at the paint shop on the 10th.

This is the last fill on the wing bottoms. As good as I can make it. I'm fixating.
Trying to finish the belly and tail in the next few days.

I put 4 coats of primer on the cowling. After cure, I'll sand it all down again.

Sanding

Time to work the lower cowling over ... again.

I apply 3M guide coat. Anything the sand paper doesn't get remains black.

Then the black shaded spots are filled in later.

Sanding and more Sanding ...

My friend Ed and I, spent about 5 hours sanding the primer today. It doesn't look much different, so I didn't have any new pictures today. Tomorrow I sand more with 220 grit, then move to 400 grit. My goal is to have the airplane upright early next week.

more primer

rudder primer

aileron trim fairing

primer on the elevators

lower cowling

The aileron was modified by providing a slot for the trim control rod. The square opening is the mount for the trim servo motor. Tomorrow I'll install a fairing over it. Then touch up the aileron for primer. Ailerons should be complete by the end of the week.

Two more primer coats were applied to the bottom side. That's it. I'll sand it all with 220, then 400 grit. Then it can be painted.

Now that the cowling seam is repaired. More filling was applied. Hopefully, have this ready for primer by wednesday.

 

 

 

This is an LED dome light. Made to attach into a corner on the canopy

 

Rudder Position Light

The LED position light for the rudder is complete. Looks like it will be OK!