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 .



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:

During

After

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]

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