801 Assembly

Just a quick few pictures of the 801's assembly today.

 Horizontal and elevator installed.

 Rudder on

 Wings moved into position.

 Wings on

I was not involved in the assembly, I just wanted to share it with you.  Josh

Masking the stripes

I moved the 801 out of the paint booth and into the main hangar to lay out the stripes.

 I took the picture Ethan gave me and projected it clear across the hangar and onto the airplane.  This gave me a template to mask off of.  It went really well other than the screen saver kept coming on.

 Here is what the 801 looks like so far.  When finished it will have red and black stripes with a black tail number on the side.  I think it will take days of nit picking to get it all right and smooth looking.

Tomorrow will be more of the same.  Finish laying out this side and doing the same to the other.  Josh

White

The day went as well as I could hope.  The yellow primer went on nicely and the white in two coats except for the two fuselage side panels that I gave an extra thinned down gloss coat to help with the dulling from over spray.  I ordered some more paint today and it will not be in till next week, so... I wont be able to finish this week like I hoped.
     We also had a squadron of Black Hawks show up at the airport.  The flew in a straight line, landed and taxied around the airport, then took off some time later.
      Tomorrow I'll work on masking the stripes and numbers.  Till then, Josh

Passing of the wrench and 801 is ready to paint

Didn't make it to paint today, too many small things to get straightened out before the paint goes on.  I have learned that it is better to delay putting on the paint for one day than rushing the paint job and spending the next week trying to fix what you should have done in the first place.

 The passing of the wrench is a MMS tradition where the senior apprentice, who has finished his hours, passing the wrench on to the next guy in line.  Mark on the right is passing the wrench to Andy.  Both are with Missionary Aviation Fellowship.  Mark will be stationed in Cameroon after completing his licensing test.

 The 801 is now ready for paint and if all goes to plan the paint will start tomorrow.  Here is a front shot of the fuselage.

And a shot of the doors and my makeshift work station.

Hopefully pictures of paint tomorrow.  Josh

Day 12

Finished the wings today, I thought they turned out nice and by far my best experience with stencils.  

I then moved the wings out and the 801 in.  I started with some flat black on the interior, around the doors and such.  Tomorrow I'll mask it off again and paint the rest of the interior gray.  Then on to the exterior on Friday. 

Thanks, Josh

Day 13

Thanks for checking back. This is a side shot of Ethan's 801.  I'm masking the interior in preperation for paint.  Using alot of plastic and tape is a good thing here because owners do not appreciate over spray on there instruments and radios.  If in doubt...more tape!

 Today I worked on laying out the registration numbers on the 801's wings.  The Number is "N801MB", the "N" is the nationality designation for the United States, the "801" was chosen by Ethan because his plane is an 801 and the "MB" stands for "Missions Beyond", the name of Ethans' mission board.

 The lettering is about 20" high and is located on the top of the right wing and the bottom of the left.  Tomorrow I will paint the lettering black and remove the masking.

Till tomorrow, Josh

2 weeks to paint a plane

It has been a while since I have posted anything, but not from lack of trying.  I've been experiencing technical difficulties.  

   Many have asked how Kristi is recovering from her back surgery.  She is doing great!  The doctors have taken her off any restrictions and told her to slowly return to her normal lifestyle.  She still has some aches and pains but they are mostly associated with strengthening her back and not with her surgery.  She is happily going about her life once again.  Looking forward to the upcoming school year and the harvest from our garden.  Those of you who have had similar injuries or surgeries can understand the joy that she gets from doing things she onced loved but was no longer able to do.  

 Here is Kristi milking our Jersey "Daisy".  

 At work I've been working with Dale on a 206 for Missionary Air Group (MAG) and helping Ethan Shields by painting his Zenith 801.  It is a home-built airplane that he plans on using in Mexico for church planting.

These pieces are the flight controls and STOL equipment.  Ethan's plane will be primarily white red accents.  MMS has given me 2 weeks to get this painting project done.  Check back tomorrow and see what progress I make then.

Thanks, Josh