Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I think now the burning question is "how long until THIS airplane makes the cover of the EAA Member Handbook?" I think Lee will eventually hold an unbeatable record of his art on the cover of that pub. I'll call Guinness in the morning.

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Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

Frase : It will be a close race between Lee and Therry ! Both are VERY skilled at bending the Reynolds ! You and me bend the Reynolds around a potatoe !

RB

Then come to calif and help us paint Deans!!! Good job Lee, you going to make the Utah gathering? Dan

Dan/Dean: Pick a calm day at KVIS and after you have prepped Deans AC , I would spray it with TCP (tri city paint) IOS free high build primer and sand it down with 800 wet/dry paper , with water . After you are satisfied with the primer and the sanding results , I would use the TCP AUE (Acrylic Urethane Enamel) for the top coat . Single stage ! One light coat , then two more coats ! The paint I used was the TCP Restoration Shop AUE ....Hot Rod Red ! At the time it was about $120.00 for the entire kit . Orange peel , runs and a few bugs in the paint not a problem ! Let the paint cure and then wet sand the paint with 1200 then 2000 wet sand paper . Once the surface is smooth use Meguirar's 105 buffing compound , followed by Meguirar's 205 polishing compound . It is a hell of a lot of work , but the end result will save Dean THOUSANDS ! You can go on You Tube and see how the Hot Rod Guys wet sand their paint to a high gloss !

I tried all the options to paint my AC at home including using a HF portable garage , but it was too small and not enough light and the paint hose was all over my feet ! In the end I just painted it in the driveway ! It came out OK and I give it a grade of B ! You and Dean may have a problem with the Central Valley "Bugs" should you decide to do it in the "Alley" , but if you use any color other than WHITE you should be OK !

RB I can never get my pics to post from my Gallery ?

Very slick!

Thanks Rich, I too used TCP, Good stuff............Dan

Dan,
I'd love to make Utah, we'll see as things get closer. I will admit that last time I did that I was glad to be in a seasoned Thorp. Flying over the Rockies may be a bit much to ask while working out the kinks.
Lee

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

I'm jealous....I have lot of work to performed before I see my plane at the same stage.
Your Thorp looks like a real racer!
Keep going Lee.

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Thierry
French Canadian T-18
C-FPVE #091

Lee: Nothing like having a prickly pine cone on your seat trying to break in a new Bronco ! Stay close to diverts and keep your other diverts closer !

RB

Some interior shots for you fellas ... I'm still assembling the rest so I'm holding off on a decent exterior picuture of the final product for a few days. But here's a bit of the inside.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Very Nice Lee...especially the "hands off" controls. Wish I could do that in my machine! :-) Looks super clean and comfortable.

He was trying to keep the "hands off" design a secret. It's a prototype Bluetooth auto flight system

Sorry for the secret spoiler....
T

Looks FANTASTIC, Lee! Great job.

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Dean Cuke
Visalia, California
N772DM
KVIS

Mega-nice.

Lee,
Who did the upholstery on your seats??? looking good!!!!!

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Bruce Finney
N18JF T-18C #262
Yelm, WA USA