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Candidates for stripe detailing for the side of the fuselage. Decided to go with the center example.
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Trial run for fuselage stripe detailing.
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Prepping the fuselage for paint. Guide coat sprayed over primed surface for wet sanding.
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Wet sanding strakes
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Fuselage painted white first. Lines for placement of stripe detailing being ste.
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Stripes projected forward to meet at nosetip.
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Stripe on sides positioned to bypass fresh air NACA inlet ...
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... and pitot tube on other side.
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Lines extended rearward.
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Fuselage prepped and ready for red and blue paint. The red and blue paint goes on top of the base white and everthing is covered with a thin clear coat.
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Creating stripes entails laying out tape to form the borders of the stripes and the interspersed thin white lines.
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All white surfaces masked - almost ready for paint.
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Checking alignment.
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Innermost (red) stripe masking removed.
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Red paint laid down first.
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First sweep leaves red stripes complete.
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Next, the masking covering the area on fuselage corresponding to the blue stripes is removed.
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The newly painted red stripe is covered with masking tape.
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Then, blue paint is sprayed down.
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Halfway done! After the stripe paint is laid down, the masking is stripped off and a very light clear coat sprayed on.
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Multiple views of the newly painted stripes!
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The clear coat is partially "bladed" off making the striped surface even with the surrounding surface.
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The clear coat over the fuselage is buffed and N724X is ready to return to the hangar.
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N724X is loaded onto a trailer for the trip home.
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Just a little bit wide but it's only a mile or so. We get lots of curious looks.
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Uh oh! A moment of worry: but with a toot of the horn and a friendly wave from the local sheriff, we pass on to the airport.
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Returning home!
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The wings are next, first sprayed with guide coat ...
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... and the laborious process of wet sanding begun.
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In Anthony's workshop, some touchup work is done.
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Anthony points out newly prepped areas.
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Getting ready for paint.
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The paint process begins with a wing painted in its entirety. Inside the paint booth, the undersurface is sprayed.
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After the wing is painted white, the detailing on the outer surface of the winglets is next.
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In a similar fashion as the stripes on the fuselage, tape is laid out to demarcate the vaiuos colors.
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A local sign store supplies a template for the N number which is placed in position. The template has an adhesive backing which holds it in position.
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Removing the covering after the stripes have been painted. Note N number in place under covering paper.
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Final product! The stripes and N number are clear coated and blended into surface as were stripes on fuselage leaving a smooth surface.
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My mother, Inez Guerra, inspects the paint job.
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Paint looks great so I and my parents start putting it all back together.
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Mom and Dad stand next to a newly reassembled N724X, just after a test run.
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Ready for first flight (again!) This time, we go early in the day because by noon, density altitude is 10,000 feet. (It's HOT!)
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Still some fine tuning required, but the outside looks nice and clean.
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Some views of N724X in final paint.
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