OK, I took several months off (posting to this, not working on the Champ). I now have both wings rebuilt, awaiting Spring to be covered. New spars, leading and trailing edges, hardware, ribs etched, and painted with epoxy primer. 

This is as far as I am going with the right wing until I get the left wing back together. I use this wing to "Reverse Engineer" the other wing back together. This wing looks much better than the other one. It still gets the same treatment.

Not my Lunch!

Every piece gets put into a lunch bag when it is removed. After blasting and painting, the part returns to the bag for the re-assembly. 

The lower shelf gets the "ready to install" parts.

Hanging Parts

Bead Blast them, prime them, then paint them and hang them to dry. Every piece of this airplane will get the same treatment.

Blasting Away

All internal wing parts (steel) have been blasted, primed, and painted.

My harbor freight blast cabinet is paying for itself.

At times it feels like I will need back surgery after bending over this thing for hours, but that's what this is all about.

I usually work about 3 hours a day on the Champ.

Spliced Spar with epoxy trim

It's just amazing what some people call "restored". This spar has been spliced, then trimmed with epoxy, or JB Weld.

No Nails

The surprises continue. You can see that there are no nails installed in the front side of this rib. In addition, there was never any rib lacing tape put in. The fabric held the ribs in place. 

No Cotter Pin

Here's another reason to restore instead of buying someone else's work. The aileron bell crank bolt is not only installed with the nut "up", it has never had the cotter pin put in. The nut had backed off several threads. 

Quick and Dirty " restoration

Here's why it's worth the time and money to do it yourself, and do it right. Parts painted in place. Look at the over spray on the spar. 

The Wing has been opened up

The fabric is off the wing. It all looks like a "quick and dirty" restoration. We will take care of that.

Gordon Clement and I got her loaded up on the trailer. The tires hang over the edge of the trailer about 1/2 inch on both sides. We made it home where Brian Karli and my wife Sarah helped with the unloading.

My Latest Aeronca

Well, the Champ looks good from a distance, but the fabric is shot. Hail damage caused extensive damage on the wings and on the tail. Let's take her home for a complete restoration.