1977 Safari restoration

[Aerowood]

Something just occured to me. More work off course, but if you made a flush type skin splice on the top and outside of the new wing window skins and then flush riveted it together, those two seams would be alot less dominating, making it look like those two skins were a continuation of the two segment skins. Just something to think about.

Kip

[Zeppelinium]

Not a bad idea! always looking for a challenge...

I think most of the appearance issue is due to the drastic difference in skin color/corrosion. Once I get the shell polished a little, we'll see if the shell alclad and the new bare 2024 contrast that much.

I'm thinking about the crappy rivet holes in the shell from where the window frame was installed--to do flush rivets would require a trim of the skin, making the patch at least 1/4" wider. And getting the center diagonal joint flush would be a real trial. I thin that would have to mimic the overlap of the existing shell diagonal line.

I do have one problem, either way--the bottom edge has a significant gap (on the order of 1/8"), due to the camber change. The window frame was thick material and pulled the shell up tight. I was wondering if I can slightly roll that edge, despite it's curve?

Zep