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Benjo · 01-15-2009, 12:26 PM

I have a problem with the exterior marker lights (3). Since my airstream is 60 some odd years old it no longer has the original marker lights. Only thing left is the hole where they once were. There has been some corrosion around that area and so I trimmed back the deteriorated aluminum leaving me a 3.5" hole. I am interested in the beehive marker lights but they all seem to be around 2". This poses a problem to fill the remaining 1.5". Has anyone run into a problem like this and how did you remedy it? Any suggestions would be helpful. Right now I have the holes covered with aluminum tape so no moisture gets in. Thx! b

Aerowood · 01-15-2009, 01:02 PM

Once you have your new marker lights make a patch that is of the same shape as the light but big enough to cover the hole plus one row of rivets. Rivet that on with sealer and attach the new light to it. Or you could just change the whole skin.

ts8501 · 01-15-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerowood

Once you have your new marker lights make a patch that is of the same shape as the light but big enough to cover the hole plus one row of rivets. Rivet that on with sealer and attach the new light to it. Or you could just change the whole skin.

I am going to have to do the same thing to replace my Auto Lamp 575's with Bargman 99's. The holes from the Auto Lamps will be bigger than the replacement lights on the Bargmans. I am going to make aluminum patches that are larger yet the same shape, and when riveted, in my mind they will look very good. I base this on other patches I have seen, although I cannot point to any picture examples at the moment.

-Tim

Benjo · 01-15-2009, 01:40 PM

it would be good to see some pics of a successful patch so I can get a better idea of how to do it. anybody?

ts8501 · 01-16-2009, 10:36 AM

This is not exactly what I am looking for in samples with lights, but check out the oval patch in these pictures just below the new water entry, and you will get the idea (at least I hope so). I found these on the restoration at the VAP site. The patch looks like it is supposed to be there, and I think it can look the same with the new lights installed in the center of the patch.