Papa3 wrote:
The thread on aluminum trailer painting prompted this question. I've
seen a number of Blanik L-13s in the "original" factory finish of bare
aluminum with blue trim stripes. The aluminum is always dull and
mottled. Closer inspection suggests that the material is not the
typical 2024 surface finish and/or is not Alclad. Has anyone been
able to polish one successfully (successful meaning bright and shiny
and stayed that way for some time)?

Erik Mann
LS8-18 (P3)

A shiny L13 would be an abnormality, and would be rejected by the thermals. They
have to look like hell to fly properly ;-)

Seriously - their skins appear to be made of different compounds, and have an
almost random finish. The internal parts are also made of different grades and
hardness of material, not directly comparable to western compounds. (At least
the parts we have had to fabricate were hard to match) I would expect that the
corrosion protection would be impaired by polishing. Does anyone know whether
this is so?

The only decent looking one I have seen is painted over the aluminium.
--
Bruce Greeff
Std Cirrus #57
I'm no-T at the address above.