I can confirm that the 1-26's up through the C model are not as happy
living outside (anywhere) as many of us were led to believe.

My 1st glider was a 1-26C. I flew it for one summer and then recovered
the fuselage. In the process I found that over 1/3 of the tubes in the
fuselage had rusted complete through in places. This was only obvious
once I began sand blasting the tubes and was able to blast right
through them. The issue appears to be where the cockpit skin is
riveted to the tubes. When the plane is left out side rain and or
condensation forms on the side of the skin and will find a loose
rivet to enter into the inside of the tubes. it will then run all the
way back to the tail inside the lower tubes and rust the tubes from
the inside out. After replacing the damaged tubes and restoring the
fuselage to better than new condition I flew it for a couple more
years.

I loved my 1-26 and probably would have kept it if I had had other
1-26's to fly with. But since everyone else here was flying 15 meter/
standard class ships I moved up to the HP16T when one became available
locally for only a little more than my 1-26 was worth.

Brian