It's not hard once you know how...

[Ace-Garageguy]

 

[meechum68]

That is wildly amazing!!

 

 

[maxwell48098]

There is an acronym for this COIK = Clear Only If Known.

[THarrison351]

I've been working on aircraft since 1983. I obtained my A&P in 2005 and gained employment in the aircraft manufacturing and testing around 2008. I'm one of the people who are an expert at drilling offset, square, tapered, snowman, or just plain buggered holes. I'm better at removal and replacement, inspection, testing and troubleshooting. I set back and awe at the masters of fabrication and their ability to smith aircraft.

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 minute ago, THarrison351 said:

I've been working on aircraft since 1983. I obtained my A&P in 2005 and gained employment in the aircraft manufacturing and testing around 2008. I'm one of the people who are an expert at drilling offset, square, tapered, snowman, or just plain buggered holes  . I'm better at removal and replacement, inspection, testing and troubleshooting. I set back and awe at the masters of fabrication and their ability to smith aircraft.

You would like a guy I used to know.

A&P (whatever they were called) on a carrier in WW II. Machinist, sheet metal fabricator, welder, mechanic. Could pretty much repair or make anything, and knew most of the radial engines backwards and forwards. I once watched him make a flawless pointy prop spinner from a flat sheet of aluminum. Had a heat-treating oven in his shop, every machine tool imaginable he'd bought military surplus when he got home. Maintained warbirds among other things.

Very inspirational fella, always willing to take time to teach someone who was serious about learning.

They don't build 'em like that anymore.

[mk11]

I'd say some of those associations have rubbed off on you, Bill. You do at times expend inordinate effort sharing hard earned experience and dare I say wisdom here. A lot of times it must seem like 'casting pearls before swine', but some of us are listening   

[Dragline]

Impressive fabrication. I think I could do it if I had someone there to hold my hand all the way. I'm one of those guys willing to fail to learn. But I would remind us all that this type of stuff was only handed down if you were there back in the early days. Most guys who knew this type of stuff guarded it jealously to keep their business going and have an edge.

[oldcarfan]

On 8/22/2025 at 8:08 PM, THarrison351 said:

I've been working on aircraft since 1983. I obtained my A&P in 2005 and gained employment in the aircraft manufacturing and testing around 2008. I'm one of the people who are an expert at drilling offset, square, tapered, snowman, or just plain buggered holes. I'm better at removal and replacement, inspection, testing and troubleshooting. I set back and awe at the masters of fabrication and their ability to smith aircraft.

My dad's job in the Navy was to work on aircraft. I don't remember what the rating was called then. Later he was a civilian Army helicopter mechanic until retiring. He was always bringing home sheets of aluminum. This was back before they starting recycling and he could have all the 2x2 or smaller pieces he wanted. He had some impressive metal working skills. I remember him taking a sheet of aluminum, his hammers and big bean bag full of lead shot or something and turning out a small fairing for his motor cycle one afternoon just because he didn't want to pay for a store bought fiberglass one. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 8/23/2025 at 6:50 AM, Dragline said:

 ...I'm one of those guys willing to fail to learn...

If I had piled up everything I've ever buggered becoming reasonably proficient at a few things, I'd have a pretty big pile.

A wise man once said we learn more from failure than from easy success.

I'd kinda have to agree with him.

[89AKurt]

Wish I could build a model that fast. 😏

Risk of posting a You Toob video, get pulled into a rabbit hole.  This blows me away: