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Fuselage skin
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2025 3:52 pm
by nharlow
Hi all,
I am planning to replace the aft/upper fuselage skin on my 140 to repair some holes left from an old antenna install.
Does anyone have any experience with skins from Univair? Do they fit well or would I be better off to cut one from a sheet?
Thank you
- 20251126_190147.jpg (55.3 KiB) Viewed 1049 times
Re: Fuselage skin
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2025 7:10 pm
by 6183
You should contact Lorraine and Ken Morris at
www.taildraggeraviation.com. They have replaced many of the skins on these aircraft, and would be able to speak truthfully about any supplier's replacement skins.
Re: Fuselage skin
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2025 11:19 am
by nharlow
Thank you. I will do that. They do beautiful work!
Re: Fuselage skin
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2025 8:14 pm
by 8425
I made mine by using the old one as the pattern/drill blanket. Laid the new piece of aluminum on a sheet of MDF with the vinyl protection (if it has one) against the MDF. Placed the original skin on top with the outer surface against the new sheet. Start drilling near the center and work out while clecoing the stack to the MDF as you go. Additional clamps may be required along the outer edges to hold the old skin tight to the new skin. Using the old part to match drill the new skin will result in a perfect fit.
Re: Fuselage skin
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2025 6:43 pm
by V529
8425 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 11, 2025 8:14 pm
I made mine by using the old one as the pattern/drill blanket. Laid the new piece of aluminum on a sheet of MDF with the vinyl protection (if it has one) against the MDF. Placed the original skin on top with the outer surface against the new sheet. Start drilling near the center and work out while clecoing the stack to the MDF as you go. Additional clamps may be required along the outer edges to hold the old skin tight to the new skin. Using the old part to match drill the new skin will result in a perfect fit.
'This would be my preference. My airplane got smashed in a windstorm in 1991. I replaced many skins this way.........they all fit great and cost .........zilch. (compared to a supplier)
Re: Fuselage skin
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2025 10:40 pm
by 8425
I had a belly skin with a couple of nasty wrinkles that would not lay flat, so I cut out the worst areas. This allowed the skin to lay out flat but the perimeter needs to stay intact so that the fastener holes are accurately located.