I'm looking at a mid-70's Citabria that has the original covering. The fabric itself seems OK, but the paint was "touched up" a few places on the upper wing, and has bubbled up. The current owner sanded it down to the original finish, and it looks OK to be retouched (doing it right this time). My question is the fuselage, where there is some "ringworm" looking spots along the sides - cracked paint, etc. How would one go about fixing that, short of re-covering?

Thanks.

Not what you asked but 40 some odd years is long enough for a cover. It's time to see what's under it, especially if you're buying.

Good luck, hope it works out.

Get it officially PUNCH tested before you do anything else - unless you are willing to have it turn into another two year ( average ) project. Or PAy a pro to do it quicker. All the usual looks at inside bottom fabric etc.

Used to "pay' for my flight time by rubbing out ringworm and smoothing out punch "patches."
one or two hours of making surface defects disappear for one hour clock time plus fuel.

Wanted to be flying with not much $$$$

PS: It will make a difference on what paint is already on it. IF, hard enamel type - forget it.
IF - old buteryate dope then there are solutions avail AFTER ya hand rub all the ringworm,

Wannabe helpful is all

I realize that it's probably due for recover, but the current owner says it's been hangared since new, and that it still "punches" good, and is in good shape, other than the cosmetics. Obviously, a pre-buy inspection is definitely required by someone who knows Citabrias... I'm just trying to understand if it's even possible to do anything with the paint to make it last a bit longer. If I did purchase the plane, it would be hangared.

I know of one plane that they used a DA sander and CAREFULLY sanded the finish for a repaint.
You could sand out the cracks, being careful to not hit the fabric.
Being a certified plane, I don't know if this is allowed.

40 years is a long time, hangar or not. I'd be worried about rusting tubes or rotted formers under the fabric but it should be possible to sand, fill and re-shoot some color on it.

Where are the cracks? Maybe some strategically placed decals would help?

JP
Regarding outer coats of color. FIRST determine what the finish material is.
IF, it is the "classic" OLD rag and tube finish, then it is most likely a butyrate dope.

You do not SAND butyrate. By sanding it is too easy to damage the fabric. You use the thinner - usually MEK - and you slowly RUB out the ringworm. Often you end up "blending" the bottom coat of clear and aluminum well enough to clear out the ringworm just before getting on the fabric. Used to earn my J-3 and Champ time by doing this for dry time on the same planes. Got to where I could finish off a punch patch well enough to be all but invisible. You can start with some clear Butyrate with a fair amount of thinner if you want to start out slow and learn just how much thinner you can work with.

This way you can RUB it all the way to the fabric IF that is how far in the cracking goes.

If you do not get "under" the cracks you may leave moisture absorbing - very fine dust up against the fabric. You can RUB it down to fabric to verify ALL ringworm is OUT. Then a small brush - unless you are good with a fine airbrush - and you begin to rebuild the coatings as required.

Aircraft Spruce advertises a rejuvenator. Giigle for other options also.

Nuther nice thing about butyrate is that you can but various small quantities for occasional cosmetics.
Same stuff as used to use on model airplanes.

NOW if the outer finish is one of the "HARD" enamel or the newer polys = Well I just don't know.

Thanks, guys. I've decided to pass on this one - just too many "unknowns" for me.

Good call. Flying projects can eat you up. Better to find one someone has already spent the $$$ on unless you're an IA. Even then a person can't expect a real wage.