The TIG fundamentals welding workshop will be held January 8-9, 2011. Each participant will have the opportunity to weld 4130 steel and aluminum materials. The course is taught by “Mister TIG,” aka Wyatt Swaim, and will include basics of metallurgy and hands-on welding. It is a 16-hour program, and the cost is $425 ($399 for EAA members).

The basics of fabric covering will be offered on January 15-16. Participants observe and try their hand at preparation, fabric cutting, gluing, heat-shrinking, coatings, taping, rib stitching and final painting techniques. As with the TIG workshop, all tools and supplies are provided. By the end of the fabric class most people are ready to go home and cover wood wing structures or steel-tube fuselages, Wicks says. The workshop lasts for 15 hours and is $250 per person ($225 for EAA members).

For more information, call 800/221-9425 or visit Wicks’ web site.

The kits include a comprehensive, illustrated manual and DVD, a yard of Superflite fabric, a 6-inch straight needle, 3 yards of surface tape and an equal amount of rib-stitching cord, a glue gun, “invisible” gloves, a pint of adhesive, a pint of primer base, and equal amounts of primer catalyst and flex agent, plus a quart of reducer. For $125, the kit can provide enough experience that builders may feel comfortable tackling a larger project.

For more information about the practice kits, call 800/221-9425 or visit www.wicksaircraft.com.