[niles]

David:
thanks for the comments. I assume your final finish is with scotchbrite fine(gray)?

Your and the next comment got me thinking about all the 40/50's Lockhheed's, etc of that era that were highly polished and flown in that polished condition. they obviously had some kind of alum finish to preclud the alum from oxidizing to the dull grey.
I did a quick search and came up empty; BUT, i live near the Pensacola air museum and they have some of the best antique planes(some polished) I've ever seen. I'll go over and search out there chief restorer and see if he can enlighten us in how they do it.

gn