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Retro Paint Schemes

techlaf

Member
While I appreciate the current en vogue paint schemes of what I call "swoopy ribbons", they are not my favorite. I especially like the retro paint schemes of the 60s and 70s. Has anyone painted their Vans model in a retro way? Not warbird/military retro, but 70s earth tone era?
 

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I didn't build this one but we have sure received a bunch of compliments on the "classic" paint scheme.
 

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Classic race style

I cant take full credit since my fiancé helped with the design. She flys the Cessna 140 pictured. N74RV was designed around race classic look.
 

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I agree the pastel colors and "swoopies" will look dated at some point, if not already. My RV-6's color scheme still gets compliments 22 years after I painted it, and the scheme is inspired by what was on the very earliest RV-6's.

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Pitts

Wannabe Pitts.
 

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RV-4

My 2005 RV-4. I like to think of it as Section 3 orange (reno race fans will understand). I believe the builder was a Tennessee fan
 

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There is a Dutch saying:
"Over smaak valt niet te twisten.
There is no arguing about taste

Having said that, I agree with the OP that I prefer the old fashioned schemes. I especially like the straight lines. It makes the plane look sleeker and faster.
The curved paintschemes makes the plane look squatty (I hope that's the correct word).
It also looks like everybody has the same paint schemer.

But remember: There is no arguing about taste!
 

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My wife has a ‘71 182 that is painted similar to the Cardinal in the OP. I fully intend to paint my 14 to borrow heavily from the 182 paint scheme as the planes will live side by side.

She allowed me to fly it for this picture.
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Can't find a picture, but the early (1960-ish) Mooneys had a distinctive paint scheme.

When flickr decides to start working again, I'll post my old 1959 Cessna 175 as purchased and with the original paint design recreated.
 
We joke about it…

Sometimes my wife and I joke about painting the RV-8, when the time comes, like our 172H (my first attempt at posting pics to this site, so my apologies if it doesn’t work).

That said, I’m pretty sure Blatz brewing owns the eighths to the scheme. So if you want to copy it, contact them:D

https://www.handfamilycompanies.com/blatz-beer
 

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Polished

If you don't mind sore elbows.... Here is a blast from the late 40's

I'm thinking more and more about paint on my RV - although it will be several years yet. There are a few local RVs that have just a little aluminum showing through that I like. But I do agree that the more simplistic straight lines are better.

The boxy wings on the RV is the only area where the swoopy paint seems to make sense.

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Oshkosh early to mid 90's. One pic is, I think, at Lake Havasu, but not sure, same time period.

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These two planes are one in the same. This is the first photo I saw of my old plane when it was in one piece. It was almost destroyed in a hangar collapse.
 

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Im not that into the retro paint styles but that V Tail Bonanza is really sharp. I would love to fly into airports in that plane!

Lucky for us, we can paint them how we want to and the factory paint job is anything we want since we are the factory!!!!
 
Im not that into the retro paint styles but that V Tail Bonanza is really sharp. I would love to fly into airports in that plane!

Lucky for us, we can paint them how we want to and the factory paint job is anything we want since we are the factory!!!!

The V tail is a lot of fun to fly and gets noticed - but there is zero chance of not having hand prints to clean up. It is a good ambassador for new pilots.

I'm liking that corvette paint. Practical and a nod to the past. I'm wondering how the top of the wings were painted...
 
Somewhere around 2004. In Sedona.

ATTACH]20907[/ATTACH]

GM
 

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Great thread. I like that era of paint jobs too.

Here is mine. Instead, its a 'retro Globe Swift' homage.
 

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Here’s a pic of my 10. I didn’t build or paint it, so I can’t take any credit. I think the paint scheme is kind of retro with clean lines, and hopefully will stand up over time.

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showed the thread to my wife Tina... she told my the paint job on mine looks old fashioned enough, so here goes (foto credit: Björn Engelke http://cr-photos.com):
 

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Awesome

I love both of these. That 140 is a looker. Such a great airplane. And the RV, well, obviously. :)

I cant take full credit since my fiancé helped with the design. She flys the Cessna 140 pictured. N74RV was designed around race classic look.
 
Great idea

I really like the nod to the Swift. Looks absolutely great on an RV.

I'm another fan of Golden Age paint schemes. Trying to come up with something involving cream and red, or maybe a nod to the Monocoupe. Not really sure how to make that look good on a -9A. A man can dream. :)

Great thread. I like that era of paint jobs too.

Here is mine. Instead, its a 'retro Globe Swift' homage.
 
Over Southern NM with Jerry Sheppard at the controls
 

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Bare essentials

I think Bare Metal is fairly retro in its own rite, WW2 P51 scheme notwithstnding! Here's some before and after of my RV4 which somehow turns 29 this year...:)









V/R
Smokey
 
I figured I'd add some vinyl artwork after painting it plain aviation grey, but then the basic lines seemed so nice I just keep putting it off...

plain grey.jpg
 
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