Can you share who painted it?
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Ball-park estimate for paint job?
- Thread starter Duncannon
- Start date
I had everything painted before final assembly with the tail and wings done first. However, the paint shop had to match the fuselage hue to the same hue as the tail and wings since they were done at very different times. They did this by mixing small batches of Imron and spraying small strips onto a wing inspection plate until they matched the wings. Otherwise, I highly recommend doing that! Here's what my RV-9A project looked like in early summer of 2004, just before final assembly. Just need to be a bit more careful while handling the parts, but the painter also placed special stick-on protective material onto where the parts contact the jigs (mainly the wings and horizontal tail).
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I have a lot of time with Imron. Both old and new.
I wrote an article for Kitplanes. Vinyl 101. They haven't published, but I can send the draft if you want. Black is Kirker Ultra Glo Single Stage Urethane. Yellow is 3M 2080. Eagle is just a vinyl graphic. Probably $2000 including paint, tools and the eagle. Learning curve isn't anywhere near learning how to spray paint!
I painted my first plane for around 3k in materials. It was far from perfect but it was a great learning experience and I’m glad I tried it. I had a somewhat underpowered turbine compressor and homemade paint booth. I sent my second plane to the pros for around 27k. If I build again I’ll probably spray it myself with a larger compressor and inflatable paint booth.
We vinyl our large carbon drones at work. It takes two guys 8 hours for a Cessna sized airframe. Matte finish looks surprisingly good.
We vinyl our large carbon drones at work. It takes two guys 8 hours for a Cessna sized airframe. Matte finish looks surprisingly good.
Learning to paint is a great skill to learn, and pretty rewarding if you take the time to learn it, and purchase good equipment. I personally, could not bear the thought of paying someone the amount of money that some of these quotes come in at. For me, it just does not make good sense. Others don't mind. Any good body shop painter could do the job for you if you are not satisfied with your own results. Many are hungry for cash and would love the opportunity to do some weekend, or "government work" as we called it in the skilled trades, on the side for cash money.
Before you run down the DIY path, be aware that some folks can be very allergic to the solvent/paint products. I had a neighbor go through extensive work to build a booth just to find out he could not tolerate the chemicals, even with full hood clean air respirator.
Jjackh10
Well Known Member
I think in all of these paint threads the painting and bodywork are conflated together. I'd estimate the final prep and paint (the half talent/ half practice skill) is less than 100hrs of that 1000. The rest is all bodywork, filling, sanding, fitting, trimming, etc.
The bodywork part is tedious and time consuming, more so if your not experienced at it. However, it's all doable with patients and without a ton of skill. For someone on a budget, DIY'ing that part can save a lot of money.
Beautiful aircraft!! Just curious how vinyl would do on an RV-12 with pull rivets?
Some say it can be done… I wouldn’t have the patience to deal with all those rivets though. My 6 with flush rivets was no problem at all.
My hangar neighbors vinyl his RV12 and another vinyl his Zenith. Both look great. Unless you are standing next to the airplane you don't know they have vinyl. The RV12 builder said the toughest was to blend the vinyl at the end of the trailing edges and the small compound curves of the appendages. The Zenith has last over 6 years and counting. The RV12 has been on for over a year.
Love that scheme!!
sansoneservices
Well Known Member
I got two estimates, 18 & 20k.. my Arrow is larger than an RV so the price should be a little cheaper
Dean Pichon
Well Known Member
Prestige Aircraft Painting in Swanton, Vermont
Prestige Aircraft Inc.
To contact us use the following e-mail: e-mail: [email protected]
www.paintaircraft.com
When did you have this painted. Looks great.
The going rate for a bare RV never painted before $20k to $25k usd. Stripping paint will add. Recommend you pay extra and got one that is painted and looks nice already.
If the fiberglass is rough and needs working, it will add cost.
You can go cheaper. I saw the cheap paint job, outstanding from 30 feet, bright, shinny, but orange peal, even a run. Again minor but you get what you pay for.
I am building a RV-12is and would love to learn how to do a vinyl covering. I would also like to read the article you wrote
Shoot me an e-mail to a private message. I'll send the draft.
The learning curve is no where near as steep as paint. Tools and materials are cheaper too.
The FAA has prohibited wraps on certified aircraft without certification see the FAA Small Airplane Issues List, item A-0101.
EASA has similar requirements. While we are not certified, the concerns that are documented could be problematic regardless of the type of airworthiness certificate.
Plus $8500 labor.Atlanta GA area. I’m doing the full paint strip myself. https://webbertekllc.com/sunset-strip
They have their own everything including an inflatable paint booth.
My aircraft will be their first. They have automotive experience doing stuff like Corvettes. They want to use my aircraft as their calling card for future customers. If they do a great job. I’m sure their dance card will fill up quickly.
Hmm that's going to be one heavy paint job based on the quantity of paint, weight doesn't matter so much for a Corvette but an experienced aircraft painter should apply no more than is necessary!
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Thanks for posting that, Dan. I did not know the FAA Small Airplane Issues List existed. A quick search brought it up and I scanned through part of it. Pretty eye opening for me. Especially the item mentioning the intended use of AI in aircraft software... yikes! This list should have it's own VAF thread.
Joe
Raymo
Well Known Member
Here's my Dec 2022 to Jan 2023 paint job (was bare) for $15k. The painter created a paint booth in my hangar with filtration and a rented compressor. It took around 5 weeks and came out very nice. The octagon pattern was his idea. The painter (Optimum Paint Works) has since set up shop somewhere in Texas, so he no longer does travel work. The color is Caribbean blue with Titanium silver. I liked the color so much my next two toys had to match. He spent about a week on prep and several days prepping fiberglass parts.
Information is expensive. This person has never painted an aircraft before and the quantity of paint purchased is based on coverage calculations.Hmm that's going to be one heavy paint job based on the quantity of paint, weight doesn't matter so much for a Corvette but an experienced aircraft painter should apply no more than is necessary!
Just because we have it, doesn’t mean we have to use it.
Done
What he^ said.Hmm that's going to be one heavy paint job based on the quantity of paint, weight doesn't matter so much for a Corvette but an experienced aircraft painter should apply no more than is necessary!
Be careful. That is a lot of product.
Research UPOL product compatibility as well. They make some good automotive products, but not sure how they play with aluminum.
rmartingt
Well Known Member
I'm interested to hear how this turns out. I don't have a lot of budget for paint and at this point I would be fine with just a single color (white or dark blue) all over. Assuming I don't just go buy some PSX-700 and do a roll-and-tip...
Interesting thread, I'm buying an aircraft that is mostly white (single stage painted about 10 years ago) with some tiny blue accents. I'm thinking I would love to dress it up a little and make it mine. Checkerboard tail of course.
I know how to paint, not something I love to do as it was usually done on crashed up motorcycle bodywork (Fiberglass) but this would add some weight, and I seem to remember something about painting control surfaces being critical?
A vinyl wrap over the cowl, tail, and wingtips would be just as nice. Are there people selling pre-cut pieces or do you buy sheets of the stuff and cut to fit?
I know how to paint, not something I love to do as it was usually done on crashed up motorcycle bodywork (Fiberglass) but this would add some weight, and I seem to remember something about painting control surfaces being critical?
A vinyl wrap over the cowl, tail, and wingtips would be just as nice. Are there people selling pre-cut pieces or do you buy sheets of the stuff and cut to fit?
Gino: Cruise Utube and look at any of the videos on doing wraps. That will give you an idea how it's done. Control surfaces should be rebalanced after painting or wrapping, as anything that changes the weight will have some effect on the balance. As to how much, it will depend on what is done, how it's done and how much latitude there is in the balance point. A very light paint job might be light enough that it wouldn't move the balance out of the allowable range, but the only way to know is to actually check it afterwards.
I am encouraged by the sub $20,000-$25,000 quotes.... $8,500 to $15,000k seems reasonable.
I am going no paint and all fiberglass primed. I did this with my first RV. I might try vinyl for fun and protection on the belly. Want to keep oil off the belly...
I am going no paint and all fiberglass primed. I did this with my first RV. I might try vinyl for fun and protection on the belly. Want to keep oil off the belly...
You know how to paint. If the white is holding up, sand the accents off and spray those areas white. Then add the vinyl accents.
To answer the latter, vinyl can be purchased any size from small credit card size samples to full rolls 60" X 25 yd.
Look at Fellers. They have multiple warehouses and always have what I need. Metro Restyling also has a lot of inventory.
I have quite a few remnant pieces of 3M 2080 bright yellow if you want to try some experiments.
10 years ago the price for a basic 3 color paint job cost about $12k. Just the cost of materials has gone up a bunch since then. Especially after Covid. When you add in the costs of everything else associated with a paint job, $20-$25k doesn’t seem bad.
Would love to get some checkers from you
The perfect paint scheme... Clean, short and fast. Just sitting there!
I have painted all 4 of my homebuilts. I generally agree that a good paint job is a big, very detailed job requiring good professional tools and deals with dangerous expensive chemicals.
I started with the BD4 in 1980 in Imron followed the One Design and RV8 in DuPont and recently, the RV12 in Akzo Nobel. I used a Sata spray gun and an 80 gal compressor. I painted outdoors on good weather days, generally in the morning. Following the paint manufacturer’s recommendations is critical for good results and longevity.
The supporting materials are important and are used in quantity (from Amazon). Stripping is a skill requiring lots of fine line tape, painters masking tape, masking paper, a good eye and loads of patience.
I’m just starting a RV15 (#6 kit) and will paint it. I also plan on using Anna’s and my trademark colors of lime green and light blue on white with a new scheme. An inflatable paint booth should help with the wind, temperature and debris problems.
Deene
I started with the BD4 in 1980 in Imron followed the One Design and RV8 in DuPont and recently, the RV12 in Akzo Nobel. I used a Sata spray gun and an 80 gal compressor. I painted outdoors on good weather days, generally in the morning. Following the paint manufacturer’s recommendations is critical for good results and longevity.
The supporting materials are important and are used in quantity (from Amazon). Stripping is a skill requiring lots of fine line tape, painters masking tape, masking paper, a good eye and loads of patience.
I’m just starting a RV15 (#6 kit) and will paint it. I also plan on using Anna’s and my trademark colors of lime green and light blue on white with a new scheme. An inflatable paint booth should help with the wind, temperature and debris problems.
Deene
Attachments
Very nice!! How long was the waiting list to get in and how long was it in the paint shop for?
Radioflyer
Well Known Member
It seems to me people have all sorts of justifications for $45k+ paint jobs. Orange peel free, mirror gloss, custom colors and graphics, etc do require special skills, labor and costs. Vanity and pride also comes into play. IMHO, orange peel is overhyped as being bad. Some of us just want basic paint durability and protection for the metal, more akin to the quality of a typical factory car paint job. I wonder if I’ld be happy with Earl Scheib!
Spray Cans
rmartingt
Well Known Member
That's all I'm interested in. I didn't build a showplane...
Roll and tip with maybe a bit of buffing is sounding more and more appealing now that the airplane is flying and I'm taking a $30k pay cut...
