Van's Air Force
The definitive Van's Aircraft support community! Buying, building or flying an RV? Join our exclusive family of mentors and enthusiasts!
RV-7 Paint Job
- Thread starter Fulltron Aviation
- Start date
Stunning!
Just sent a DM.
HOW MUCH? 
What was empty weight before and after?
Looks amazing. I love in this part of the country and interested in painting my RV-7.
What was empty weight before and after?
Looks amazing. I love in this part of the country and interested in painting my RV-7.
I can not afford a turn key drop off pick up paint job from these top tier companies. They do beautiful work. That is OK I plan on spending $5000, give or take, on all materials and DIY my own paint. I am no stranger to painting. Materials might be more now. I will have extra expense to make a paint booth...
Than labor, estimate labor, 200-250 hrs, could be less, but I am including all the fiberglass preparation. This is why paint jobs cost so much, the labor, 79% to 80% of the cost.
I am sure my DIY will be very nice (still debating single stage Jet Glo, vs base/clear). I don't plan on fancy multi stripe paint job. Likely one color and use vinyl accents. Might not be an Oshkosh Grand Champion, Lindy Award winner, but it will look nice, and I will have $20,000 to buy gas to actually fly. You can get cheaper aircraft paint, about half of the primo outfits. I saw one, an RV-14. At 10 feet it looked good. Up close, yikes, it had runs, some orange peel, and other defects. I can do better than that (given $$$$ and time).
PS My mental gymnastics:
Polish with some vinyl or painted parts, fiberglass and stripe's. Decided against polish after watching a guy polish plane (for two weeks).
Vinyl Wrap - Can look good, but time consuming and not cheap, especially if you hire it out, $8000 quote, nice, but durability varies, 5-10 yrs?
Paint - Obvious choice for me after torturing myself. With past painting successes un my belt, the question paint before or after flying.
Than labor, estimate labor, 200-250 hrs, could be less, but I am including all the fiberglass preparation. This is why paint jobs cost so much, the labor, 79% to 80% of the cost.
I am sure my DIY will be very nice (still debating single stage Jet Glo, vs base/clear). I don't plan on fancy multi stripe paint job. Likely one color and use vinyl accents. Might not be an Oshkosh Grand Champion, Lindy Award winner, but it will look nice, and I will have $20,000 to buy gas to actually fly. You can get cheaper aircraft paint, about half of the primo outfits. I saw one, an RV-14. At 10 feet it looked good. Up close, yikes, it had runs, some orange peel, and other defects. I can do better than that (given $$$$ and time).
PS My mental gymnastics:
Polish with some vinyl or painted parts, fiberglass and stripe's. Decided against polish after watching a guy polish plane (for two weeks).
Vinyl Wrap - Can look good, but time consuming and not cheap, especially if you hire it out, $8000 quote, nice, but durability varies, 5-10 yrs?
Paint - Obvious choice for me after torturing myself. With past painting successes un my belt, the question paint before or after flying.
Fulltron Aviation
Member
HOW MUCH?
What was empty weight before and after?
Looks amazing. I love in this part of the country and interested in painting my RV-7.
Jack, totally understandable — and we respect that! Doing it yourself will (hopefully) be a rewarding experience. Just so you have the full picture: our price reflects 400+ hours of labor from a crew who do this day in and day out, many with years of professional experience. That expertise, consistency, and quality is really what you’re paying for — and we’re still on the lower end of what the industry charges. Best of luck! If you run into any issues or questions feel free to reach out.
Just a data point based on wrapping my 7A.
A full roll of 3M 2080 plus tools is about $1500. more than enough for any RV except maybe a RV10. With two people you can easily wrap an RV in a few days. No PPE either. Of course that depends on how much beer is involved.
I just bought a 1/2 roll to make our 2005 Nissan look better. CO is killer on clear coat. I plan 5 years replacement but hanagared, I think it would last far longer. Removal is not fun, but with patience, it's not horrible. Heat gun and RapidTac Remover. The neat thing is I can change colors or have a cool pattern printed. I wonder if Dynon would like to sponsor?
Hey, I realized I never responded to your questions: The before and after W&B shows that it weighs 22 lbs & it moved the CG aft 0.67". Honestly, I was expecting it to be more. It's all pearl paint and that pearl sparkle has to weigh something.HOW MUCH?
What was empty weight before and after?
Looks amazing. I love in this part of the country and interested in painting my RV-7.
As far as what it cost, I'll just say that it was cheaper than Evoke, although if another one of their planes brings home a Lindy from air venture this year I'd expect that to change. I know it would if I owned that shop. No b.s. with extra labor or hazmat fees or taxes on top either. The price I was quoted was what I wrote the check for.
Just a heads up, but the day I picked mine up they were finishing up a yellow RV10 thats going to be at air venture this year. I don't know who owns it but If you guys get a chance you should check it out. It has big sections that look like glossy carbon fiber but when you get close you can see that it's paint. it's an amazing effect.
22 lbs is right about average for all the two seat RVs that I’ve weighed.
Appreciate the data, I am a nerd and like data. That is excellent results, in the lower end of paint weight from my wild guessing and experience. I am going to Air Venture, can't wait to see all the fancy paint jobs... Thanks again.
That is a good weight... I have seen much more however.... If you get a car painter to paint your plane, weight is no concern, it will be +30lbs.
