chrispratt
Well Known Member
After 19 years and 900+ hours, my wheel pants and gear fairings were much in need of some TLC. Landing on grass, or what passes for grass on some Texas strips, can do a number on the bottoms of the pants plus all the rocks, chocks and smashed bugs – it all adds up.
Hating fiberglass work as I do, I am grateful to Jay Pratt for recommending Flying Colors in Gainesville, TX for the job. They matched the original pattern perfectly and even added a little “pimple” on the inside of the left wheel pant to accommodate a rubbing brake caliper. (I’ve seen a number of RV-8s like mine where the brake caliper on one side or the other rubs a hole in the pant.)
I was able to supply the excess original paint from my 2005 paint job, and it still matches. According to my painter, definitely use new hardener and reducer though, as it doesn’t age as well as the paint. If you’ve checked the price of aircraft paint these days, you’ll understand why it’s a good idea to store any leftover from the original work especially with high solids colors such as red, but heck, even white is outrageously priced now.
Refurbished wheel pants, gear leg fairings and wing-fuselage fairings. I can’t believe the paint looks so nice and shiny.
Here’s a look at the “pimple” that Flying Colors added to accommodate the fit around the brake caliper.
Mounted back on the RV. Paint color matches perfectly after sitting in the can for 19 years.
I’m almost afraid to go flying now lest I scratch the new paint.
Chris
Hating fiberglass work as I do, I am grateful to Jay Pratt for recommending Flying Colors in Gainesville, TX for the job. They matched the original pattern perfectly and even added a little “pimple” on the inside of the left wheel pant to accommodate a rubbing brake caliper. (I’ve seen a number of RV-8s like mine where the brake caliper on one side or the other rubs a hole in the pant.)
I was able to supply the excess original paint from my 2005 paint job, and it still matches. According to my painter, definitely use new hardener and reducer though, as it doesn’t age as well as the paint. If you’ve checked the price of aircraft paint these days, you’ll understand why it’s a good idea to store any leftover from the original work especially with high solids colors such as red, but heck, even white is outrageously priced now.
Refurbished wheel pants, gear leg fairings and wing-fuselage fairings. I can’t believe the paint looks so nice and shiny.
Here’s a look at the “pimple” that Flying Colors added to accommodate the fit around the brake caliper.
Mounted back on the RV. Paint color matches perfectly after sitting in the can for 19 years.
I’m almost afraid to go flying now lest I scratch the new paint.
Chris