Thread: Record 5 1/2 repaint

We have a large automotive paint supply locally. They were (some time ago) going to install a machine that would fill aerosol paint of any colour. If you were to take a sample of the colour to a supplier they could give you exactly what you want. For such an application in painting the casting you would only need spraying enamel (thinner based). Alternatively most hardware paint departments will have a computerised paint matching service. The problem there is the minimum quantity they would tint for you would be a litre. If you do use the hardware paint department I would use full gloss enamel (turps based)

I recently did up a record 41/2 for my brother in law and like you wanted to repaint it. I ended up using the Duplicolour Auto Touch up spray (purchased from SCA) in the 150g aerosol. This is an acrylic rather than an enamel but came up all right. The closest colour match was "Shockwave". There wasn't enough of the original paint anywhere on the plane to confirm how good a match it was though.

cheers
WH

I have to do a few planes soon and I'll be doing them all black because I am lazy but I will be using one of the VHT engine enamel paints because it is tough and gives a nice finish. I just bake the bits in the BBQ, tried it once in the house but good lord it smells so bad.

They will have a similar colour- VHT Engine Enamel™ -- High Heat Coating

Dupli-color do a Engine Enamel in Ford Dark Blue that is pretty close to the various shades of blue that Record used over the years.

I finally got around to painting the plane. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that the pictures will add a great deal of knowledge to the search for the perfect blue (which, admittedly has changed over the years) but here was my process.

2016-07-16 07.35.11.jpg

Furthest Killrust epoxy enamel in Roundel Blue
Above the tote: Killrust epoxy enamel in Roundel Blue with as much black tint added to it as it would take
Underneath the tote: A can of VHT Ford Dark Blue auto engine enamel (I have a feeling they may have given me the wrong can for the lid. There is nothing on the can to indicate the colour in the can. The colour is a far cry from the colour on the lid; it is very turquoise)
The tote and the paint on the frog are the original paint on the plane.

So from these options I chose to paint it in the darkened blue epoxy enamel. The results are below with a Record No 8, and a Record No 071 for reference. The No 8's paint has definitely been UV impacted. The colour on the 5 1/2 is still lighter than the original, and a little lighter than the No071 but it is close-ish.

2016-08-25 11.28.18.jpg2016-08-25 11.28.33.jpg2016-08-25 11.29.11.jpg2016-08-25 11.29.42.jpg

If I was doing it again I would probably go back to the auto store and check the colour of the spray can to see if it was truely Ford Dark Blue. While the result is reasonable I think I got a better result using engine enamel when I painted my Stanleys. The spray on engine enamel appears to be more scratch and chip resistant. It was also easier to apply and dried quicker. I had to have two goes at painting this. The first time I think I applied coats too quickly and it became foggy in appearance. I think the paint was slower to dry due to low winter temps and possibly the added tinting. So the second time around I thinned the paint a little and dried it in a warmer place.

Either way, I used it quite a bit over the weekend and it takes a nice shaving so I am happy.

Originally Posted by The Caboose

A can of VHT Ford Dark Blue auto engine enamel (I have a feeling they may have given me the wrong can for the lid. There is nothing on the can to indicate the colour in the can. The colour is a far cry from the colour on the lid; it is very turquoise)

There are two different Ford Blues. One light, one dark. As you say it looks like the wrong cap was put back on your can. It's most annoying when they don't put the colour code on the can itself .

Either way it's a nice job you've done bringing the plane back to life.

cheers
WH

Originally Posted by wood hacker

There are two different Ford Blues. One light, one dark...

The young people of today, they just don't know how good they've got it. Back in my day, young Henry (Ford that is) made cars in any colour you wanted - so long as that colour was black .

Nice job BTW.

Cheers, Vann