For those of you that are looking for a little info on Paint jobs. My latest speed mod was to replace the old paint with new paint.
Good for a couple of knots. Anyway I spent a couple of months pricing out paint jobs from quite a few paint shops, not because the old paint looked really bad, but the
old paint was coming off at the seams and exposing the metal to the environment. Also since the last paint job was in the late eighties I thought a fresh lick of paint was in order.
Now, I was not looking for the cream of the cream paint jobs, just one that would cover the airplane back up and look good and last another 20 years.
The price range I was quoted was from 10k all the way up to 20K+. Needless to say proof is in the details. The 16k and up prices were for complete strip, alodine, prime and paint, removing all the controls and
sanding down the gear components. (read.. time... money)
I opted for the complete strip and prime with etching as part of the prime progress. The shop only removed the speed mods and the controls surfaces and left the flaps on the airplane... to save time... money.
The gear was only pressure washed and scuffed ... read very ..little time..
The airplane was completed in 4 weeks and I am satisfied with the job. To nickpick, I did the annual after the paint job and that is where you see the fine detail crawling under the airplane with bright lights.
I noticed that the dark blue paint on the under side of the nose was put on a little thin.... you could see the blue wasn't as deep as on the upper side. (the airplane was painted entirely white first and then the blue sprayed on top of the white... Not sure if that is a good idea as this just adds weight to the airframe. I found out that this is widely done to bring out the richness of the colour and keep the colour even. )
Back to the annual, found water in the nose gear wheel and had to replace the bearing and races due to pitting. The numbers painted on the side were very nice but, again to nitpick the lines could have been more crisp. Found several fasteners were missing on the tail cone.... oops bad walk around.. The overall paint is very good with no fisheyes, even colour, except on the bottom of the nose where only me on the creeper sees it, I couldn't find any runs but did find a couple of spots of orange peel, but truth be told you have to look really long and hard to find them.

Ok, My cost was Just over 10k and that was out the door including a little metal work. MY reason for choosing the shop was mainly the time frame ie they had a slot open up
when a Cessna 210 had a delay on getting their engine back from the overhaul shop. I checked out some of his work as well and was convinced he could do the job right.
Generally the paint shops in the south are less money as compared to the shops as you travel northward.
If you are a stickler for the smallest detail, go for the higher end paint shops, if you just want a good looking durable paint job and you don't want to pay too much, check out the lower end shops.
I must admit I was a little scared when I looked at the hangar they were working in... Lol dust everywhere... Not someplace I would paint in...
The paint shop I used... (and I am not advising this shop or any other, as stated above, deciding on a shop is very personal.) Is Renue aircraft refinishers in The Tulsa Ok area. Actually the airport is Cleveland Municipal, which is in the middle of a golf course.
He has a web site you can look at if you are interested. The owners name is Gorden and is very personable and tells it like it is. I had no problems with him at all, answers all questions and e-mails promptly and sends progress reports pictures as requested.
Attached are some pictures
Gary

65% power, 15.9 gpm, 176 knots true at WOT 10000 ft

Looks awesome!

You've just increased the value of the plane by at least that much. Sharp!

Rick Mascari
N64400

Very nice! I think new paint and interiors are like granite counter tops and updated bathrooms in a house; hard to sell one without it! This will make your flying even more fun!

Mark

Thanks, I agree. I think all comanches should be dressed nice. The old girls look so nice even when their paint is showing its age, but they really deserve to be treated with new clothes now and then. We spend lots on the theses airplanes to make them go fast and in maintenance to keep their internals in top shape, paint and interior just completes that pride of ownership side.

Gary

Gary - pretty is as pretty does and your plane looks very pretty.

You are right about the speed mod - in our twin for about every 100 pounds we lose a knot. We were told paint weighs about 25 lbs .. so if there were a couple of coats ... and if the control surfaces were removed and re-rigged, that will help the speed too ... not to mention reduced drag from chips ... and then there's the pilot feels better just looking at the plane so you naturally fly faster.

Gary,

Beautiful paint job. Beautiful airplane.

I had my plane painted there as well. Same results. Not a show paint job, but was done in a workman like fashion. Gordon was great to deal with. Only complaint was the time factor. They said 3 weeks and it was about 5 weeks.