Finish Kit

With prep of the fiberglass largely complete before John arrived (see Painting I below), the first major step was to heavily scuff the coat of etch primer that has covered the parts for the last 18 months or so, with 320 grit. Its tiring and dusty, but has to be done. This is fortunately followed by a coat of primer which quickly made us feel we were progressing. (The spot in the picture is something on the lens. As I said it is dusty work!)

At this point, as the -4 all became this matt 'stealth fighter gray', it looked good enough to stop right there.

John had come armed with masks for much of the design on the tail, and the overly large British registration. The design is of a flag as you will see, that has made it through the prop, but become shredded on the way. With the speed of a -4 it is rapidly disintegrating!

Here you see the rudder mask in place.

In the picture below, the whole mask is in place except the part that implements drop shadows.

By the time you get to the clearcoat you need to have the dust under control. This may require razor wire to keep the grockles away.

As the days continued the whole design began to emerge. Don't underestimate the confusion a rooky can get into, as to which masks should be in place and which removed, at any one point in time. Fortunately, to John, this is bread and butter.
The design of the nose was only completed during the time John was painting. It was a true team effort with John, my wife and myself all contributing something. I am VERY happy with the result. Here you see it in base coat. The clear coat (shiny stuff) has yet to be added. It makes the gray come alive and lightens it slightly. for the full effect you need some sunlight.



Having started on a Tuesday, after a very long week of late nights, we were finished by Sunday lunchtime. Five and a half long days for the total job. I am delighted with a superb paint job, though it will be a while before I see it all back together, since I have to do the baffles, plumbing, controls and wiring around the engine, and the instrumentation before that.

In the meantime the painted parts complete with 'shiny stuff' are quietly sleeping and hardening.

With some hand airbrushed highlights and low lights, the flag has taken on a three dimensional quality

So if you are interested in a custom paint job, swiftly executed at an economical price, in your location I would urge you to contact John. http://www.stahrdesign.com/

It was a delight to work with someone who has executed a fabulous paint job with enough artistic merit and pride to make it worth putting a signature to.