Warbird Information Exchange

I don't know if this has been an actual thread but I have seen it brought up a few times.

Some birds are being restored with really shiny, sealed up paintjobs and I know they keep maintenance down and help out the drag factor, but, how can we say its an accurate resto when the paint should be flat and the planes really are not operating in combat situations where drag and speed are really a factor anymore?

I feel that they should look like they operated, but that is just my crazy thoughts since I don't own one or pay the bills.

So, what do you think?

Bare metal and birds painted silver to look bare do not apply.

I remember as a kid growing up in the '70's reading all the Air Classic magazines I got my hands on. It always bothered me seeing all the shiny paint jobs. In my opinion they just don't look right. I realize paint is expensive and the clear coat finishes are easier to take care of and last longer. But I like the current trend towards flat more historical looking finishes. Besides when they weather boy do they look neat!
Just my .02 cents.

Randy

I tend to agree too.

Shiny camo just looks like plastic. It reminds me of these old paint by the number thinghy from my childhood...

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Michel C
Thousands of a/c pics at Passion-Aviation

It is not correct, and the reason that they show up is for the reasons that we all know. It depends on the paint job. Sometimes it is really done well (like the LSFM B-25) and you don't mind the paint. As long as they keep 'em flying, I can go to the static museums like NMUSAF and NASM to see the flat paint.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Semi-Gloss paint is the way to go. Easy to maintain and clean, not so shiny as to look 100% unauthentic.

I was just thinking that CAP. Kind of the best of both worlds.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I sure would love to see a well worn looking Mustang, Corsair, etc as they would have looked in combat.
David

How about Ray Dieckman's Corsair? It is painted in a flat finish with very good quality paint and doesn't seem to have suffered any ill effects. I think it depends on the quality of the paint!

BTW, Ray has already touched up his Bearcat since it has been put into US markings (with gloss paint) due to some scratches.

Many camoed fighter were waxed for extra speed.
Paul Conger of the 56th FG told me that his razorback Jug "Hollywood Hi Hatter" had 32 coats of wax
and shinned like a new penny and gained 5-6 mph in speed. I was also slick has snot making it hard to work on.

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Don't touch my junk!!

The Shuttleworth Spitfire Mk.V, AR501, was famous for its worn, credible wartime-like finish. Interestingly, it wasn't matt, or the 'hot-rod gloss' but had the silky sheen seen in lots of wartime photographs and surviving Spitfires in original paint.

Of course the modern wear was around the engine cowlings, footsteps and cockpit, with almost none around the gun bays - for obvious reasons. No cordite streaks either.

Haven't a photo to hand, but it's a benchmark IMHO.

Currently the aircraft is undergoing some works - I hope a repaint can be avoided, but they've been doing that for years so it may be inevitable.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

For those on the west coast, 'crash' Williams T-28 (N28CU) was a classic example of how a warbird could be painted in an authentic manner, flown and look better each year. Crash's T-28 had an 'eggshell' finish and it was one of the most popular aircraft on the coast for years - it just looked 'right'.



http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1134976/M/

How about Tom Camp's Wildcat?

Very nice.

In the case of the Shuttleworth Spitfire cordite streaks would need to be painted on (shooting the guns the preserving the cordite stain is not really on... ) which would be fake. The wear on that Spitfire is all genuine, no 'pretend'. That's a matter of choice, of course.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Could somebody try to put together a list of "flat and authentic" finished warbirds and high gloss aircraft.

Matt + Patina = Perfection.