color questions... dark sea blue

[Django]

anyone else?

[Django]

Hey Chad (or anyone else)

any other thoughts on this? Need to buy some paint.

[Django]

2 questions...

this is a post war scheme, correct?

A little too blue? Or is it the photo?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/atta ... 1158450479

[Django]

With all the Corsair talk lately, anyone have anything to add to my color choice dilemma?

[gregv]

someone will have more info on this, but one of the latest Corsair restorations was done to absolute factory spec, and there was some grief when it was docked points over having an "incorrect" colour; this was during judging for whatever the Rolls Royce award is, I think it is something along the lines of the "Rolls Royce Historic Award" or similar. Sorry, I'm going from memory here...

At any rate, the owners of the aircraft did a lot of research on the colour and and sure it is correct, so find out who they were, contact them and get the colour spec.

good luck

greg v.

[Django]

It appears Marine's Dream won the trophy in 2000.

http://www.heritagetrophy.com/sp_winner ... d=2&type=5

That top color is the color I want, but it still seems like the general consensous is that it is not entirely accurate, correct?

Gary Kohs won in ‘03. In this pic, you can see the difference between the insignia blue and the rest of the plane. I don’t recall seeing insignia blue when the plane is overal dark sea blue before. I had always thought the insignia blue was too dark, but seeing it next to the other blue on this particular corsair may change my mind.

Maybe it is just the vast difference in surface area, but my test panel didn’t even look as blue as the dark sea blue on this pic. I think I would be ok with this color knowing it was accurate. The not knowing which ones are within acceptable variations as would have taken place in 1945 is what is driving me crazy.

[gregv]

Django

if you start taking into account all the variations in paint manufacturers, methods of application, thinners used, equipment used, primers/undercoats, weather conditions at time of application, weather conditions during curing, where the aircraft operated etc. etc. etc. then you will quickly realize that there really is no absolutely correct colour, unless it is the original coat of paint.

As you state that you are a graphics person, then do what I as an art director; pick what you see in your mind as the correct colour and go for it. As long as it is within reasonable bounds then it will be correct enough, and most importantly you will like it.

Just pretend that the surplus paint your guy bought was thinned with non-spec thinner and applied with an old roller; or start researching how Petty Enterprises picked their paint colours, like the fact that they had some dark blue and a lot of white, so to stretch the paint they mixed it all together and got "Petty Blue". Do you think they got it the same every time? Even paint from the manufacturer will be slightly different from batch to batch.

Colour is a very subjective thing, so just have fun with it.

good luck

greg v.

[EDowning]

When I recently (6 months ago) repainted my Skyraider cowl flaps and drop tanks, I was very concerned about getting an exact match. After quite a bit of research, I found out that my airplane was repainted with Glossy Sea Blue made by Sterling Paint in Saint Louis. The company had a military contract to supply Glossy Sea Blue to the U.S. Navy in the 1950's and was used to repaint my airplane in the early 90's, I called Sterling and asked them if the still make that exact color, they do, I bought a gallon and it matches exactly, I mean exactly.

It's not cheap but it is correct.

[gregv]

Eric

that is very cool; nothing like getting the real thing, especially when it is still being made and not some old NOS stock of dubious condition.

cheers

greg v.

[gregv]

Eric

sorry, I forgot to ask, what kind of paint is it? A modern base/clearcoat, or good old fashioned enamel, or lacquer or ???.

thanks

greg v.

[EDowning]

single stage enamel. Just to be clear, Sterling still will make it exactly as they did in the past, but it's not something they sell regularly. It was $475 a gallon. Tough as nails too.

[gregv]

thanks Eric! I find it amazing that this product is still available, and hell I bet its worth every penny.

cheers

greg v.

[Django]

I hear you gregv and I agree.

Eric, do you have a pic of the Skyraider?

$475 a gallon might be overkill for a car, but maybe they can give me an equivalent paint code in something more affordable.

[EDowning]

Hard to say exactly how well the true color comes across in a picture but here goes.









Photo courtesy of Don Parsons


Photo courtesy of Nick Blacow (Manonthefence)



Contact Info for this paint:

Sterling Paint
3150 Brannon Ave
Saint Louis MO 63139

Phone 314-776-6450 ask for Ann (Sea Glossy Blue)

[gregv]

Eric

that's just beautiful.

thanks for posting the pics.

cheers

greg v.