27-Jan-01: Into the paint shop.
At around 138 hours & nearly eight months after the first flight, I finally completed all the detail work on fairings, cowling & wheel pants, so it's time to cover up all that bare aluminum.

I designed a fairly simple paint scheme & Sue chose the colors.

These are the drawings for the paint scheme for RV-6A N86CG. It's being painted by Randy at Central Aviation in Watertown, Wisconsin, with Imron: White: 7372; Blue: K9740; Turquoise: 94121.

    

   

After flying the airplane to Watertown (10 minute flight, 1 hour drive!), I had help from another RV builder, Jerry Thorpe, in removing all fairings, control surfaces, wing tips, canopy, cowling, spinner, wheel pants etc. It took us 4 hours, & it will probably take three or four times as long to reassemble. I removed the nav antenna from the top of the VS, but the comm & transponder antennae will just get masked off. We were unable to remove the elevator trim servo without cutting the connector off, so that got wrapped in a plastic bag inside the elevator in an attempt to avoid damage from chemicals used in the painting process.

The screws attaching the fuel tanks will get painted - I hope I never have to remove the tanks. All other screws will get replacd with new stainless steel, using stainless countersunk washers where appropriate. I had to drill out one of the #4 wing tip attachment screws. We carefully noted the combinations of washers & spacers used for the control surfaces. I'll be using new bolts & nuts for all the hinge & control rod attachments.

In the hangar at West Bend before going to the paint shop.
3-Feb-01: Primer stage completed.

Here's the procedure that the paint shop follows:
Clean the aluminum surfaces with Prep-Sol.
Scuff with Scotch-Brite red pads.
Etch with Du Pont 225S.
Alodine conversion coat, Du Pont 226S.
Two part epoxy primer, Du Pont 934S.
Fill any imperfections, sand & use sanding primer in these areas.
Two coats of Du Pont Imron top coat.
10-Feb-01: Looking very white!.
25-Feb-01: Nearly finished.
Jerry Thorpe & I worked for two six hour sessions replacing control surfaces & fairings. The rudder & one elevator need some more paint. It should all be completed in a couple of days.
27-Feb-01: Home at last.
It took 2 1/2 more hours to mount the rudder, main wheel pants, & canopy. The nose wheel pant needs a little more paint work, otherwise it's finished. It looks great!