Thunderbird Paint Job

[flyboyjuge]

Hey guys, I have been a painter/sheetmetal guy for the Air Force Thunderbirds for 3 years. It is a special duty tour and my time is almost up. I recently went tdy to Randolph AFB in San Antonio to paint a full size fold up F16 with our tbird paint scheme. This jet is folded up and put into an 18 wheeler and transported to several events and shows. The jet belongs to the Air Force recruiters marketing section. This was my last time I will paint an aircraft with the tbird paint scheme. Hope you enjoy the slideshow.

http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n141/stacyleah1216/Thunderbird%20Paint%20Job/?albumview=slideshow

[Serge]

Great pictures...thanks for sharing.

I guess you guys use computer cut stencils for the logo (USAF eagle etc...). Is the paint all SS urethane or do you clear the thing afterwards?

Is the paint special aircraft paint?

[flyboyjuge]

we use a stencil only for our thunderbird patch and the usaf on the fuselage. everything else is laid out by hand. didnt really get shots of the belly. that has the main thunderbird motife. for years we used ppg delfleet single stage automotive paint. now we use ppg aircraft paint. stain resistant stuff. it is all single stage...no clearcoat.

[alaskajeff]

What? No cut & buff? Seriously, that is very, very cool. Thanks

[flyboyjuge]

There are definitely some areas that would need some sanding and buffing but they dont really treat it like an automotive job. so as long as it looks good infront of a crowd supervision is happy with it. the paint usually lays down pretty smooth though.

[alaskajeff]

There are definitely some areas that would need some sanding and buffing but they dont really treat it like an automotive job. so as long as it looks good infront of a crowd supervision is happy with it. the paint usually lays down pretty smooth though.

I was kidding about the cut & buff! Looks great-who is going to get close enough to need a show-winning auto finish? Especially at 600+ mph!

[WAZZUP454]

Very cool :)

[Len]

I've painted a few airplanes but nothing like that, very cool.

My most exotic plane was an old T6 navy trainer that came out real nice. Lost the pictures in a computer meltdown a few years ago. :(

[All Dry]

IMPRESSIVE!! Mike

[flyboyjuge]

Funny that you mention a T6 Len. That was mainly what that base paints. It was great to be a part of that.

[jimbo1490]

Hey Guys,

New to the forum, first post. I'm a partner in an aircraft paint shop in Central Florida and we shoot PPG's Delfleet Evolution HS (FDGH) exclusively. I absolutely love the stuff, and will never shoot another Awl-Grip, Jet-Glo or Sterling job if I can help it.

I'd like to hear from any other members that shoot this paint regularly, or even it's sister paint, Desothane HS. I'm wondering if there's any big difference in handling between a 'standard' air cap and a 'high solids' air cap with the FDGH. I shoot with a Graco Pro XS2 and a Ransburg REA-70. I understand the reasons for switching to a different fluid tip for different viscosity material, but what about the air cap? The ransburg already burns though about 16 cfm and the Graco at least 20. I suspect the 'HS' air cap will be an even worse air hog, so I hope someone can tell me "yeah, it's worth it' or "no, don't waste your time and money."

Other than clears, does anyone else have much experience with high solids SS like Delfleet? Has anyone ever done a successful 'one coat' paint job (and got away with it:D ). Is it possible? How do you do it? The data sheets seem to imply that you can, but it seems tricky at least.

I've found PPG's instructions to be fairly useless. For instance, I have not yet got a definitive answer on just what the 'Slow Dry Additive' does. It it a cure inhibitor, to extend wet edge times, or is it just a slower version of the 'Fast Dry Additive'? I put this question to two different PPG reps and they both said "I'll get back to you on that." Of coure I never heard a word on the subject again :p It would be nice to have more wet edge time in summer with this paint.

Nice paint job on the Falcon! Just shot one of them French Falcons back in November.

Jimbo

[flyboyjuge]

that was actually the last time we would ever shoot delfleet. we moved to block 52 f-16s and switched to ppg's 9800 series paints. its more stain resistant for the white. I like it but i dont like where it is a 3 and 4 part mixture. i was actually shooting for sw's jet glo, but that is still in the works. Deft lays down pretty good and is easier for us to get but we will see

[INXS2]

We use Delfleet SS and BC/CC on Cirrus Design Aircraft (that's they're recommended paint since the DSS paint is gone). I use a Devilbiss Plus and my buddy uses a Sharp. Paint flows great, no real problems when following the recommended mix ratio.

[J-rod]

Well done, now that my friend is cool.