Interior Paint

[Kif]

Anyone have any sources on where and what kind/color of the brown paint to use on the inside of the cabin of a Champ. I had the chance to talk to Bill Pancake a while back and he said that some of the info on the tech post needed updated. I called Napa and had no luck getting the brown paint. This is to paint the windshield posts, rear window posts, top half of door, etc. Thanks.

[Doc]

Kif: I am not a purist. Although I have painted my 1946 Taylorcraft BC12-D (1946 Deluxe scheme) and my 1946 A7AC (1951 A7EC scheme) in factory paint schemes, I have deviated with the interior on both aircraft. I did the BC12-D in Dakota Black enamel with red/black upholstery. I did the A7AC steel in 1951 Chrysler Tan (Medium color), the instrument panel in medium brown, and the floor in dark brown. The upholstery was dark and medium brown panels. Window sills were natural wood treated with Poly-Fiber epoxy varnish. Look up Bill Pancake's review of interior colors if you wish to be "authentic". You might try to contact him with specific questions. Best wishes. Doc

[Kif]

Thanks Doc, I did talk with Bill P. awhile back and he said that some of the info on the tech notes is outdated. I called Napa and the number was no good for the tan paint. I got the instrument panel paint thru Fastenal which they got from Kennedy. The number is a little different but it is the brown paint. I just really want to get as close as possible to original as I can. Jim at Aircraft Tech tinted the white epoxy paint so it is close to the original zinc chromate color for the fuselage, flight controls, motor mount etc. I am getting close to the point of putting epoxy primer on the fuselage and then spary the tan color before installing stringers, window frames, headliner, etc. Anybody know the owners and contact information of the two Champs on the Univair Cateloge. Thanks.

[Doc]

Well, I see you are from the "Land of Lincoln". My 1st logged flight was in a Citabria in 1967 that originated at Meigs Field on the Chicago Lakefront. I needed some aerobatic experience prior to taking sailplane training in Charleston, IL as a CAP cadet (age 16). Although I do not miss the winters up there, I do have fond memories of the summers! I completed my private at Howell Field in Cook County and did my Instrument rating in Des Moines, IA. Good luck with your restoration. I am hanging the gear on the 7AC this week. A Lang tailwheel went on today. Doc

[Kif]

Doc,
Thanks for your replies. I called a Nappa store in Lincoln, IL today. They are one of the few that still mix paints. Gave them the 99L5538 number. They said the 5538 is a good number. Said they will mix a quart of the tan, a pint of black and they have the harderner.

[Kif]

Got the tan paint today from a Nappa store in Lincoln, IL on our way home from St. Louis. Do the window frame sills and the forward frame part that you see from the outside through the rear window glass get painted the tan color? (I am trying to do this as original as I can). Also, what color are the parts of the fuselage that you can see around the floorboard cutouts such as the rudder pedal bushing supports and where the springs attach? Are they black like the peddals and floorboards or just left primered? Thanks for inputs.

[joea]

Post some photos and let us know how it turns out!

[Carl Prather]

Keith,

I used Bill Pancake's formula after finding a NAPA store that could mix the paint. Testing a section of the fuselage that was never exposed to light, I could not tell where the old paint stopped and the new paint began.

Carl Prather

[Kif]

Thanks Carl. I still have to add the black to the tan yet. I am still wondering what actually gets the tan paint other than the parts that Bill pointed out, like the window sills. I know alot of them are stained and varnished which looks excellent but is that original?

[Kif]

Here is the paint products and paper work that I got from Nappa.

[Carl Prather]

Wow Kif,


All I got was a few stirring sticks and a crossword puzzle!

Carl

[Kif]

The guys at the Nappa store were really great. They were a little stumped at first and did some searching on the computer. After that they explained the paint process (mixing, thinning etc.) and also gave me an empty gallon can with a lid to mix in and some stirring sticks. Wasn't lucky enough to get a crossword. I just hope that if someone else wants the same paint this will help with that.

[Kif]

Here's some pics of the interior paint.

[Carl Prather]

Keith,

Your work looks great!

Do you know where and what part number for the yellow chromate color paint?

Carl Prather

[Kif]

Carl,

Thanks for the compliment. Contact Jim at Aircraft Technical Support (877-877-3334) and tell him you want the yellow tinted epoxy paint. He has a formula he adds to the white epoxy paint. I used two quarts doing the fuselage and tail feathers, engine mount and gear axles.