piperpainter

Well I can't say alot now as i've had a very long day and a long flight home. I can say this I LOVE MY NEW PAINT/PLANE!!! She is in fact much more attractive, easier to see and best of all....She's faster! I noticed a gain in speed at 14,000 and 16,000 on the way home. I am very happy to be home now and hopefully will get to take her out tomorrow. I have alot to say about ARTCRAFT and plan on editing this so others can read my experience! Thanks again to Artrcraft, Eric, Mitch and Jolie for enjoying the pick up experience with me/getting me there. I look forward to flying someplace with you guys in the future! For more pics see my pictures or the wall for the next day or so! Okay here is what I have to say...its kinda canned but its good info since I posted on another site too! Thought I would give a report on a place that does amazing paint jobs in So Cal....dont hesitate to fly down/over/up etc if you need a great paint job... I flew 2 states! Anyway, I just got home from having my airplane painted in Santa Maria, CA today 30 Jan at Artcraft which is at KSMX ( www.artcraftpaint.com ). I was originally going to be using another company in Norcal (I live in WA). But through word of forum mouth (another one) I heard that Artcraft did a wonderful job for a friend at a price well under $10K (friend had 3 colors see attached picture- mooney Ovation) I couldn't believe what I heard! I had shopped around for months and the only reason I had an offer below $10K was because I was going to do a few things to prep the plane & it was going to be one, solid color red(gear, tail, all red) all decals & N numbers were going to be vinyl. This was the only way to drop the cost. When I heard about Artcraft I called and they offered me a great deal off the bat, without me doing anything and said they would paint do red a body with a black tail, paint the N numbers & decals on & give me a black gear the way I wanted!! All in all they did everything I wanted and on top of that they did it in under 2 weeks! (easy scheme!) At any given time in the pictures they would send to give me updates I would see at least 3-5 guys working on the airplane. Quality is amazing! It even comes with a 1 year guarantee. Artcraft is a quality, family run business with 20 years experience. I "HIGHLY" recommend them. So if you want to get your plane painted and have it look amazing for a good deal....you should call them! Tell them "La Otra Mujer" Owner sent you! I have no affiliation with the company other than being a very very satisfied customer....as many other have been. But I like to tell everyone!

Mine is getting done right now! Welcome Bob!

I wish but she's going to have to stay outside! Years down the road i'll hopefully be able to put her indoors. For now its lots of covers! And OLM is a long ways from my house. Right now im a 10 min drive from base and the airport so Pierce is great, although it would be nice to have the lower mins!

Awesome she looks good! Congrats!

Quote: testwest Very cool, hope the paint job turns out wonderfully! We have a highly modded 201 that needs paint too, would LOVE to see yours when you get it, you're at Tacoma Narrows? We are in the Arlington area. Off topic, picture of a TCM C-17 on the Antarctic ice on the front page of the Seattle paper today, looks awesome.

Yep, just as Mitch said they are suppose to start some of the painting today. Hopefully they will send me a picture this evening. I was lucky to get pictures this morning. For some reason I had some bad dreams last night it was good to see my baby was okay! edit.... here is the black tail and black gear!

Awesome!!!

I have to agree with SagemGuy. I recall being at a seminar last year with Seattle Approach/Center and they mentioned that they are required to hand you off if your transitioning that airspace. If they cancel you can contact the tower its cause they are most likely being lazy or don't have the time to work you in. But they shouldn't clear you through the airspace/put you in it then have you cancel and call in to the tower. If your landing there they should hand you off well before 2nm from the field.

Quote: testwest Bryan, very cool! Can't tell after re-reading the posts, did you wind up at ArtCraft or stick with Kracon for the painting.....

looks like they beat you to it Mitch! This is very exciting....its her in a whole new way!

Congrats! She's adorable! But you'll need to get some Mooney gear for her to wear!