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Marking 1 year of Mooney ownership with a "owner assisted" annual at local field, and am pleased to be thinking about paint given the outcome (not many squawks). Thanks DMax for the prebuy/annual a year ago - testament to his work. Approx 200 hrs, interior & panel upgrades/restorations completed, and the plane dubbed "the ugly duck" may be read to become a swan about a year ahead of schedule. Questions & concerns as I get ready to embark on paint for the '78 J. I'm confident the answer to all of these are "it's your toy and your money - do what you want" - looking for insight/ideas from the experience of the group - thanks in advance. 1 - color/scheme - I loved the engine & straight airframe, hated the "beige & baby sh!t brown" paint scheme that is original '78 - I ditched the avocado refrigerator and shag carpet years ago - want to go more standard/current - any reason not to? 2 - 1-piece belly - it's worth something having just gone through annual, but how much if anything really? Are there good sources of salvage that are of value? If ever to do it, now is it. 3 - wing tips - I think they look cool, and would "upgrade" to LED lights & strobes as well. Doesn't look like a performance reason just aesthetics? 4 - "glass" - need new windscreen, meaningful crazing. side windows are in good shape. Thicker plastic worth it? The cost for material isn't that great - worth it to just to all windows "while she is stripped down?" I've seen some "repair" methods but in many ways feel like 37 years is good service? 5 - Types of paint, color schemes etc - I really know nothing about this. 6 - The big question - WHERE? Does Mooney experience/expertise matter? How far to travel before it just doesn't make sense, how to "vet" a shop etc.?? Recommendations? 7 - Change N number? Not that I have a problem I think the ..201.. is pretty classic/iconic. Why would/woldn't? Also - going bigger numbers makes sense or no? 8 - What are the things you did, heard others did, or wish you did when doing similar project? This really is a big opportunity to take the plane offline for 2-3 months and get it right, trying to minimize "wish I woulda..." lack of experience and penny wise pound foolish decisions. Thanks in advance for your feedback