East coast paint shop recommendation

[par]

Gents,

 

I'm looking for recommendations for a paint shop on the east coast. I would like to keep it within about 400 miles of Virginia Beach. My budget is around 8k...not looking for anything fancy. Thanks!

 

Par

[Marauder]

Gents,

I'm looking for recommendations for a paint shop on the east coast. I would like to keep it within about 400 miles of Virginia Beach. My budget is around 8k...not looking for anything fancy. Thanks!

Par

Par -- check out the paint shop at Smoketown, PA -- Lancaster Aero. Alan had his Bonanza done there and it was well done. Airport identifier is N57.

[Wakeup]

Alan needs to post some pics of his Bonanza. I would like to see it. Troy

[Releew]

I'll be curious to know if you get a quality job for 8K.  Please let us know the outcome....  I painted a 172 last year and the materials alone were over 4.5K.  No labor!

 

Rick

[Danb]

2nd that for Smoketown Pa. A friend of mine had his 1990 Bravo done there like the new Acclaim scheme of 2007 and it turned out fabulous I believe he had the new interior done there or at a shop in Lancaster which also turned out great, he is very meticulous

And critical and was very pleased..just took longer than estimated..but people don't say to him how long did it take only that his new Acclaim looks beautiful.l

[aviatoreb]

How long does a paint job take?

[carusoam]

Reese brothers in NJ...

Mooney experience.

Premium price.

The nicest thing about Alan's V-tail is it's paint!

Unless you need a nap, then it's the back seat.

[chrisk]

I am very happy with Hawk Aircraft at KVDF. Its about 600 miles from you

[Alan Fox]

It wont happen at Smoketown for 8 K , or Reese either.....My turnaround was about 5 weeks.....And I waited three months for a slot....

[PTK]

You may want to talk paint with Jim Russell of Russell Aircraft Refinishing in Greenwood DE, D74. (302) 349-5920.

Extremely knowledgeable and honest gentleman. Lots of Mooney experience.

When I was conducting my research on paint shops I visited a few. Among them a supposedly "renowned" one with "Mooney experience." I dropped in on them one beautiful morning to check them out. They were working on a long body, iirc. Guess what? rivet heads were sanded off to a beautiful shiny finish!!
Scary...Beware!

[Alan Fox]

I just want to mention that Smoketown is the only one I have ever seen with a "real" paint booth .... Also they have many employees so the turnaround is fast , I have used Jin Russell for smaller jobs , but elected to have Smoketown do the big job......

[Parker_Woodruff]

Hawk Aircraft Painting in Tampa, FL (VDF) is excellent and will be just barely at the high side of your budget. I don't think there is sales tax anymore in FL for such work.

[Seth]

Chorman Field, D74 in Delaware - has a guy on the field that does paint jobs and it's just him.  He does a lot of work for the Freeway MSC in Maryland. He did some touch up paint for the E Alan sold earlier this year.  If I need anything done for my proximity, he'd be my first call (based at Gaithersburg - bad day yesterday with the Phenom Crash and loss of life).

 

D74 is not far but not close to you.  For your price range though, it fits perfectly.  We've had some people on this board that have been painted there, and from what I have been told they are happy with it.  One of the 201's based in the DC area was painted there just in the last few years - looks amazing.

 

-Seth

[Alan Fox]

Seth , last time I was in GAI , I was parked nest to that Phenom.....Scary stuff , I was so glad when I read the article that it wasn't a Mooney.....(yours)...

[John Pleisse]

Smoketown did mine 2 owners ago. It has lasted 14 years, but had an orange peel sheen on the base coat from running it thin and cold. It was also Jet Glow. The gentleman in Greenwood, DE is the best, but he often has a 15 mo waiting list. I have had ten people praise his excellent work. Remember, you have to live with it for a long time.

 

Edit: Oh...I just saw your $8k figure. This is a 1996 paint job. I wouldn't do that. You'll get what you pay for.

[Marauder]

I just got a quote from Smoketown and you can expect the $12k range. They have switched over from AlumiGrip to Imron.

[carusoam]

Don't forget...

Layout and design are going to be important.

Choice of colors can be a struggle for some.

Be sure to post your pre-work for a plethora of free advice.

If you don't have thick skin now, often another skin layer can be gained just by posting one ill-conceived idea!

Just trying to help,

-a-

[chrisk]

Don't forget...

Layout and design are going to be important.

Choice of colors can be a struggle for some.

Be sure to post your pre-work for a plethora of free advice.

If you don't have thick skin now, often another skin layer can be gained just by posting one ill-conceived idea!

Just trying to help,

-a-

 

I had a very hard time with picking colors and trying to get the right design.  Eventually, I found a plane with a paint scheme I liked and told the shop.  "Make it look like this".  Failure to go this route may result in expending a lot of effort and ending up with something only a mother could love.  --Reminds me  of a black 231 I once looked at.

[Mooney_Allegro]

I used Jim Russell in Delaware when I owned a Piper Warrior II. He did great work, & I had many nice comments on the plane. I don't have experience from any other shop. Good luck!