Paint source to match

[N3830H]

We're new Mooney owners - recently sold our Cessna 206 and purchased our first "fast" airplane! 

We need to re-paint the spinner and a couple of other areas.  Specifically, we're trying to locate a source for the original "Tan" base color.  Our local paint shop tried to match it - the result was not good.  The paint was shiny but just not quite the right color!

The parts catalog calls for Pratt and Lambert color #577-633 - however, that company now only seems to do house paint. 

Anyone have a source or a paint # that will be a close match?   I have local suppliers for PPG and Dupont Nason paint products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DaV8or]

Bare in mind that your old original paint is faded and affected by time. The color has changed. Also paint formulas get you in the ballpark, but they are not guaranteed to match by a long shot. Best thing to do is bring a panel from your plane to the paint shop and try to match the best chip you can find including the factory colors, then have the shop custom tint the paint to match exactly outdoors, in the sun. Even then, application of the paint can affect the outcome. Properly matching paint color and texture is artistry. I know, I used to paint cars.

[carusoam]

Dave is right on target on this one.  I went to the body shop with a panel that had all three colors of my plane.  They matched each one and generated a formula that any paint shop can follow.

The next trick is trying to get a good way to spray it as an amateur.

-a-

[laytonl]

I have the same "tan" paint and Pratt &Lambert number.  A paint expert told me the base color for that color is no longer manufactured so we can't get a match from the numbers.  I took a panel to an automotive paint supplier and let them match it with an enamel paint.  It matches great, not perfect, but I was impressed with the match.

Lee

[piperpainter]

You know what always makes a plane look great is a nice shiny spinner! I know several of us on this site have poilished the spinners on our Mooney and boy does it look better. You can see in my gallerie how it looked white and then how it looked nice and shiny! Just a thought instead of painting....and it only takes about 4 hours of elbow work!

[thinwing]

amen to polished aluminum...and you will be repolishing every couple months like clockwork...get plenty of mothers mag polish and a power buffer....looks great...you can also have spinner chrome polished...its probably not legal (hydrogen embrittlement says some)but looks the best and doesnt need repolishing..kpc

[N3830H]

Thanks, all - we did actually think about polishing the spinner....but we're more the painted-spinner kind! 

I ended up going to another paint supplier, got a much better PPG Concept match.  It's not absolutely perfect, but it's good enough (I think we'll be the only ones who can spot the slight hue difference.)

Now, on to the avionics refurb in a couple of weeks!