Touch Up Paint?

[GeneralT001]

Hi,

Theres a crack in the paint on the cowling of the M20J....is there touch up paint to fix this or does it need a more professional fix?

 

[N201MKTurbo]

They all seem to crack like that. Someone on here glued a sheet of carbon fiber to the underside and claims it stopped the cracking. The only good way to fix it is to strip it and repaint. 

[EricJ]

Lots of people touch it up by hand.   Since it is a "decorative coating" it falls under preventive maintenance and can be done by an owner.

Automotive paint shops can mix paint to match.  I figured out that "Oxford White" in the spray bombs from the automotive part stores is close enough on mine.   For a small touch-up you can spray a bunch on a piece of cardboard or something and dab it on with a little brush.   Cracks can be roughed-up and smoothed with a little sandpaper first.

Edited December 11, 2021 by EricJ

[N201MKTurbo]

I'm jealous of your engine alignment. Mine is still about 1/4 inch low. I've re-shimmed twice since I hung the engine. The next time should get it. It is just such a pain.

[GeneralT001]

21 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I'm jealous of your engine alignment. Mine is still about 1/4 inch low. I've re-shimmed twice since I hung the engine. The next time should get it. It is just such a pain.

I guess I'm fortunate as I just bought the aircraft and its engine/prop were overhauled...so "0" time on both

Of course it hasn't been flown since the overhaul...so hopefully it survives that.

[GeneralT001]

Thanks for the replies/ideas. I guess ownership will be a labor of love

[Mooneymite]

43 minutes ago, EricJ said:

Lots of people touch it up by hand.   Since it is a "decorative coating" it falls under preventive maintenance and can be done by an owner.

Automotive paint shops can mix paint to match.  I figured out that "Oxford White" in the spray bombs from the automotive part stores is close enough on mine.   For a small touch-up you can spray a bunch on a piece of cardboard or something and dab it on with a little brush.   Cracks can be roughed-up and smoothed with a little sandpaper first.

Oxford white?  I have a belly panel that needs some attention.  It is not in plain sight, so "close" might be okay.  The logbook says the paint is 6160 white, but I can't find anyone listing this white.  I can find 6160, but not white.  Anyone have a source, or a web site with a conversion table to the newer paints?

[ArtVandelay]

I think “Matterhorn White” is pretty standard these days:

https://www.aerotouchups.com/f17178652.html

[PT20J]

1 hour ago, ArtVandelay said:

I think “Matterhorn White” is pretty standard these days:

https://www.aerotouchups.com/f17178652.html

Cessna's standard white used to be Matterhorn White. Piper liked Juneau White.

[PT20J]

My 1978 M20J top cowl cracked. My 1994 has the Mod Works mod and is fine. Has anyone reverse engineered the Mod Works mod? It doesn't look too complicated.

[ArtVandelay]

My 1978 M20J top cowl cracked. My 1994 has the Mod Works mod and is fine. Has anyone reverse engineered the Mod Works mod? It doesn't look too complicated.

I believe my 78 has the mod, I thought it was just a reinforced metal strip glassed in?

[jetdriven]

if the fiberglass moves, it cracks.  Grinding it out and replacing it with structural aircraft epoxy and carbon fiber doublers inside fixes this.  Then standard bodywork and paint blend and match

 

[GeneralT001]

1 hour ago, jetdriven said:

if the fiberglass moves, it cracks.  Grinding it out and replacing it with structural aircraft epoxy and carbon fiber doublers inside fixes this.  Then standard bodywork and paint blend and match

 

Any Youtube videos to show that kind of work?