Best place to paint a Mooney

[M016576]

Hi All-

        I have a 1980 M20J that's in need of a fresh coat of paint and possibly a new interior.  I'm wondering if anyone out there can recommend a good shop, preferably in the south west, that is well versed on the ins and outs of a mooney.  I'm also trying to not break the bank on this; how much does the typical new paint job + interior cost? 

             Thanks in advance!

[MooneyMitch]

If you would, please see all posts regarding "I'll be painting my airplane soon..... " and "Well She's done....and boy is she red!  ".

I highly recommend ArtCraft in Santa Maria, CA.  Well under $10K for a fantastic show quality paint job.  I can vouch as well as there are at least 6 other Mooney owner's that have had their Mooney painted there within the last year, including mine!  Please feel free to contact me.  I suggest you speak with the other happy folks too.  I can provide that information to you.  There is one Mooney from Santa Paula just about to come out of the shop this coming week.  It is looking gorgeous too.

Happy to help you., Mitch. sanluisjazzband@charter.net or 805 305-1506.   

[piperpainter]

I just had mine done at Artcraft about a week and a half ago. They are awesome to work with and just like Mitch said well under $10K (this is how I wanted mine) and even better Mitch and Jolie will most likely meet you when you pick it up and you can see the awesome planes they have, and enjoy some great company!

oh ya....Mitch already did the link for me!! thanks Mitch!

[M016576]

Two stunning reviews right off the bat, and Artcraft is right around the corner.  I think I'm going to give them a call first thing monday, thanks!  -Job

[MooneyMitch]

Hi  Job.

This has become the phrase to use with ArtCraft when you feel you are satisfied with all and you are ready to make the verbal commitment to get your plane painted................folks are saying to Teresa, "if you can reproduce the quality of Mitch's paint job, then you can have my business"..........They think this is fun and are more than willing to do so! 

Ok, I'm really thinking about going to the airport now!!  ha.

[hansel]

I flew piperpainter to Artcraft to pick up his m20C after painting last weekend. Not only did it gave me a chance to meet some great Mooney owners (and what a terrific group they are!), but also to verify that all the Artcraft postings on this site were not hoopla. So the owner met us after hours and gave a tour of the facility-- I was able to see a handful of Mooneys in different stages of the painting process, including two finished Mooneys (Mitch's Ovation and Brian's C) and a few other non-Moonies (btw, even non-moonies are worth looking at from time to time, e.g., for research purposes). Indeed, they run a terrific operation at Artcraft-- all that you'd expect from a first rate shop (separate stripping/painting areas, detailed removal of all controll surfaces, warranty, LOTS of attention to detail, etc.). Bottom line: these planes are beautiful. Artcraft is certainly on my shortlist. As you know, painting an airplane is a big investment and I think you're asking the right questions. Good luck, and keep us posted!

P.S. (and at the risk of thread drift) It's great to see so many military folks flying Mooney airplanes. Awesome! To know that you guys and gals proudly serve our country in some of the most sophisticated and advanced flying machines during the week, then choose to spend your personal time in a Mooney is comforting. What an honor to be flying these airplanes with you. And thanks as always for your service!

[Buster1]

;-)

[M016576]

Thanks, Hansel!  The mooney is a beautiful machine: safe, fast and efficient.  I can't think of a better light four place aircraft out there.  Not to mention, she's fun to fly!

[KSMooniac]

I wish the Artcraft secret was out last summer...I think I would have flown from KS to get mine done!

One of my college professors was a retired USAF Col, with quite a resume including leading the F-15 flight test program, commandant of the test pilot school, instructor/advisor to the South Vietnamese, etc.  He of course chose a Mooney for his personal bird after retiring.  Actually, he upgraded from a V-Tail Bo into an M20F. 

[mooneygirl]

Teressa at ArtCraft is so complimentary of the Mooney owners she has worked with.  Of course, in this economy, and them being a family-owned business, they SO appreciate the business they have received.  No shop is perfect, things happen. But for me, the commitment to "getting it right" was evident at ArtCraft.  I do have to admit that they call Mitch "Mr. Picky" and now I am "Mrs. Picky". I know they mean this with love.  

We are happy again to treat those coming to Santa Maria to an Orcutt Burger.

[jasonwojo]

:-)~

[Mcstealth]

Because you gave the direction of Southwest, in San Marcos, Tx is  Southwest Aero who is also well know and respected in Mooneydome.

David

[M016576]

Well, thanks to the recommendations from the board, I've gone ahead and scheduled my M20J for a new paint job through Art Craft!  I'm dropping her off on the 26th, I can't wait to see how she turns out!!!

 

-Job

[piperpainter]

You will be a very happy man! Do you have the design yet?

[M016576]

Fellow mooney owners (and lovers)- 

 

              My turn to brag.  Well, after just over 2 months, I've finally got 3891H back from Artcraft.  I'm very pleased with the results, particularly the attention to the cowling and the new fasteners.  I went with a green and silver design, to try to get away from the reds and blues I've seen on many mooneys (hoping it would be just as flattering in green/silver).  I felt the price to be somewhat fair, but was a little anxious about the turnaround time (the contract said 20 days, no explination on the delay), I was hesitant to start the motor after it'd sat for so long, but to my surprise, it fired right up like she had flown yesterday (not two months ago!).  Without further ado.....             -Job

[M016576]

Stay tuned for a pic of the final product

[mooneygirl]

When I saw your plane at ArtCraft on Saturday, I thought "WOW!"  it looks very nice.  I like the design and your color scheme.  Congratulations. I am sorry we missed you...

 

 

[KSMooniac]

Nicely done!  They seem to be doing some great work out there!

[mooneygirl]

For those who don't know it... May 22nd ArtCraft is sponsoring Mooney Madness, a free day-long event including seminars, raffle, lunch, live music and a fuel discount, and  private consultations on interior and exterior.  I believe there are a few spots left. 

Http://www.ArtCraftPaint.com  then go to Events.

 

My Maggie is in need of paint.  Got to get the fuel leak fixed before that....hint hint hint.

[MooneyMitch]

M016576.  Thank you for posting more photos of N3891H.  Your plane looks great!  Congratulations.  The green colors really tie in the green tinted windows.  Way to go!! 

[M016576]

Mitch- I really appriciate the recommendation on ArtCraft, I'm very pleased with the work!  Sorry I missed you at Oceano, we tried to fly out yesterday, but it was a bit too windy here to takeoff (I'm a little conservative these days... a friend of mine flipped his C172 two weeks ago as he was taxiing off the runway when a gust caught him... totaled the airframe.)

As promised, the final product!  I love the color, and the work on the paint job is top notch!  Unfortunately, I already scratched it while getting out (I pulled up a little piece of the no-skid while getting out... boo!!!!)!!!  I'm going to see if I can make the Mooney day at ArtCraft, maybe they can apply a band-aid or something

without further ado....

-Jon

 

[Buster1]

Awesome job and great design, they did well.  Congrats.  Was it tough to pick colors and a design?

[M016576]

I spent about a month looking at different designs, and rolling it over in my mind how I wanted it to turn out.  I looked at many...many... pictures of mooneys, as well as other GA aircraft, thinking about what colors to go with.  Initially, I thought about blue with silver or gold trim, but decided that it was a little too "military" for my liking, not to mention that those colors are very popular, it seems.  I also thought about black with red trim, but decided against it.  I found a great picture of a Malibu with a similar green/silver paint scheme and hadn't seen anything like it (particularly on a mooney, which tend towards blues or reds) and wondered how it would look.  I figured it would work out well, so I e-mailed the picture of the malibu to artcraft:  Teresa went through the color book with me when I dropped off the airplane and I picked out the green and the two tones of silver (Teresa was very helpful with this... she's done hundreds of mooneys and over 2 thousand other airplanes... this ain't her first rodeo, and she knows what looks good with what in the end).  With that, I left my downpayment and let them go to work.  I didn't do any of the online "paint scheme designers" or anything, I just let them surprise me with their creativity and the picture of the malibu.  I did specify that I wanted the "standard mooney tail design (where it wraps up the back)."  Other than that, I let her rip it, and she did!  Awesome work, and a few grand cheaper than the other places I had looked.

-Jon

[piperpainter]

Looks great! A usual product from Artcraft! And they will probably help you out. And hey i thought recommended them as well!

[M016576]

Indeed Bryan! Every time I see your mooney, I keep thinking of the 99th FS and their red tails. Coming from a squadron that was known for painting everything we could get our hands on red, I do appriciate your color choice, and was happy to sign on with a company that did such a fine job on your design!

-Job