BeechTalk - BT - Paint my RV-7 (Part 2)

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Sep 2020, 22:42

Thank you all for helping me paint my RV!
https://www.beechtalk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=177879&view=unread#unread

I have decided to do a civilian paint scheme, and I am dropping my RV off for paint on 5 Oct. Here are the latest schemes I am considering. Feel free to post your opinions and respond to the poll.

Thank you!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Sep 2020, 06:47

None of the above

Here is my mates RV8 scheme for your consideration.

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Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Sep 2020, 06:58

The next-to-last scheme is somewhat similar to what I did on the RV-14A that I built. I'm a bit biased but I like it.

I left the wheelpants white to make it easier to touch up.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Sep 2020, 07:15

My RV-7 has a paint job more like #4 (red) but I have to admit that I like the Cub scheme that you show a little better. It will look good with any of these schemes but I have always thought that it is good to stay pretty mainstream.

John

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Sep 2020, 08:16

I vote for #2. Every aircraft must have some red on it. It's the law.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Sep 2020, 08:21

I like #5.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Sep 2020, 09:34

You won't go wrong with any of those. RV's tend to be HOT inside. I think maybe #6, with a bunch of white on top, might be a little cooler. Also, consider that people see it with its tail on the ground most of the time. Do you want the line between your split bases to be parallel to the ground in a three-point attitude? ISTM that it should either be parallel or far enough off that it's obviously deliberate.

One more thing: where colors come together or overlap, it's good to have a small "reveal" of base coat between the colors. For instance, in #6, the red swoop would pop a lot more if there were an eighth-inch white reveal between the grey and the red. If you did that, you'd need to do it between the grey and the black, too. But the red against the grey results in a pretty indistinct border.

But like I said, you can't go wrong with any of those. Good luck!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Sep 2020, 10:24

Well, I liked the "Red Tail" design from the previous poll the best, and I still like it the best. But if you gotta go away from that, the "Red" design here would be my second choice.

The Cub and RV options (5 & 6) are pretty nice as well, but you see so many airplanes painted like that... Especially RVs. I'd want something more unique.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Sep 2020, 12:31

Saw a mostly orange Cirrus on the ramp the other day; similar to this, thought it looked great.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Sep 2020, 21:51

I like #5 or Mr. Billingsley's. White seems to enhance RV's.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Sep 2020, 07:26

Username Protected wrote:

The next-to-last scheme is somewhat similar to what I did on the RV-14A that I built. I'm a bit biased but I like it.

I left the wheelpants white to make it easier to touch up.

It looks awesome! Very classy and great color choices. It's certainly a candidate... but I think I'm looking for something a tad more unique and personalized.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Sep 2020, 07:35

Username Protected wrote:

You won't go wrong with any of those. RV's tend to be HOT inside. I think maybe #6, with a bunch of white on top, might be a little cooler. Also, consider that people see it with its tail on the ground most of the time. Do you want the line between your split bases to be parallel to the ground in a three-point attitude? ISTM that it should either be parallel or far enough off that it's obviously deliberate.

One more thing: where colors come together or overlap, it's good to have a small "reveal" of base coat between the colors. For instance, in #6, the red swoop would pop a lot more if there were an eighth-inch white reveal between the grey and the red. If you did that, you'd need to do it between the grey and the black, too. But the red against the grey results in a pretty indistinct border.

But like I said, you can't go wrong with any of those. Good luck!

Great points Stu. Thank you! I have the final design ideas printed, and we have tilted them level on the ground to look at this very thing. Great observation.

Good to hear from you!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Sep 2020, 07:39

Username Protected wrote:

Well, I liked the "Red Tail" design from the previous poll the best, and I still like it the best. But if you gotta go away from that, the "Red" design here would be my second choice.

The Cub and RV options (5 & 6) are pretty nice as well, but you see so many airplanes painted like that... Especially RVs. I'd want something more unique.

Thanks James. I like the Red Tail a lot too, but I'm not sure it would look right in a side-by-side RV-7.

I agree. You spend years building an airplane in your garage... you want it to look unique. I've wanted #1 for the last 6 months, and now I think it's a bit boring. Hard to tell without the pearl/metal flake gray/silver coming through. But I'm now leaning towards #4.