Fuselage primer color

[chrisvanosdol]

The fuselage tubing, is it supposed to by zinc chromate color or Olive Drab Color???? I have an L2M...

Thanks ahead of time...

Durch

[M Towsley]

Re: Fuselage primer color

Durch,

A buddy of mine has restored a couple of L-2's and currently has an L-2M. Let me check with his mechanic as to what they did. I have flown and looked at this plane several times in the past, but never paid attention. I don't think the color of the tubes in the cabin were zinc chromate, though. I'll be going out there later today.

[chrisvanosdol]

Re: Fuselage primer color

Thanks......

[Robert Lees]

Re: Fuselage primer color

2-pack epoxy is available in any colour you specify (if you pay for it!) The "standard" colours seem to be green or white. I would suggest the green for your project.

The reason other paints like zinc chromate are not approved with Ceconite or Stits is that the modern fabric cements will react with these single-pack paints, so preventing adhesion.

Any primer can, however, be overcoated with 2-pack epoxy, if the existing primer is good and scuffed if necessary.

[M Towsley]

Re: Fuselage primer color

Chris,

The color of the tubing inside the cockpit area, and as far back as I can see, is olive drab in my friends L-2M. Matches the rest of the airplane. Hope this helps.

[jgerard]

Re: Fuselage primer color

Rob, what does "2-pack" mean over there. I am guessing you are referring to the "2-part" as we would call it in america. Basically an epoxy paint that is mixed 50-50 (paint to catalyst). Just wondering-

Jason
N43643

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Fuselage primer color

When I started the restoration of my 45 BC-12 the fuselage still had the original primer on it. I was actually able to contact one of the painters from just after the war and he said there was lots of zinc chromate primer left over and it was in two colors. There was an olive drab kind of color and a yellow. On a lot of early post war planes they MIXED THEM! The color on mine was DISGUSTING. When I reworked the fuselage I wanted to do it like the original (can't see the tubes that easy and makes for a really interesting story) so I went to Petit epoxy company and had the color mixed to match. They called several times to make SURE I really wanted such an ugly color and actually asked me to write them and tell them I understood I couldn't return it. It is a REALLY ugly color, but it is great to be able to tell the story of why it's like that.
Hank