Deciding on a paint scheme??

[mhorowit]

Beside going to places where aircraft congregate, how do you determine the paint scheme you'd like to use? is there a collection one can view, like wallpaper samples? I saw somewhere a set of tailfeathers painted like a bird's tailfeathers; that's what got me thinking of something other than cub yellow - Mike

[mulwyk]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

Mike:

Check out the photo album at Captain Jon's website. Most every T-craft paint scheme that's ever been!

Bob

[FunkyMonkey]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

http://taylorcraft.info/tcraft/tcraft.htm

My bird is nearly prepped for paint so i am also looking for a paint scheme. capt jons albums have been a good help so far but i havent made a decision yet. Lots to choose from. I'd be interested to know what you decide on

[crispy critter]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

High guys,
I went through hell and back trying to find my own touch for Crispy Critter,something different and unique but after playing with 100's of different schemes and colors I just decided to be plain and simple with a black and white t-craft scheme.Maybe I should have been expected to do something a little more but after I showed my drawings to my father with over 50 different choices it was the plain black and white that really caught his attention and that is what really matters because I started this project(most would say impossible project) to honer him and in a way to say thanks for all he has done for me while I was growing up,so what makes him happy makes me happy when it comes to Crispy. I do have a couple of things to add to the paint job before it's finished but that will be revealed when she takes to the sky again. I will post a couple of nice chices to my gallery pages for you guys to check out,maybe one of them will be for you.Check them out on the last page of my gallery.

[Yellow Duck]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

Put a paint job you can live with for a very long time. At first, I didn't know about the "Duck". But, it has proven to be very nice, get lots of attention and is unusual. I have grown to like it very much. But I see other T-Craft that I like as well. This paint has been on for about half the life of this recover job. About 10 years. Still looks very good. And still attracts lots of attention.

Having said all that. I still like the basic T-Craft paint. Choose your colors. Stand back and enjoy!!!

[M Towsley]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

I have always wondered what a 'standard' T-Craft paint job from '46 looked like. I saw the info in the newsletter, but really haven't noticed too many planes painted that way. Where did the other 'standard' paint come from, the one with the diamond at the front of the stripe, painted leading edges, etc.?

[3Dreaming]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

I think the diamond was more pre war design. When I was getting ready to paint the clip wing I made some 3 views of the out line and started drawing schemes, and coloring them with markers. I've still have some of the pictures, as they may get used sometime. These schemes were not traditional schemes, but for a airplane intended for airshow use.. Tom

[M Towsley]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

Tom,

Any idea what post war were like? Bt the way, that '41 BL you restored in the 90's....I found a picture of my dad with one of those planes at Southwest airport. Couldn't see the NC number, but had to be the one or close. Black and white photo, though.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

I think the most common scheme for post war is the split fuse (Dark bottom light top), and solid light colored horizontal pieces. Tom

[Brady]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

I'm recoving my F-19. It had been a dark red with black trim. It looked nice, but with the dark color on the top of the plane, the fabric really took a beating over the years. This time the top of the wings and fuselage are going to be white and the rest of the plane red. All of the formerly black trim will also be white.

I'll post pics when it's done. It should be less than a month now.

[Jim Taylor]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

I had some tough thoughts, but settled on the diamond for my '46, with diana cream on top and tennesee red for the trim. I like trim on the leading edge of the wing and struts as well, with the jury struts the color of the main part of the wing. A tough decision, I know it's not 'original' but then neither is the C-85 with full electrics either. (I can't stand the 'swoop' that came on it! Too modern for me!)

[high time cub]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

The influence of the Art Deco style/era (characterized by simple bold geometric patterns and bright colors) is obvious in the original T-craft two tone semi-circle design.
What appears to be a simple sweeping curve up from the belly, is actually a clever visual device that reiterates the roundness of the wheels, tires, windshield, cowl, tail feathers etc.

The diamond is another simple geometric Deco shape, but it's placement on the front cowl, I suspect, is the vestige of the arrow or spear motif found on earlier airplanes.
In the 1930's, Braniff Airways and Central Airlines both used the arrow image to symbolize speed.

Check out the the half-diamonds and curves on the top of the Chrysler Building.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Deco
or Raymond Lowey's design.... http://www.raymondloewy.com/

Have fun designing your T-Craft paint scheme.... be inspired!
Jim

[mulwyk]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

Jim:
OK...you have my attention. Art Deco? Single sweeping curve? Wasn't the original paint scheme all straight lines? Please explain. My hobby is design, but I'm not that bright, so please explain in terms that even I would understand. Maybe an illustration or photograph would help.

Bob Gustafson

[high time cub]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

Bob,
Thanks for the reply. That was a faux pas on my part! T-Craft designs of the era such as the Duo-Tone red over black, were often slightly modified by owners to create an original design. The inspiration for change may have come from Art Deco, but I suspect it had as much with the opportunity provided by a needed repainting of the metal cowling!
Like you, I've always taken an interest in the aesthetics of airplane design. Is there a particular area of design you are especially interested in?

Look these at Captain Jon's : N39111, 44493 windshield curve, 5066M, N9453, N95350.
Jim

[mulwyk]

Re: Deciding on a paint scheme??

Jim:
Capn. Jon's is a great resource, isn't it! I don't know how we would even begin to discuss paint designs without it.

I love those red over black designs too. But it only seems to work if the TOP of the cowl is also black and swooping down to connect to the bottom of the fuselage black. I think I know why this is so. Take a look at 95179 in Capn. Jon's...nice. Then crank down a couple and look at 95193...again nice, it seems to work. Now check out 95200, a nearly identical design but somehow missing that distinctive, cute T-craft look...it does NOT work. The difference? That fuselage stripe goes all the way to the front of the cowl!

Every great aircraft design has a KEY...the thing that makes it unique, the thing that makes it work. On the Taylorcraft it's that stubby little cowl. Think of the Monocoupe or the Sopwith Camel. Try to picture either design without the stubby cowl...boring!

If my theory is correct, design elements that emphasize the short cowl should work:
1. As noted, the fuselage stripe should stop short of the cowl.
2. If a light over dark design is used, the dark should include the top and bottom of the cowl.
3. The original airscoop out the bottom looks better than the Brackett filter pokeing out the front of the cowl (according to Rob Lees and others). The reason? because the airscoop seems to suck the cowl back shorter, while the Brackett filter makes it appear to stretch horizontal.
4. If your T-Craft originally had a NC number keep the numbers on the wings. Fuselage numbers are, again, horizontal elements.
5. The "D" window behind the door always makes the Taylorcraft look a bit like a (forgive me) Cessna. If a window is needed there, why not a small round window (porthole?) instead of the "D" shape?

Bob Gustafson