Aircraft cleaning service removed fuselage paint

N

Narwhal

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Aug 6, 2019
Messages
167
Display Name
Display name:
?
Quick question/story:

We had some black mold/fungus growing on top of the wings from when the airplane lived outside, and our IA recommended a local "mobile airplane detailing service" to clean the airplane, stating that the stuff can be difficult to remove. It wasn't all over the wings, just in a few spots 3-4" wide. Since I was looking to sell the plane and I trust the IA (still do), I said, OK great, $500 for a C182 and he can do it in my heated T-hangar, seems reasonable. It's a 182B and I think it might have the original paint, don't know, but it looks like it.

So the guy ends up taking 3 days, I'm checking on him every day and scratching my head every time....he started on the tail and still hasn't gotten more than halfway up the fuselage on day 3. I go in there on the 3rd day, and the top of the fuselage forward of the vert stab is has about 25% of its paint removed and is shiny bare metal where white paint used to be 3 days earlier. I tell him "that's good enough". He says there was "some kind of film on the surfaces, like tree grime" so I guess he got carried away with the chemicals and abrasives.

Anyway, lesson learned, if you want something done right, do it yourself and all that, especially something relatively simple.

Not trying to slander the guy, mistakes happen, etc. What is the best way to color match the paint and touch it up? Will that end up looking worse than the patches of bare metal? Any advice is appreciated.
 
Last edited:
Just keep in reminding yourself how much money you saved by not hangaring the airplane.
 
Clip4 said:
Just keep in reminding yourself how much money you saved by not hangaring the airplane.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I didn’t save much because it was the previous owner that left it outside.
 
Is it possible the paint was already compromised? Decades outside and you wonder why paint came off when it was cleaned?
 
Last edited:
You may want to acquaint yourself with the local collision supply shop.

They can assist with projects of this type.

Determination of existing paint type is a good place to start.

Original was lacquer but it’s likely been repainted. Check logs for this.

There are etches and conversion coatings needed if you want it done right.

The supply shop will likely be able to read the color and match for you.

Note top and bottom may differ from the environment exposure.

“How much fade do I put in the can?”

Most of these folks can put in a rattle can.
 
Clip4 said:
Just keep in reminding yourself how much money you saved by not hangaring the airplane.
Click to expand...
All the planes at my home airport are parked outside, and I've never seen or heard of anything like this. My 1979 PA-28-161 was last painted in the early 1990s, and, AFAIK, has been outside through every Canadian winter and summer since. The paint is getting a bit dull and worn now after ~30 years (as you'd expect), but given the cost of hangars around here, every 3–5 years I've saved enough money to pay for a new paint job.

There are lots of other great reasons to have a hangar, of course, but I don't think paint preservation by itself would be a killer arg unless you live somehere that hangars are dirt cheap (<= $100–200/month).
 
Narwhal said:
Quick question/story:

We had some black mold/fungus growing on top of the wings from when the airplane lived outside, and our IA recommended a local "mobile airplane detailing service" to clean the airplane, stating that the stuff can be difficult to remove. It wasn't all over the wings, just in a few spots 3-4" wide spots. Since I was looking to sell the plane and I trust the IA (still do), I said, OK great, $500 for a C182 and he can do it in my heated T-hangar, seems reasonable. It's a 182B and I think it might have the original paint, don't know, but it looks like it.

So the guy ends up taking 3 days, I'm checking on him every day and scratching my head every time....he started on the tail and still hasn't gotten more than halfway up the fuselage on day 3. I go in there on the 3rd day, and the top of the fuselage forward of the vert stab is has about 25% of its paint removed and is shiny bare metal where white paint used to be 3 days earlier. I tell him "that's good enough". He says there was "some kind of film on the surfaces, like tree grime" so I guess he got carried away with the chemicals and abrasives.

Anyway, lesson learned, if you want something done right, do it yourself and all that, especially something relatively simple.

Not trying to slander the guy, mistakes happen, etc. What is the best way to color match the paint and touch it up? Will that end up looking worse than the patches of bare metal? Any advice is appreciated.
Click to expand...

I doubt you can "touch it up" very successfully?

Seems like a Pandora box was opened when the mold was removed?

I can understand how the paint can come off after years of neglect.

Something does not add up, who would work for 3 days for 500 bucks plus it sounds like he providing the cleaning supplies included in the 500?

Sounds like the plane needs a overall paint job? Got any pictures?

Good luck with it..
 
It may be that the paint was already compromised, giving the mold a chance to start. Kind of like when you see moss on a roof, if it's holding enough moisture to support moss growth it's gonna be leaking soon if it isn't already.
 
The vast majority of Alaskan planes park outside. Usually not a problem as this is a low UV and fairly low humidity environment. The only time I’ve seen black stuff on top of a plane has been accumulated birch sap. We have leaf miners here and it rains birch sap. Sap attracts dust, and the combo holds moisture. Removal is pretty simple on healthy paint. Not so simple on chalky paint. What do do next is the hard part.
 
David Megginson said:
All the planes at my home airport are parked outside, and I've never seen or heard of anything like this. My 1979 PA-28-161 was last painted in the early 1990s, and, AFAIK, has been outside through every Canadian winter and summer since. The paint is getting a bit dull and worn now after ~30 years (as you'd expect), but given the cost of hangars around here, every 3–5 years I've saved enough money to pay for a new paint job.

There are lots of other great reasons to have a hangar, of course, but I don't think paint preservation by itself would be a killer arg unless you live somehere that hangars are dirt cheap (<= $100–200/month).
Click to expand...

I think the key element is being parked on or near enough to grass that the dust from mowing provides the environment for mold.
 
Gary Ward said:
I doubt you can "touch it up" very successfully?

Seems like a Pandora box was opened when the mold was removed?

I can understand how the paint can come off after years of neglect.

Something does not add up, who would work for 3 days for 500 bucks plus it sounds like he providing the cleaning supplies included in the 500?

Sounds like the plane needs a overall paint job? Got any pictures?

Good luck with it..
Click to expand...

I think he wanted $500/day but accepted pay for only 1 day given the result.
 
Clip4 said:
I think the key element is being parked on or near enough to grass that the dust from mowing provides the environment for mold.
Click to expand...
That would be me, then — I have a tiny patch of pavement under the wheels, but grass otherwise. I start to see bits of mold on my covers after 5–10 years, but never on the plane itself.

The big thing I keep an eye out for is bird droppings, because they like to perch and poop, and it's especially nasty when they've been eating the wild grapes that grow in the airport fence. I understand birds get inside hangars as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top