This is a hijack, but I've wanted to tell this story for years. Except for me everyone involved is gone to dust, years ago.
Many years ago, in a galaxy far, far away....
I'm sitting in the shack, being lectured by Jim the Hermit, after pulling a particularly bonehead maneuver in his almost new PA-18, and a guy shows up eliciting an "Aw Shxt" from Jim.
The guy wants his plane painted. He wants it cheap, and he wants it immediately. They argue, and Jim is getting redder and redder in the face. Suddenly Jim does a complete 180 and says "OK. It will be ready in 2 days".
The guy walks out, and I, with my best quizzical expression, stare at Jim, who is ignoring me and furiously writes up a list.
"Kid, drive the duck over to Marv's and get everything on this list. Don't ask questions, just do it." So, not being one to pass up a chance to drive the duck, especially since I am only 15 and have no drivers license, I waddle the duck down to Marv's, hand him the list and wait. About 20 minutes later, Marv, with some help starts loading boxes into the duck and announces, "I have to go to Peekskill to get the rest."
I waddle the duck back to the base, and Jim says, "Go home. Be here at 6 AM"
The next day the plane is in the paint hanger, all prepped, the spray gear is all set up, and Jim tells me "One coat, wait one hour, a second coat, wait one hour and a third coat. No drips or I'll make you clean it off with a toothbrush and start over."
I know he means business, and I do this as carefully and as perfectly as I can. The paint smells funny, but I can't put my finger on why. But the paint job is a beautiful kelly green, and looks terrific. Jim tells me "Get lost. Be here tomorrow at 6 AM."
The next morning the Cessna 180 is done. Jim had done the stripes and numbers overnight, and it looks great.
Jim is smiling.
I'm terrified. I had NEVER seen Jim smile.
Ever.
The owner shows up, takes one look at the plane and hands Jim a wad of bills. He hops in and flies off. Jim hands me two $100.00 bills. It's 1964. I had never in my life seen a $100.00 bill before. I can fly forever on $200.00.
We are sitting in the shack and Jim says "What's the weather going to be the next few days?"
Says me: "Good today, tomorrow and Friday. Rain Friday night, Saturday and Sunday."
Says Jim: "Get back to work, don't show up Saturday or Sunday, and be here early Monday."
Monday morning rolls around and Jim informs me the painted plane is coming back. It lands, and there is NO PAINT ON THE PLANE. None. Except for the odd streak or spot it's almost all gone.
The owner is howling mad, threatening all sorts of violence and legal action. Jim just sits there, smiling. When the guy finally runs down Jim hands him the number of his attorney and tells him "Next time specify what you want besides cheap and immediate. Now fxxk off."
The funny smell? It turns out I sprayed the plane with kindergarten style finger paint.
As soon as it rained, the paint started washing off.
The good old days. I painted a mess of planes after that, but this is the one I remember best.
Anyway, I took a three hour road trip Saturday for my first look at some airplanes. My intention is to buy a 200 hour plane. The plan is to buy, fly, sell. One of the planes I looked at is a pretty good plane, solid panel, low time engine and a nice interior. The paint however is horrendous. It is so ugly, it's a deal breaker. So my question is, what does it cost, and can you even get an "Earl Shieb" paint job for an airplane? I will absolutely not spend 10k or more to paint a plane that I intend to sell in 1-2 years. Is painting something I can legally do myself?
