Airplane question

[Habu]

I am going to get my 58 Skylane painted in December.

The question is do I get it painted in exactly the same colours and layout it originally came in or do I paint it so that it looks like a modern aircraft.

The place doing the job can make it look like it rolled off of Cessna's floor yesterday if I wanted.

I love retro design and think it would be really nice in it's original colours but I am afraid that my opinion may be a very isolated one when I go to sell it. I don't want to hurt the resale value.

Below is a picture of the way the plane looked in 1958. This is from a magazine but my plane was identical. I don't have an actual photo of my plane in original paint as it had been repainted when I bought it.

[Chairboy]

Dang, that's a great question.  I can't offer any suggestions about which scheme to use, but during my plane search, use of Imron paint seems to be a selling point because of durability, might be something to consider, whichever way you decide.

Finally, have you done the math to decide how much paint affects the selling price?  It's possible that it doesn't really matter one way or the other, in which case it's up to what you personally like.

[Toad]

I guess the question is "is it a classic".

If you look at the antiques, they usually bring more with "original" paint jobs.

I can only speak for myself but if I was buying a 47 year old airplane I'd probably want it in the original "factory" paint scheme if I had a choice.

This is the "new look" from the Cessna site.



To me it just wouldn't look right to have your old girl sportin' that fancy new dress.... but I'm not looking to buy a 172, so don't listen to me!  

[Habu]

The plane has a crappy paint job that is less than 4 years old. The
last owner had it done and the place that did it really butchered it up.

I am getting it redone at http://www.skyharbour.com and they will do as good a job as possible. Their work is about as good as it gets.

The interior is original and in very good shape. If I had it repainted it would be a very good preserved plane. Not restored as I would have to get the interior redone to mint condition and I like the original interior the way it is.

Regarding cost. I am getting it done for my own enjoyment and to preserve it as the crappy paint on it now is peeling. However I was just going to go and get it done retro until I started thinking about resale value. I love the old Cessna look. However it may not be a popular look when I go to sell it one day.

That is why I would love your feedback on the issue.

[Hawklore]

If it isn't gonna be an antique like toad said, I'd just design your own paint pattern!

[Debonair]

For a Habu, why not all black?


Are you a real Habu?

[Holden McGroin]

Can you polish to a mirror finish?

Looks great if you can but a bunch of work to keep it.  Unless they have clear epoxy paint...

[Nefarious]

I like the paint scheme on that old magazine. The Green on the underside reminds of me some RLM Luftwaffe Color.

[Habu]

I like to fly and hate to polish so the aluminium look is out. Also when they made the original 1958 182 the Skylane came with a white base coat that covered the whole aircraft.

The cheaper 182 non Skylane had the aluminium look with trim only painted.

Most people do not realize that in the early days the Skylane was an upgrade over the standard 182, now all 182's are called Skylane so hence the confusion.

So because I do not want to polish it and because there may be slight dents etc under the current paint I think a polished look is out.

I will probably polish the spinner though.

[Habu]

Originally posted by Nefarious
I like the paint scheme on that old magazine. The Green on the underside reminds of me some RLM Luftwaffe Color.

The original yokes are in the plane (in great shape) and they are that colour. I like it as well. It is called Seabreeze but some people think it looks like the colour of old insane asylums and hospital wards. It was huge in the late 50's and really dates the plane from that era.

[Vulcan]

Tiger stripes with a hot naked chick for noseart and fake gun barrels.

PIMP YA CESSNA!

[SIK1]

Paint it how you want it, not how you think it will effect the resale value. You are the one who has to live with it once it is painted. You never know the original style paint scheme might be a selling point too a future prospective buyer.

[Nefarious]

Originally posted by Habu
The original yokes are in the plane (in great shape) and they are that colour. I like it as well. It is called Seabreeze but some people think it looks like the colour of old insane asylums and hospital wards. It was huge in the late 50's and really dates the plane from that era.

I'd do it exactly how that magazine has it.

I think it looks sharp.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Nefarious
I'd do it exactly how that magazine has it.

I think it looks sharp.

Ditto.

[Hangtime]

I'm really into scale modeling. When the weathers bellybutton or it's too cold to fly we hop in the suburban and tour the little strips looking at planes for scale documentation, and I gotta tell yah a tarted up classic in a hokey 'modern' scheme just clashes with the eye. The universal reaction from all of us is 'yuck'.

On the other hand, a ramp with a classic bird done in her factory scheme or tastefully done with colors and trim appropriate for her era pulls all our heads around. Low whistles, camera's come up, a stop at the FBO to ask after the owner or the history usually results.

Nothin looks better than a classic done up to look like she did when she was  the prom queen. She could be 40-50 years old and still be the queen of the ramp. A 50's bird looks like bellybutton if she's painted up like a pimp's potato.

Of course, that's just my (our) opinion.. your mileage may vary.