Oratex builders: what paint system did you use non-fabric components?

[johnhansen]

I'm planning to use Oratex Corsair Blue and Silver for my Bearhawk 5 and getting ready to place the fabric order. For those builders that used Oratex, what paint system did you use for the wings, boot cowl, cowling, etc? Since Oratex has a matte finish, how did you match the finish or did you just use glossy paint?

I'm looking at the Oracolor / Orapaint (can't really tell the difference) so I get the same color match. But also have the paint codes for Sherwin Williams and have looked at the Stewart Systems for aluminum prep and paint.

 

[U2fletch]

Stewart Systems is what we are using. They have colors already matched to the Oratex fabrics. They have a flattener that you can use.

 

[svyolo]

I used Stewarts and did some experimenting. Personally I didn't want glossy, as no matter how close the color, the texture is so different, it will rarely look right, at least to me. I intentionally tried to match the texture, and it worked out OK.

 

[svyolo]

I tried a bunch of test panels. The best I came up with was using max allowable flattener, and about 10% extra water as a thinner. I then applied fog coats only, until color saturation.

As a disclaimer, I have no idea of long term durability. I also did this over a period of two years to different panels. All out of the same gallon of paint. Different temps, humidity etc. So the different panels are not a good match for color. I was warned about this, but did it anyway.

But it did do a good job of matching the texture of Oratex.

In hindsight, some gloss and some Oratex would not have looked horrible.