[ARC5] Touch Up Paint

[D. Platt]

On 5/24/2012 2:55 PM, Robert Eleazer wrote:
> John:
>
> I don't think there is any such thing as gloss or semi-gloss wrinkle paint.  There is just wrinkle paint, as far as I know based on my long and mostly unsuccessful attempts to use the stuff.  It looks shiner when new than when old.
>
> In any case, your problem is to match what the equipment looks like now.
> Probably a semigloss will be better but I have even heard people say a black "magic marker" gives good results for touch up over very small areas.
>
> By the way, speaking of wrinkle paint, I recently was able to get pretty good results using VHT wrinkle paint when I painted a case for a new piece of equipment I am building (a rocket motor firing panel).  I had found the VHT to be unsuitable for repainting a BC-348, where a thick coating was not usable due to the need to preserve the markings.  But for the equipment case I had no such worries and the VHT did not do too badly when applied thickly.
>
> Wayne
> WB5WSV
>
I'll second the motion that Wayne mentioned, that is, using VHT wrinkle 
paint.  I did an article for Electric Radio regarding applying and 
restoring wrinkle paint.  VHT, when applied correctly and with 
application of heat will do a very nice job.  One can obtain a fairly 
fine finish or one that is deep by sing one, two or three* successive 
coats of paint.  For touch-up, I spray a bit of paint in a disposable 
paper cup, let it "set" for a number of minutes, then daub the paint on 
the affected area.  I then use a heat gun to jump-start the wrinkle 
process.  All said and done, I am still working to duplicate the true 
and original very fine wrinkle finish as found on ARC-5 and SCR-274N 
equipment.  VHT is the only brand I've found that will even come close 
to the original.  Working in the past with with Norm, N3RZU,  (who used 
to work with Associated Aircraft and intimate with the ARC corp.), he 
indicates that they (ARC) used a custom paint, batched at their plant.  
It was cut so as to provide that very fine black (or gray) wrinkle 
finish.  I've no idea what their formula might have been.........

de K3HVG

* Where successive coats of paint are indicated as for a deep wrinkle, I 
find it necessary to pre-heat the work item before application of 
paint.  The pre-heat allows the volitile to dissipate and better prevent 
running of the successive coats.  In any case, though, heat is the key 
to it all.