[R-390] It followed me home

Tue Aug 19 10:31:05 EDT 2008

Ray,

Sorry, I am a little confused.

Are you looking for information on the Collins St. James Gray paint, i.e., that used on the Collins A-line such as the 75A-4, KWS-1, etc? Or the semi-gloss, light-gray finish as used on the R-389, R-390, R-390A equipment?

To answer Barry's question: the FED-STD-595A color code 26152 Semi-Gloss Gray enamel paint that I described in my message of yesterday, is available directly from Spectrum Coatings, of Providence Rhode Island. Call Nancy of Spectrum at 401-781-4847 for pricing and other information. The minimum they will mix for you is one gallon, and I paid $70.00 for one gallon several months ago. The shipping is expensive, as the paint is considered a Hazmat. But the color is absolutely dead-on when referenced to my pristine original '67 EAC R-390A; this is important, as everyone here knows there were always variations in the color of the R-390/R-390A front panels, depending upon who the manufacturer of the receiver used for a paint supplier, the paint lot, ageing of the paint, etc., etc. 

The manufacturers of these receivers and the CY-979A/URR cabinets always used oven-dry enamel for the front panel paint, and with good reason. The paint becomes very hard, and with very little orange peel if properly applied. And that is why I used the exact same type of paint when I restored all of my R-390/R390A/CY979A equipment. 

Unrelated to this, in a manufacturing environment, the oven-dry finish is critical, as it drys quickly, speeding production.

Here is the information you must specifiy to Spectrum for the paint for R-390 family of receivers:

Per FED-STD-595, Color Code 26152, Semi-Gloss Gray, I.A.W Specification TTE-529D, Class B Oven Dry Enamel

Based upon my experience, I would not consider any supplier other than Spectrum for this paint. I have seen samples of this color from Sherwin-Williams when done in their urethane finish; a little too glossy and too much orange peel. 

It is also available in an air-dry finish, but the orange peel (i.e roughness of the finish) may be slightly greater and the hardness of the finish may be less.

Suffice it to say, one gallon of this paint will provide enough coverage for a number of R-390 front panels, CY-979A/URR cabinets, etc.

73,

Bruce, W2XR

----- Original Message -----
From: Ray Cote 
Date: Monday, August 18, 2008 11:35 pm
Subject: Re: [R-390] It followed me home
To: Barry , R-390 HF Receiver List 

> Barry said!!!!
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> This subject has probably been discussed in so many places on 
> this and other 
> lists, but I cannot find much. Perhaps someone can tell me 
> where I can 
> locate datum on the painting (and paint scheme) of R-388,R-389-
> R-390 series 
> of receivers (if they can all be the same color). I came 
> across 3 gallons 
> of St. James Grey paint from an estate of an SK ham. The family 
> was going 
> to paint the inside of a metal shed until I talked them OUT of 
> that plan by 
> offering them some like colored paint for them to use. So my 
> question, 
> then, is what is the story on St. James Gray for receiver 
> painting. Seems 
> that if ther are no available references for shades of gray 
> nearby, all gray 
> in=s the same. I would like to use the original paint if it is 
> at 
> altogether in keeping with being original, but that is just me.
> 
> Ray
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
> > For paint, I used an oven-dry enamel that matches the FED-STD-
> 595 color 
> > code these units (and the front panel of the R-390/390A 
> receivers) were 
> > originally painted with; the color code is 26152, light gray 
> semi-gloss. 
> > This material is available from Spectrum Coatings of 
> Providence, RI.
> >
> > Good luck with your CY-979A/URR!
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Bruce, W2XR
> >
> > 
> 
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