[R-390] Restoring my '390

[John Flood]

George Rancourt in Western MA does panels as well.  Silk-screened, George paints them, IIRC, had an auto paint shop computer match the paint, then he had a local guy cut a screene.  I think he does them in batches.  He brought some to Nearfest and they look very good.


John Flood

 


----- Original Message ----
> From: Barry <n4buq at knology.net>
> To: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 5:16:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [R-390] Restoring my '390
> 
> > Well, as long as I can scan the panel [I may have to do it in 2 sections,
> > but that's OK] making a cnc file to turn plain stock into a
> > recessed-lettering panel is just mindless busywork...but if I can get a
> > freshly silkscreened panel from W3HM, so much the better...some might call
> > it sacrilege, but...I wonder if he's ever done, or can do, an R-390A panel
> > in St. James Grey?  It wouldn't be 'purely authentic', but personally I
> > think it'd look sharp.  Blanking a new panel out of raw stock ought not be
> > difficult for this hobby machinist...I'll have to drop him a line...
> >
> > 73, Brian KA9EGW
> 
> I painted a couple of front panels with the same color as used on the S-Line
> front panels.  They looked great.  Yes, they're not authentic, but I wasn't
> painting them for the government either.
> 
> I would think the biggest problem might be keeping an old panel flat for the
> engraving process.  I think a list member, Hank, may have done this, though.
> I think he passed them through a significant amount of flattening,
> smoothing, and conditioning before machining them.
> 
> Whatever you do, if you engrave them (or restore previously-engraved
> panels), it is ill-advised to attempt to have them powder-coated.  BTDT and
> the results are very "iffy".  One panel turned out good, the other had to
> have the engravings filled in, sanded smooth, and silk-screened.  Long,
> boring, sad story.
> 
> Good luck with it.
> 
> Barry - N4BUQ
> 
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