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Question about Lo-Vis tactical paint on F-14's

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  • Member since
    February 2013
Question about Lo-Vis tactical paint on F-14's
Posted by tomwatkins45 on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 8:06 PM

I'm currently building a VF-32 F-14B in lo-vis paint. It's a really dirty airplane. What was there about the paints used in these schemes that made them so susceptible to dirt and stains and so hard to clean?

Thanks in Advance,

Tom

  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Darren Roberts on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 8:09 PM

It's essentially the same thing that makes decals silver on a flat paint. On a microscopic level, a flat paint looks like a mountain range, compared to a gloss paint that is much smoother. Think Colorado vs. Kansas. Dirt, oil, gunk, etc. gets stuck in the "valleys", making it dirty and grimy. It also may have to do with the paint itself and what it's made of that makes the grime cling to it. You'll notice that the old gull gray/white schemes were far cleaner. They would get dirty, but it would take much longer than the TPS colors. 

  • Member since
    February 2013
Posted by tomwatkins45 on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 8:19 PM

Thank you. I thought it might have something to do with the "flatness" of the paintor the material itself. That seemed reasonable but I wasn't sure.

Thanks again,

Tom

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by seastallion53 on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 1:41 AM

There is alot of spray can corrosion control on all carrier a/c so it has a splotchy look due to the slightly different shade coming out of a rattle can.

  • Member since
    February 2013
Posted by tomwatkins45 on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 6:22 AM

Yes, there sure is, and that is very apparent in photos.

Thanks,

Tom

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