Rolled on paint job with a twist.

[ArgosyRover]

Painted my 24 with a roller and am pleased with the result, it's a satin pebbly texture, but I think it looks great.
The twist is that I stripped all the door and window frames, castings and lower belt. I did it because you can't easily sand the window frames because of all the rivets and the paint was terribly chipped. So I planned to strip and repaint, but while they were stripped I liked the look. Somehow, looking at it now it just seems wrong to paint all those castings and trim.
To each his own I guess.

Also removed the original tail light assembly and filled the holes.
Don't know yet what I'll do for tail lights yet, bolt on's on the bumper for now.

Peter

Travels with Geordie

[SteveH]

Looks good. I too like the aluminum window and door frames, but you probably need to at least keep them waxed to prevent corrosion.

[ArgosyRover]

Thanks Steve,

I was planning on wax, glad you second the opinion.
They're not really shiny, I just burnished them a bit with a scotchbrite pad.

Cheers
Peter

[SteveSueMac]

Looks good! Does the dog drive? :-)

[MrJ]

Can you post some close up pictures? I might do the same thing and needs lots of info.

Can you give details on the paint and the type of rollers you used? Primer?

[ArgosyRover]

MrJ
I'll get some close pics for you.
The paint is just Rustoleum. I mixed colours to get the tint I wanted.
The primer is a premium etch primer used on any exposed aluminium.
I put Japan drier in the paint to harden it a bit.
Rolled with 4" high density foam rollers.

Peter

[J. Morgan]

I think it looks awesome.

Is it wrong for me to covet your painted Airstream?

[rogerdodger]

I like it! I want to do the same with mine. The window frames unpainted look awsome. Where did u get the primer, and Rustoleum. Did u strip first, and what did u use for the stripper.

[sledf15]

Love the two-toned paint job! We just bought this 1977 Argosy 26 this week. Today I worked on the brake lights and running/parking lights. But we will paint this in the next couple years. Same question as the others...what type of paint stripper did you use? Where did you get that primer and Japan drier? Thanks for your post(s)!

[MrJ]

I have painted with a foam roller like that before with latex water base paint. I had issues with the roller leaving texture where the it stopped before started the down stroke. I can't imagine painting an airstream in 1 continuous stoke down the side. Maybe it was a latex paint issue? You didn't have that issue with the oil based paint?

I know the foam is going to leave a texture on the surface. I just want it to be consistent.

[GAStreamin]

Wow! I'm impressed!

[ArgosyRover]

Thanks for the kind words.

The texture is the issue for sure.
If you have enough paint on the roller, the overlaps don't show, but you need to keep a "wet edge", I rolled vertically to achieve this. My first coat was perfect, I laid down a thick coat which leveled out really well. With the second coat, I was running low on paint and I had to finish that day, so the roller was a bit too dry in a few spots and there is a more pronounced "pebble" texture. It's still shiny, but pebbled.

I stripped only the areas you see bare aluminium, of course the stripper affected the adjoining painted area so sanding and priming was required.

Stripper, Ace hardware house brand for metal and masonry.
Primer, Dupont Chromate system etch primer in rattle cans.
Paint, Rustoleum, I mixed almond and white for the top, Hunter green and black for the bottom.
Japan drier, Redi-Strip, available at Home Depot.

There's a little more info on my blog.

I'll get some more photos soon, I'm restoring as I travel, I painted the coach in New Orleans and I've been working my way north ever since, sitting in Jersey City tonight.

Peter

[Gearheart]

How many rattle cans of chromate did you need?

[crabbey1]

Good stuff man.

[tevake]

Love your paint job and the unpainted trim sets it off nicely!
Wow are you traveling long distance towing with the Rover, hardcore if the case :-)
Hope you saved a little paint of each color for touch ups. Sure does look good.

Cheers Richard

[SmokelessJoe]

Peter, I like the colours you mixed up! Looks good.

[Foiled Again]

Sergei, didn't win the lottery last night. Bought a ticket for Saturday. Wish me luck! I'll have that setup of yours if I win!

PS: How much to deliver it? I'll pay for the plane ticket back.

Wishful thinking by Paula

[SmokelessJoe]

For you Paula, delivery is included.

If you prefer the UTILITY BOX over the MINI I will supervise your design through to build out for FREE as well.

Two options, same price: Beautiful rig with Matching Utility body. Lovely rig with original MINI. Take your choice.

GOOD LUCK. Here's hoping for you!

[Landshark]

Peter, it looks fabulous! I can hardly believe that you used ordinary, off-the-shelf paints for this. And rolled it on! Amazing! Carry on the good work!

Vivian

[Sdbraverman]

How many gallons of paint did you need for the top?