Blue paint

uwe · 07-23-2002, 11:36 AM

I want to restore my airstream letters, the Land yacht plaque, and the tailight housings on my 71 TradeWind. I am looking for the best paint to use, as well as for a matching paint code.
Also, I am looking for a source for the blue stuff that goes around the bottom moulding. Is this paint or is it tape? I went searching onthe web, but had no luck so far. Someone in this forum restored an older airstream name plate, not the individual letters, with Rustoleum royal blue, but it seems the letter should be a little lighter blue.Ulness it's all faded......
Help!
Uwe

Sharon Lee · 07-23-2002, 12:16 PM

Uwe,
Im not positive but I thought there was something on the airstream trailer link library.
try www.airstreamtrailers.com and check it out.
It's a cool website
Sharon

davidz71 · 07-23-2002, 04:29 PM

Rustoleum brand Royal Blue matches the Airstream letters according to a previous post. I went to my local Lowe's and found it in a pint can. It looks great even after a year of sitting out in the sun. Craig

uwe · 07-23-2002, 05:45 PM

thanks a bunch. I am sure I can get that locally.
InlandRV have the blue moulding tape for the lower and midle moulding. It is very expensive, though. i might ust paint the inside of the aluminum extrusion with the same royal Blue Rustoleum. Or at least do a small section to see what it looks like.
Uwe

71tradewind · 07-23-2002, 06:23 PM

UWE ,Rustoleum brand Royal Blue is exactly what i used.I bought a quart and that was plenty. Tom

71tradewind · 07-23-2002, 06:27 PM

Almost forgot ,I also painted that lower trim area "where the plastic was" and it turned out great ! Just keep a rag with laquer thinner handy to clean up the edges , and any mistakes !

uwe · 07-23-2002, 07:18 PM

I was going to mask off around the trim, and then paint the inside of the extrusions. This might be a little more work, but I imagine getting nicer edges. I do not have a very steady hand for painting with a paintbrush, especially not sober....just kidding.

**Pick** · 07-23-2002, 07:59 PM

We used "Ford Blue" that we got at Tractor Supply. It is so close to Royal Blue, you can't tell. It may be Royal Blue, re labled, who knows, but it is so close, no one will ever know anyway.

71tradewind · 07-24-2002, 07:42 PM

Pick , nice rig ! How did you redo the counter top? Uwe as far as taping off, all I did was paint it then used the laqure thinner to clean off the excess ,it now has nice sharp edges. You dont have to worry about the finish on the bananna wrap trim at least not on mine because it is just plain metal "no finish on it" I think if you use this method you'll find it to be both time saving and cheaper $$$$$. A small can thinner is about $1.50.The other thing is the paint doesnt really stick to alum. real well so when you pull the tape off you might pull your paint off as well. Maybee others out there might have some advice on this . I just know this worked real well for me. Good luck

uwe · 07-24-2002, 07:57 PM

What is the banana wrap trim? Is it the piece going from the middle of the trailer around the back? Mine definitely has a groove in it, possibly was blue in there some time ago.

thenewkid64 · 07-24-2002, 08:32 PM

Bannana wrap is the name given to the curved sheet of skin that is under the lower rub rail and blends ino the belly skin. I belive the name derives from the shape it is off the trailer, or the fact that it can peel off like a bannana skin if you rub up against something hard enought to tear it

**Pick** · 07-24-2002, 09:09 PM

First we removed the stove and sink from the countertop, then removed the countertop from the top of the kitchen cabinet. We then took the countertop into the garage and removed the "mustard yellow" laminate from the plywood countertop, which was fairly easy. We went to Lowes and picked out the blue, that you see. It cost $39.95 a sheet. Well, we had to ah, ahem, use two sheets, because, well, you know. Anyway it came out perfect the SECOND time! I found out that a table saw does a real good job of rough cutting to size. Scoring and bending to break it does not. I have some more pictures of the process from a chemical camera that I will scan and post.

thenewkid64 · 07-25-2002, 05:39 AM

I have done some laminate work on our MH as well. It had neon lime green formica and the stove and nutone had bee nemoved and patched with plywood by the previous owner. I elminated the Airstream edge as I needed to bridge the gap where the stove was so mine looks more like a residential style counterd with a standard edge. I also covered the wall at the end of the counter in the same laminate as the wall covering was shot and full of holes. There had been a mirror there at some time in the past.

Here is the before:
http://www.airstreamphotos.com/photo....php?photo=506

here is the after:
http://www.airstreamphotos.com/photo....php?photo=505

Next is the floor!

Fatt Ratt · 07-25-2002, 10:02 AM

Hey y'all

I replaced my brakes and painted my hubs with Rust-oleum #V2124 Safety Blue. The shade is lighter then ford or royal blue. See my picture. - Ray