WILLY FACE LIFT - INSTALLMENT 13

Today is Saturday, February 21st.  It has been 35 days since we started Willy's face lift.  A lot has happened but we have come to the culmination of the most 'public' (noticeable to those who encounter Willy) part of the project --- the paint job.  I started the first coat of red around noon today and finished the second coat around 6:45 this evening.  I must admit that my first emotional reaction was pride.  No one would ever believe that one could brush on an industrial automotive enamel. BUT WE DID!!  If you want it to look like a new car paint job, then you want to use a commercial spray set up. (Not only very expensive but requiring a paint box big enough to house your trailer!)  If you want a really good quality of paint job that still looks good going down the road, you can consider roller or brush with a commercial enamel know as 'tractor paint'.  As you will remember, we couldn't use the roller because Willy's skin is not flat.  I had to use a brush. In fact, I used a 3" brush.

As a therapist I have no problem with healthy pride.  In this case, I have no problem saying 'Willy looks good!'   Acrylic Modified Alkyd Enamel did a great job covering all of the body repairs we had to make.  If you look back at the data sheet on Installment-12  you will notice all of the solvents, etc., to which this paint is resistant. Everything from sulfuric acid to gasoline.

Masked, covered and ready to paint

Preparing for the red took a lot more masking and covering than for the white.  Pamela and I worked together and got everything that isn't supposed to be red very well covered.  It didn't take long to learn that when you're dealing with this type of paint a drip can be a disaster.  I only had about three spots where white dripped on the primer that was to be painted red. It took two coats to cover the white enamel. Knowing that this would be the case, we spent considerable time covering anything which we didn't want to be red. In the entire project we have used about 4 rolls of paint tape and two rolls of brown paper.  Your time, frustration and paint isn't worth skimping on the cost of those items.  If you have any concern, mask and/or cover it.

How we handled this as a team: On the top row Pamela would pull off a piece of tape about 3 feet long. I would start applying the tape - leaving at least 1/2 not fixed - as she measured out and tore off the paper. She would then hold the paper as I slipped it under the tape. For the subsequent two rows the paper would be anchored at one end. Pamela would roll out the paper and position it as I applied small pieces to hold it in place. Then we would both cover the entire seam.  Unless I just poured paint down the side, there is no way it should get past this covering.

I applied the paint with the best quality 3" brush we could find.  As I have said before, you have to be careful of runs and that this paint seems to wait until you're not looking to run. Willy took 3 pints of paint to do two coats.

Tomorrow (Sunday) morning I will have to decide whether or not the paint is hard enough for me to do the two pinstripes.  Most everyone who is knowledgeable about paint or trailer restoration encouraged us not to use pinstripe applications.  The only option is to paint the pinstripes by hand. That's what I'm going to do.  I have a high quality 1" brush.  It will be tedious but should be worth it. We both agree that the pinstripe will really set off the paint job.

All that's left before Willy can be back on the road is: (1) the new roof seal.  (2) new edging.  (3) paint undercarriage. (4) clean window frames and re-install. (5) install new fixtures - drain plug, and tank fill.  (6) re-install air conditioner. We're actually hoping that we will be finished before we leave for our cruise, but that's just a little over two weeks.

I must say that I am proud of our work. I really think Willy will turn heads as we go down the road.