Jump to content

Recommended Posts

We all know that when TPS first emerged, the Navy struggled to keep it serviceable in the fleet. Flat paint does not weather so well in a naval environment. As a result of constant corrosion control efforts, fleet aircraft soon looked like a hodgepodge of spot primer. Just flat out ugly. In contrast, the USAF has been able to keep the paint on its jets looking pretty good. Being shore based helps, obviously.

Back when the Navy first came out with gull gray over white, the white was gloss and the gray was flat. They soon figured out the flat gull gray was difficult to maintain and went to gloss. Everything was fine from that point until the introduction of TPS.

I think that the Navy should adopt a semi gloss version of the TPS colors for it aircraft, so that they will be more durable. However, it does seem like the SH paint is weathering better than everything else. I've yet to see any dogged out looking SHs.

Edited by DutyCat
Link to post
Share on other sites

IMO, although at times rough looking, the patchwork look of the touched up paint enhances the camoflauge of the aircraft. Besides with out it what would we modelers do when it came to making weathered jets if everything had a nice glossy finished.

Isn't the current paint slightly RADAR absorbing? I wonder if that could be formulated into gloss paint.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The super bugs in the fleet are still new, give them time and they will look ragged also. You also have ot consider the maintenance of the aircraft, the higher maintenance the more times you have to open and close panels the more you have to paint. When you compare the SH to the Tomcat, the Tomcat has about a billion more fastners then the SH so therefore you have more spot painting.

Also, if you compare older jets to todays jet you have to take into account what type of ship they are on. There were more oil burning carriers (for example Forrestal Class) back then and the ships exhaust did contribute to the wear and tear on the paint jobs. And you have to take into account the technology of the todays paints as compared to paints from 10-15 years ago, big difference there also.

Give the SH time, it will get dirty and weathered just like the Tomcats were in there closing days.

Reddog :rolleyes:

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...