PlaneNutz Contributor, Smokey Ray's first RV, the Bandit. The first three years (before this nice paint job) he flew it with just polished aluminum and rattlecan red on the cowling. Hey...it works for me. (Click to enlarge)
The Rattlecan Chronicles is our collection of builders and their planes built with value in mind: getting the biggest bang for the least bucks.
OK, I know what you may be thinking so let’s clear this up: “Rattlecan paint” actually is an acceptable means of putting paint on an aircraft or part of such. While we admit, probably just not as durable as say an epoxy product. OK? But that’s not the point really.
The point I am trying to convey is this: Today you can still build a good, safe, attractive airplane without selling a kidney. Whether you paint some of it with rattlecan paint from the big box store or use peel & stick vinyl numbers from Wal-Mart. It’s OK. Really.
It’s not about cheap though: cheap construction techniques, poor quality work or using unsafe techniques. These plane have to be textbook AC 43.13 compliant!
What you will see here [as we find more and more builders that think along these lines] should be:
- An encouragement to people in the process and new to home-building their own experimental certified airplane and to
- Those considering this option.
If you know of such a project or you are are the builder we would like to hear from you. Write you story, send up pix, do a video. If time and $ permit we may even come out and do a personal story on you and your plane.
Just let us know!
Sandy
Enjoy!
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