Wow.. Thanks to everyone! I'm overwhelmed!!
The decals are not made by me. I have always liked putting together plastic model airplanes for years. Have discovered several companies who make sets of decals for a huge line of different airplanes from all periods of time. After I saw the 2 F-16's, I started searching for decals that portrayed that specific yellow and blue F 16, then one that had that style of Texas flag. Found them and bought 2 sets of each! Then it was just trying to figure out how to use that color scheme on a Phantom.
I had originally thought of painting my Phantom bright orange overall with blue pin striping, like I had seen in a motorcycle magazine photo that really looked sharp!! Started looking at paints and came across the House of Kolor brand, used in the automotive industry. Not really looking to use automotive paint, but after looking at the hobby paints, I didn't see an orange that really matched the color of the motorcycle. Then read where it was House of Color. Couldn't really decide on a pin stripe pattern, then one day saw the blue and yellow F 16, and that was the end of the motor cycle idea, but decided to stay with House of Kolor and gave it a try.
House of Kolor is usually sold in cans, but decided to spend a little more and purchased the blue and yellow in spray can format. I am really pleased with the way it turned out. Went down very thin, and using several coats, the color built up nicely. Masked off the blue then sprayed the yellow. There were no issues with paint peeling off afterwards, which was a pleasant surprise. House of Kolor is designed to be finished off with a clear coat, as it dries dull.
I really wanted to use a clear coat anyway, as the first Phantom project ended up with a decal disaster. I had completed a Phantom in a Coast Guard finish without a clear coat earlier. That turned out to be a big mistake. I took the Phantom down near the gulf coast in Houston to do a photo shoot, and the humidity in the air and on my hands just destroyed all of the decals. Had to be very careful where I placed my hands or would have lost all of the decals. That's what led me to do a finish that ended up with a clear coat.
I am in the process of completing a re-decaling and doing some paint touch up on the Coast Guard Phantom and will for sure do a clear coat on that one. Clear coating is not a cure all protection, but does help seal in the decals and will help with some of the little dings that occur with hard landing, tip overs and contact with bushes.
Sorry for the big manuscript here. Looks like I got a little carried away. To answer another question, I am not in the military, but my father was in the Coast Guard for 22 years and I have always been around aircraft and enjoy the airshows. I live near a bomber base now and see them in the sky all of the time. Have built models for years and flew model airplanes and radio controlled a/c for a while.
Again, I really appreciate the kind comments. Take Care bpatty
