Professional paint job

Branderson · February 22, 2018, 08:56:19 AM

Atlanta Custom Coach. They are just south of Atlanta.

neoneddy · February 22, 2018, 09:20:42 AM

Would love to see some before and after pictures.

Branderson · April 06, 2018, 09:30:51 AM

They finally started on my paint job. They sent me a cpl of progress photos.

Branderson · April 06, 2018, 09:31:50 AM

Pic 2

windtrader · April 06, 2018, 10:46:13 AM

Branderson,

Glad to hear the job is finally underway. As you've discovered, better quality jobs cost more and take time. The most critical aspect is the prep and primer coat. Visit a couple times, it'll be worth the time and effort checking in person. Make sure all the surface is completely sanded, filled, and smooth before any primer is put on. Check the masking, look very closely to ensure the tape is spot on. Ensure a two part epoxy primer is used on areas where metal is exposed. Getting a primer coat over the entire surface is worth the cost as it ensure better bonding and coverage of the base coat.

Each paint layer has different specs on time between flashing off and applying next coat. I am sure these guys will try to work that way rather than needing to sand coat before next layer.

The better quality paint job removes parts rather than masking. I know this is not a show car so maybe on a bus it is acceptable to mask around lights, mouldings, handles, etc.

There are plenty of examples where clear coat fails. Ask for the specs on the clear and look for the UV protection in it. If they are using lesser material, ask if they can use a better clear with more protection. Especially, I'd think a bus is going to spend more time in the sun than a garaged car, so it is more important to protect the paint. I know it is all so expensive but you want the paint to last for years.

Good luck, Don

Dave5Cs · April 06, 2018, 05:18:45 PM

Good video with Bruno Mars painting a SS bus shows the time and work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-iFCHmHdpE

eagle19952 · April 06, 2018, 08:59:54 PM

Quote from: Dave5Cs on April 06, 2018, 05:18:45 PM
Good video with Bruno Mars painting a SS bus shows the time and work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-iFCHmHdpE

not even if i had the dough.

DoubleEagle · April 07, 2018, 07:17:35 AM

Quote from: eagle19952 on April 06, 2018, 08:59:54 PM
not even if i had the dough.

I agree with Don, expensive wild stripes don't do it for me, but I suppose that some people have money to burn.

Dave5Cs · April 07, 2018, 02:50:33 PM

You missed the point funny guys. It was showing what all is involved in painting a bus. I wouldn't either. I don't care for the RV look but some do. Not my thing.

But anyway you look at it there is a lot of work sanding painting masking etc. Like someone said earlier Its not a show car and you will never get your money back. Solid color is nice.

brmax · April 08, 2018, 09:23:34 AM

Thats a great video there Dave, I can imagine all the work.
A real nice paint job by Dean and another following thst one with 1400+ hours. Yep compute them hours with whatever rate you want and thats some cash, I dont care what anybody says! 🙂
All kiddn aside Bruno is a pretty cool dude, always an upbeat and not a bunch of bs trash. Also if I had the bucks that shop of Deans would definitely be on the paint schedule.

Good day everyone

Floyd

Branderson · April 09, 2018, 06:47:12 AM

Quote from: Dave5Cs on April 06, 2018, 05:18:45 PM
Good video with Bruno Mars painting a SS bus shows the time and work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-iFCHmHdpE

Cool video thanks! I don't even want to know what that job cost. Atlanta Custom Coach had some prevosts in their garage when I dropped it off. I almost feel like they work on such high dollar jobs that mine is miniscule in their eyes which it probably is but not to my wallet.

That was a 2015 too...I bet that paint job was 100k-ish.

My original paint job had 5 colors if you include the squiggly lines. Since cost was important, I went with just 2 colors and no squiggly lines. I'm still holding my breath that when they take off the front panel, there's nothing that needs repair under it.

buswarrior · April 09, 2018, 09:18:02 AM

Branderson... what front panel?

1974 MCI? If you take the front skins off... you will be VERY sorry.

So long as it's all together and "solid enough" let the sleeping dogs lie?

Once they go in there, you'll be looking at an absolute total rebuild of the entire square tubing, with the finicky radiuses.
And then the dashboard/windshield frontier will need re-worked.....
And the drooping roof.....
And now the door isn't meeting correctly.....
And the bumper structure.....

Unless you have excellent relations with the body shop, they will own you?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Branderson · April 09, 2018, 11:00:53 AM

Quote from: buswarrior on April 09, 2018, 09:18:02 AM
Branderson... what front panel?

1974 MCI? If you take the front skins off... you will be VERY sorry.

So long as it's all together and "solid enough" let the sleeping dogs lie?

Once they go in there, you'll be looking at an absolute total rebuild of the entire square tubing, with the finicky radiuses.
And then the dashboard/windshield frontier will need re-worked.....
And the drooping roof.....
And now the door isn't meeting correctly.....
And the bumper structure.....

Unless you have excellent relations with the body shop, they will own you?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Hopefully it's not what you are talking about. I have a front panel that is bubbling up. I have to get it replaced b/c it will come back within a year they say. It's basically the aluminum that is above the headlights and goes up to the bottom of the windshield. As I understand it, that is just a metal panel. Maybe I'm using the wrong terminology.

buswarrior · April 09, 2018, 11:11:40 AM

Yes, that front skin.

It is a stainless panel, what's wrong with it?

I found a crappy picture here: http://www.coachconversioncentral.com/fredhobe.htm

Scroll down that first page. The metal framework that the skin is riveted to will be swiss cheese.

Potentially, all that is holding the coach front together will be the skin. Once disturbed, there will be nothing in there to start working back from with new metal.

Re-building the front is labour intensive, fine if it is DIY, but murder $$$ if in the body shop...

Start a new thread on this, to attract the attention of the busnut members who have done the project?

Templating the corners before starting saves a lot of fitment time.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Branderson · April 09, 2018, 11:24:25 AM

I will ask them about it but my hopes is since it was already converted before that it wouldn't be as labor intensive. That looks to be the only difference between the article you posted and my bus.

Honestly, if they were that ignorant about replacing panels that they didn't tell me or know about it, then they shouldn't even be doing the paint job.