IOWA'S 170

[iowa]

right again!
i looked up the STC in my paperwork
and R. J. Schroers was issued it on 1/13/75
i wonder how many he sold?
most of the panel pictures I have accumulated
do not have this glareshield.
I'm kinda a purist so will try flying it w/o the GS
and if its difficult to see
i'll put it back on
iowa

[iowa]

i looked at the data plate on the entry door sill
but did not see any colors mentioned
i do see the T.C. of 799
the type aircraft and serial number
and in the lower left corner P.C. 4
at the very bottom is the MAA plate number
is the P.C. 4 the color code?
thanks
iowa

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

There is no color codes ever found on the data plate. In '55 and later there was a Trim Plate on the door sill. I seem to remember you have a '52. The color combinations and codes are found in the forward of the IPC. But the codes are old and there has yet to be found a reference from them to new codes. There is some talk of what folks have used found sporadically throughout the forum after they have found what they believe to be a good color chip and have it matched. Unfortunately we've never collected the formulas anywhere, mostly because no one seems to go to the trouble of sharing the matching formulas with us.

[iowa]

here is the color i found under the instrument panel cover
suppose it was the original color?
thanks
iowa

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Hard to say. If it matches the color under the plexiglass then yes. But I can't say I've ever seen the instrument panel under the overlay, painted.

Here is a picture of a '52 from our documents.



I've never been sure what color the overlay was painted, most I've seen are black. But always felt this example with a lighter color and darker instrument rings isn't right either. That is Lima Tan on the left and right and the base panel color should be Matador Red though in this picture it doesn't look much red.

[GAHorn]

Paint colors and codes have been discussed and cussed many times as Bruce points out. The best method has been to find some un-bleached paint beneath upholstery trim and computer match it locally. Most Sherwin Williams stores can do that for you. Also, as Bruce mentioned, the colors are described in the IPC in the Forward for models 1952 thru 1956.
The compass lighting wires should always be twisted as in your picture to prevent electrical interference with the magnetic compass compensation.

[Ryan Smith]

Jim Beyer’s airplane is a much better metric for originality. Charlie matched the paint pretty well on the few things he repainted inside.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Looks like Charlies center panel overlay is Lima Tan as well as the instrument bezels just like the side covers. Makes sense as that is what is called for.

[Ryan Smith]

Looks like Charlies center panel overlay is Lima Tan as well as the instrument bezels just like the side covers. Makes sense as that is what is called for.

As well as the glare shield. Have seen numerous examples of this...N2255D and N2257D still have original paint on the glareshield. 56D was repainted somewhere around 1962 to a darker gold, and then in 2003 or so to a maroon that matches the leather my mother picked out.

[iowa]

this was the color on the inside of the bezel
iowa

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Could be LIma Tan

[Ryan Smith]

Could be LIma Tan

Looks close to my eye as well.

[iowa]

would Ford Lima Tan be the right color?
where would I obtain Lima Tan paint?
thanks
iowa

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

You tell us? Is Ford Lima Tan the same? You know Cessna didn't reinvent the wheel when it came to these things. They used automotive hardware though some of it so obscure no one has discovered it. '54 Mercury handles used in '54 and later aircraft for example. They where only used in one year of car. No one had ever seen my example till I asked a '54 Merc owner. So I wouldn't doubt if we could go back in time we'd find all the paint they used came from the auto industry.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

So I search for Ford Lima Tan and low and behold I hit model of a '49 1949 Mercury Eight Coupe in Lima Tan, Haiti Beige.

Now one might get excited and think we're on to something. But then I actually have an original paint glove box door from '52 and prior that should be Lima Tan and it looks more like the roof color of this model than the body.