Rebirth of a Bell 206B...

[KikoLobo]

Here it is.. After a month or two of being worked out, and having nothing vertical to fly..... But it was worth the wait... New Impeller, Compressor Overhauled, Re-Coated, re-painted.. New Windows, New Doors, New Skid Shoes....

This is how it used to look before all work was done :
http://www.kikolobo.com/myups/SLFTHU_02.jpg


This is how it looks now:
http://www.kikolobo.com/myups/SLFTHU_13.jpg
http://www.kikolobo.com/myups/SLFTHU_20.jpg
http://www.kikolobo.com/myups/SLFTHU_17.jpg


More details of the paint and the process:
http://www.kikolobo.com/myups/SLFTHU_14.jpg
http://www.kikolobo.com/myups/SLFTHU_15.jpg


This where taken during the work:
http://www.kikolobo.com/myups/SLFTHU_03.jpg
http://www.kikolobo.com/myups/SLFTHU_05.jpg

[Aesir]

Wooow.... that´s really nice. Congrats on nice helicopter:ok:

[mini]

Nice job, congrats.

Is that a wire cutter mounted on top?

[kookabat]

That's one HECK of a paintjob!!! :ok:

[Jayrow Pilot]

Wow

I bet that was a very expensive to do. Rude question, how much for the whole job? Know someone who might be looking to do a major on a 206.

[KikoLobo]

If you are talking about the paintjob only, it takes around 9 to 10k to produce.

Keep in mind that this was done by an artist who's expertise is not in helicopter or aircraft painting. So i actually had to hire 2 painters.. One was the artist who knew all about airbrushing and paint effects, and the other was an aviation painter. Each had something to teach to the other... The paint type had to be aviation approved, and so on.... And besides that there where 2 mechanics that had the job to dissasemble the helicopter for deep inspection, powder coating of the internals, removal and replacing of screws and supervising both painters thru there job.

The mechanical part is not included in this budget since i thad to be done anyhow.. With paint or without...

The windows had to be replaced except for the skylights... Which also made sense to replace anyway considering the cost of the overall job, and taking into account that they will have to repaint some parts if removed later.

So all in all without compressor job, you can expect to spend around 16 to 20k's in all the jobs i did. Not including compressor overhaul.. Which is actually quite expensive...

I loved it anyway.. I am in love with jet rangers. Specially this one :)

[McGowan]

Very impressive looking job.
I'm sure all connected to it are, and should be proud.

[Diatryma]

looks better than the one that crashed in Kununurra yeaterday :\

[KikoLobo]

Yes Sir. We are extreamly proud and happy. Strange as it might seem, it also came a lot lighter than expected, due to the fact that it had some old coats never removed prior to any other paint job.. So we went all the way to the buttom.


I am happy... VERY happy :)

[collectivesoul!!]

Diatryma just wondering if you might have any light on B206 down Kununurra? :suspect:

[sprocket]

KikoLobo: I like the red paint work, will it suffer from exhaust stain along the tailboom?

The fuel here in Oz always wrecks a good paint job with a nice black sooty oily stain from the exhuast. :hmm:

[diethelm]

Sooty Stains......

I wax the crap out of my vertical and tail rotor blades every time I wash as the C30 really huffs soot. The wax allows the soot to wipe right off after each flight.

[Brilliant Stuff]

What a beauty. I love it when one gives an old machine a contemporary paintjob.

[KikoLobo]

Thanks for all the preaty messages...


Well.. About the exhaust stains... Well.. It will get dirty.. But far from ruining the paint i don't think so.. It had never happened before to me... I wax it very often and clean it after every flight or two.... Well some times maybe 3, but i do clean it very often....


And it was an old ship... But the previous owner took such a great care of it, that it wasn't difficult to keep it shiny... All its components are in excelent shape and the avionics are also great. Will send a picture of the panel soon :)

Thanks for the compliments.

[rotorrookie]

Is this a bit of "Pimp my Ride" going on here??.... bling bling bling
outstanding paintjob:ok:

[Diatryma]

collectivesoul!!

VH-EDD - Pilot & Pax OK - minor injuries only.

Di :ok:

[BlenderPilot]

I think it's absolutely cool!

Plus it looks like a very high quality job, craftmanship at it's best.

Congratulations Kiko!!

[bolkow]

really great paintjob, how many airframe hours has the ship got up anyway?

[KikoLobo]

It has around 3000 Hours in the airframe...

[rotors88]

Top marks, very unique & classy paint job, you must be very proud of your Jetty especially now ;)

[BHenderson]

Great paint job. Out of interest, how sharp to the wire cutters have to be?

Bobby

[somepitch]

they come to a point but don't have an edge...think of a chisel point thats been painted over so it feels duller...