Why is there an objection to contractors doing this particular job?
I suppose it is nostalgia from a can-do era. The days are gone of P&F's refinishing a piece of sqn memorabilia or doing the yard-arm because he thinks it's a bit tatty-looking. They would do it using the remnants from a few half finished tins at the back of a Thursday afternoon for a packet of hobnobs and an invite to the next beer-call. In the days of contractorisation it would be costed, then a business-case, then it's all too difficult.
I suppose its a bit like finding out you are going to land late and bribing the chef to knock-up a few sandwiches and put them behind reception for when you roll in at midnight. 'Of course Sir! Is ham and cheese ok?'
I suspect it just doesn't happen now. That said the Babcock boys in the paint bay at Kinloss were a dab hand at toe-caps and rusty bonnets.