Eastern Europe respray
 

Someone told me a while ago about a paintshop somewhere in Eastern Europe which is supposed to do a fantastic job at really good prices.

Trouble is I can't remember the name or the country !

I think it was something like "TAG" or similar, but I could well be wrong. Googling has been no help.

Anyone have any ideas ?

FF :ok:

Like everything in life you pay for what you get.... Factor in the ferrying costs and then if you have a problem subsequently what do you do then?

Go to one of the two reputable people in this country (Mick Allen and Coltons) who have a long history of happy customers and pay for a proper job.....

Then there is the issue of how are they going to certify it, especially balancing of control surfaces.

Smarthawke,

I've used one of the firms you quote, and yes, they did a fantastic job, but at a hell of a price (BTW, I can think of a few more who would argue with your "two reputable companies" statement!). But as you will see from my post, this firm is also supposed to do a "fantastic" job : and as they are evidently JAR-compliant, or certified, or whatever the phrase is, I can't see certification being a problem, Eric.

You're quite right about the ferry costs, of course, but then that's my problem ...

FF :ok:

I don't want to get into a 'they ripped me off' thread but believe me the two firms mentioned are the best in the country. There are loads of paint shops dotted around the country but most rise up and fall over within a couple of years. One new boy on the scene has been offering bargain prices recently but it won't be there in a year or two because they just don't charge enough for the very labour intensive job they are doing - if they do it correctly.

Mick Allen does the fleet I look after, our customer aeroplanes and my own and you won't get a better job done elsewhere if you want value for money.

By value I mean an excellent, long lasting paint job - not one that will start to flake off or allow the corrosion back in a year.

As I said you pay for what you get. Can you go and see a ruck of aircraft this firm has painted over the last 5+ years and see how they look? No point flying half way across Europe and paying half price if it lasts only a year or two, is it? Mick Allen keeps his machines on his website so it's pretty easy to see what he has done and go burning holes in the sky to have a look at them now. Have a look at: http://www.allenaircraftresprays.co.uk/ And no I'm not on commission - they don't make enough money to pay it!

One European firm recently did the big Cessna 421 SIDs for a good price. Wasn't that good when a UK firm inspected it and found most of the work (like taking the wings off!) hadn't actually been done!

Smarthawke,

Mick's very good, so are Fred's boys down at Colton (my personal UK favourites), and I'm sure there are others : but I don't need to be told how good/VFM they are, and I'm really not interested in an argument - I just want to know if anyone knows anything about this Eastern European shop, that's all.

FF :ok:

I've heard of, I think, a Czechoslovakian company which specialise in glider re-gelling/re-finishing. It may be the same one, sorry to be so vague.

Since building aircraft is a surprisingly large industry in Czech, you could do worse than ring up Evektor and ask them. I'm sure someone there would be able to give you some leads.

A

Termikas
 

Termikas in Lithuania. Does a lot of work for british owners.
Contact
[email protected]
LC

Have used Termikas - good value no problems

That's the one - thanks !

Dark Star - can I ask what you had done (eg exterior, interior etc ?)

Thanks guys,

FF :ok:

CAP 747 Appendix 1 GR NO 10 states that for a UK C of A aircraft a uk certification is required or specific permission for an overseas company to certify has to be obtained from the UK CAA.

So it doesn't matter what approval the overseas company hold they cannot certify without permission.

The above document is a UK generic requirement which has similar weight to an AD. So ignoring it might make you C of A invalid.

A UK approved company or licensed engineer can certify on behalf of the overseas company.

www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP747.PDF

go to appendix 1 GR No 10

Eric,

I'm sure you're right, but since they have 145 approval, a U.K. partner and have already done several G reg planes, they've probably worked it out as well ....

FF :ok:

I am sure you are right, but it is the operators responsibility to ensure compliance, so its worth a check.

The CAA document has a big list of items they believe certification is required for and if contemplating a spray its worth a read anyway.

If you ignore it what then?

Probably bugger all as the CAA seem to have lost all interest in maintenance related issues.

However your insurer might be interested in the event of an accident.

As always caveat emptor!!!!!!!!!

Painting A/C
 

For a first class bare metal re-paint at a really good price i would recommend "Airbespoke" who are based at EGNU Full Sutton.

They also do fantastic interiors.

I have just had and a/c painted by them.

Call Jason on :

work +44 1759 377 599
mobile +44 7968 213 247

PS
 

PS

There is no such thing as a free lunch, why bother with all the hassle of an Eastern Bloc repaint when you can have a fully CAA approved engineer oversee your a/c and perform the W & B afterwards.

Also what happens if you have a post painting problem and you are faced with a flight back to nostrovia land and have to kick your heels in a hotel while they sort out the problem ?

Should it all go pear shaped no chance at all of doing a litigation against them in court. No OFT to help you put pressure on them to do the decent thing.

Need I go on ?

Stay at home young man, it is full of dragons out there and there are enough sharks in local waters to keep you walking on water.

Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer or something like that.

There are good and bad outfits at home and abroard.

If things go wrong in the UK, you speak the same language, you are working within a regulated legal system which you are familiar with and there is a degree of consumer protection and you know where they live!!!!!!!!!!!
Also they are probably not funded by Russian mafia money!!!!

Striking a balance between this and cost saving is the customers choice.
My last engine overhaul was done in the UK, not the cheapest option, but the option I was most comfortable with.
Since then (over 8 years ago) I have had excellent support for the engine with good and friendly advice at the end of the phone.

Probably the worst respray story I have heard is the Cessna that had all it's rivet heads sanded off (in the States). The cost of repair would be immense and I suspect the aircraft was a constructive right off. I saw a Piper Seneca in the UK that had paint stripper sepage on all it's windows requiring a complete replacement set.

If that happened to you would you be able to deal with it in an overseas court?

Caveat Emptor


Just remembered the RAF Wessex that was resprayed at Beccles about 17 years ago, flew to Aldergrove and arrived with 12 feet of paint missing from one side. Primer incompatible with metal surface treatment.

It could be you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!