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dannparks
Sergeant Major

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Location: Parkside Airpark, Battle Ground, WA
Registered: Oct 2006
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Posted Sunday, January 7, 2007 @ 02:28 PM  

What is the feeling from the Fournier community about changing the paint design on Fournier aircraft (RF4 and RF5 in particular)? Is it sacrosanct? Is it an insult? Does it reduce the value in the eyes of collectors or fans? Does the community feel that the paint design is an integral part of a true restoration? Or is it just a personal preference and not that big of a deal?

In looking at all the photos available, I have seen a number of new paint designs -- some similar to the original, and some completely different. I come from the Vans RV community, where there is an admiration for individuality and self-expression. This is no doubt a bit different in the Fournier community where there is a history and heritage to uphold.

I go back and forth about the paint design. On one hand I want to support the heritage. The paint design is very unique and identifiable and demonstrates pride in the history, especially when there are multiple RFs at a fly-in. On the other hand, with all the stripes, the paint design is fairly difficult to apply and a bit busy for my personal tastes. With the planned mechanical and electrical upgrades, I’m really creating a modern version of the original – how it might be built today – and it would have a more contemporary paint design.

Sorry to get all philosophical, but I do care about doing this right. What are your thoughts on this?

--------------------
Dann Parks • RF4D #4051 N2188 • now flying!
Pictures at: https://picasaweb.google.com/111628310900713778468/RF4D_N2188?noredirect=1



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Posted Sunday, January 7, 2007 @ 03:51 PM  

Just my opinion - but . .

Rene Fournier is an artist and chose a wonderful paint scheme that really accentuates the graceful lines of the aircraft. Then again, we may think of an RF4 as a classic, but then by the same criteria, so is a Cherokee, a Citabria or or a Pitts an no one is going to fuss about keeping a Cherokee original.

I say express your individuality and preference, but do so by designing a variation on the original. Something modern and personal but which is still recognizably Fournier and still accentuates the grace of the motor glider.

Steve

Bob Grimstead
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Posted Monday, January 8, 2007 @ 09:47 PM  

Hi again Dann,

Like Steve, I think Rene's original paint scheme was a masterpiece, ideally suited to this pretty airplane's slim, graceful lines. I also liked his choice of colors: smart white with a choice of radiant red, deep blue or bright green. There was a yellow too.

Unfortunately, when I bought my example, it had already been re-covered and re-painted in a slightly different and simpler scheme, using a lighter blue. It would have been expensive and weighty to change this, so I stuck with it, adding the over-wing sunburst for the usual reason (without it, you cannot easily tell which way up I am when I'm above 500 feet).

In time, I shall have to replace the fuselage fabric, and when I do so I shall revert to Rene's original scheme (on the fuselage -- I'll stick with the sunburst wings).

Having said all that, I do not feel particularly strongly about what other folks' Fourniers look like although, as Steve says, I think it's important that any scheme accentuates the RF4's pleasant lines.

Good luck with your deliberations.

Yours, Bob

[size=small][Edit by Bob Grimstead on [TIME]1226981470[/TIME]][/size]

jb92563
Second Lieutenant

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Location: Lake Elsinore, CA, USA
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Posted Thursday, June 14, 2012 @ 10:19 AM  

Just adding my collection of potential paint designs to this thread for future reference.

I was hard to decide what to do for me since I wanted to spice up the design a bit but not depart completely from the traditional design.

I used a flight simulator to map some paint schemes onto an RF4D model to see what it would look like.

Its a great way to model a paint scheme in 3D to see if you will like your potential design from all angles.



I used the FSX flight simulator since there was an RF4D aircraft model available for it. You can see a couple of
the paint design maps I created that FSX uses.

https://picasaweb.google.com/118388745157890389551/RF4DFuselageRecoverAndRepaintProject

In the end I went pseudo traditional.


[Edit by jb92563 on Thursday, June 14, 2012 @ 10:47 AM]

--------------------
Ray
RF4D #4057 N-1771 Rectimo 1400cc
http://picasaweb.google.com/jb92563/FournierRF4D
http://www.touringmotorgliders.org

JamesB
First Sergeant

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Posted Thursday, June 14, 2012 @ 10:54 AM  

Seems to me that relatively simple, elegant lines are something you'll continue to appreciate even as your tastes change over the years. (...and are likely to be attractive to a broader range of purchasers when the time comes.)
Jorgen
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Posted Thursday, June 14, 2012 @ 05:22 PM  

Fournieteers,
I agree this topic is interesting enough to discuss repeatedly. This thread contains some interesting pictures and comments regarding the same topic:

http://sbeaver.com/cgi-bin/fournier/cutecast.pl?session=bqrtLSuUrIdEvnFOwflnPgyDDi&forum=11&thread=716

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

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