I have a few control grips that I would like to tidy up and wonder if someone can give me some advice on painting them. They’re 1950’s RAfF types… Hunter, Vulcan etc. What paint should I use? Are Should they be matt finish or are they more satin? Any help would be gratefully received.
Regards
927

Mark is right, satin for most Dunlop grips (i.e. the ones you have quoted). I tend to try to leave my grips as original as possible if I can, however, they can corrode (mag alloy). In which case, I remove all corrosion very carefully with fine wet and dry. A heavyily corroded example would benefit from bead blasting but care is required again (low pressure/bead type – def not sand!!) to avoid eroding good metal. I use a dremel (other tools are available!!:)) with an engraving bit to clean out deeper pitting. The best primer is etch….you can by it in spray cans now from Light Aero Spares and it is cheap. I often use a fine brush to ensure it goes deep into pits. Any car spray satin would do for the top coat (most collectors have preferences, I use Halfords). The bakelite/thermoset covering used by Dunlops can be replicated (it has been in use on aircraft types from the Hawker Fury/Hind/etc up to Tornado F3!) if you wish to stop a crack in the covering rub in 5min Araldite into the crack (I rub it in hard with my finger though H&S blah may suggest that not good :D)….
hope this helps.