94th Aero Repaint Project

[clipper1801]

I typically give them a clear primer treatment as soon as they come into the shop, the surface is so porous it soaks up the sticker glue and they do not stick for long. The clear coat gives you a good surface for painting the struts etc . . .

[MoonSylver]

They were post-war, for a flyby over Paris (IIRC).
Karl

Yeah, I did some reading on them after I saw all these schemes I was unfamiliar with. Here was a couple quotes I found:

During early 1919 the pilots of the 94th Aero Sqd decided to paint their SPAD XIIIs. In an attempt to outdo one another they came up with what were termed the "showbirds".

With no enemy to fight, and free time on their hands before returning to the states, the pilots and maintainers of the 1st Pursuit Group took time to garishly decorate their aircraft in a phenomenon that became known as the ―Showbird SPADs

[Jager]

I typically give them a clear primer treatment as soon as they come into the shop, the surface is so porous it soaks up the sticker glue and they do not stick for long. The clear coat gives you a good surface for painting the struts etc . . .

But not the full, 2 stage Krylon treatment you described elsewhere?
Karl

[clipper1801]

Yes, I normally give all the SHapeways the full treatment when the enter the "Clipper Zone" cue the music! At least two heavy coats of gloss Krylon Clear-then they are ready for anything . . . The stickers stick better to the gloss surface as well