g741.org

I painted a camouflage pattern using Aervoe paints (aerosols) about a year ago. While the truck is garaged, I daily drive it during the summer months (and any other time there is no chance for salt on the road). So it sees a fair amount of time outside.

I washed it for probably the second or third time tonight to get the spring mud and woolwax bleed off, and I noticed the black is almost gray.

Obviously that satin and flat paint can't be waxed or buffed in the conventional sense. So what is the key to getting the depth/color back?

Buy Gillespie next time. Thin only with Xylene.

Faded military paint can never be restored by any method I know, and I've painted a lot of MV's.

PoW

I painted my '37 with the semi gloss Gillespie paint, thinned with Xyline, and after sitting in the SC sun for about four years, it is a bit faded. Now it is under cover at our Heritage Foundation's hanger at the local airport. Canvas fades too. Sometimes I spot spray a place with a little rust showing or a scratch, probably what would have been done long ago in active service. Just "patina" on my truck. Hal

It might be a form of oxidation.

The paint on my M37 has quite a bit, but it's paint is at least 40 years old. You might try rubbing a little mineral spirits on it to remove any oxidation and see how that goes. It shouldn't take off the paint if your paint has cured correctly.

My advice is to start small. Put some mineral spirits on a rag, rub the rag on a place that isn't easily visible, let dry and gauge the results.

Best of luck.

I found a company that sells a sealant/spray for flat and satin paints. I'm going to give that a try. It's only the black paint that has faded to a gray, the greens/browns are very "flat" and seem to be holding up fine; they actually appear to be a different finish from the black.

What I'm seeing is that it appears like it's starved of "oil" or "wax". I rubbed a little butter wax on a small spot of the bumper and it went right back to black, but it has a light "wet" shine now. I'm guessing the shine will dissipate once it gets some weather. The spray I ordered indicates that won't happen with it.

My son as satin black Mercedes, and uses some special "wax" to protect the finish, but not add any shine or gloss to his car's finish. One possible caution to a plan to do something similar to your truck, is that it may make it impossible to ever repaint it. Like using a pro grade sealant on a car, there is almost no way to totally remove it for a repaint or repair. Just a thought.. Enjoy your truck... Hal