Repainting/re-labelling Collins A style Equipment - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

wattlessdropper · 1st Jul 2021, 7:27 am

Hey Folks

Anyone out there have experience of screen-printing Collins equipment such as 51J3 receiver with the dark grey crackle finish?

I'm having a 51J3 professionally repainted with a close equivalent paint finish but also hope to devise a method of re-labelling the front panel i.e. transfers or a screen print if it can also be done professionally if such a service can be found?

73s

Ian G6TVJ

Radio Wrangler · 1st Jul 2021, 10:26 am

I think you need to ask around screen printing firms to see if any have printed onto crackle before. Any problem and the crackle paint job is ruined, and you're back to square one.

HP, in my time, screen printed onto eggshell finish, which is a lot less 3-D than crackle. Both the paint and the ink were 2-pack types, and the ink went on before the paint was entirely cured, so the ink chemically bonded to the paint for durability.

David

Jon_G4MDC · 1st Jul 2021, 11:08 am

I'm fairly sure my AR88 has smooth windows in the crackle where the printing is applied.
Did they mask it? I shouldn't think so but I do wonder if they skimmed it with a tool before printing on it.

Jon_G4MDC · 1st Jul 2021, 3:23 pm

Here is a picture of what I was trying to describe.
I assume it's original though I have seen others that are not done like this.

Radio Wrangler · 1st Jul 2021, 9:30 pm

I've not seen one like that before. I've just dug down to my spares AR88 which has silk screened lettering on top of the crackle, no flat spots. My main AR88 is an old one which has an engraved front panel and an all-yellow tuning scale. I can understand why they flattened the crackle. The font of your printing looks just the same as that on my direct-to-crackle one.

David

Jon_G4MDC · 2nd Jul 2021, 11:05 am

Yes it's always puzzled me somewhat.

It looks original but I have never seen another one like it. I think that printing direct on the crackle gives the more attractive result.

1st Jul 2021, 7:27 am	#1
wattlessdropper Triode Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 25	Repainting/re-labelling Collins A style Equipment Hey Folks Anyone out there have experience of screen-printing Collins equipment such as 51J3 receiver with the dark grey crackle finish? I'm having a 51J3 professionally repainted with a close equivalent paint finish but also hope to devise a method of re-labelling the front panel i.e. transfers or a screen print if it can also be done professionally if such a service can be found? 73s Ian G6TVJ

1st Jul 2021, 10:26 am	#2
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,874	Re: Repainting/re-labelling Collins A style Equipment I think you need to ask around screen printing firms to see if any have printed onto crackle before. Any problem and the crackle paint job is ruined, and you're back to square one. HP, in my time, screen printed onto eggshell finish, which is a lot less 3-D than crackle. Both the paint and the ink were 2-pack types, and the ink went on before the paint was entirely cured, so the ink chemically bonded to the paint for durability. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

1st Jul 2021, 11:08 am	#3
Jon_G4MDC Nonode Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 2,015	Re: Repainting/re-labelling Collins A style Equipment I'm fairly sure my AR88 has smooth windows in the crackle where the printing is applied. Did they mask it? I shouldn't think so but I do wonder if they skimmed it with a tool before printing on it.

1st Jul 2021, 3:23 pm	#4
Jon_G4MDC Nonode Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 2,015	Re: Repainting/re-labelling Collins A style Equipment Here is a picture of what I was trying to describe. I assume it's original though I have seen others that are not done like this. Attached Thumbnails

1st Jul 2021, 9:30 pm	#5
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,874	Re: Repainting/re-labelling Collins A style Equipment I've not seen one like that before. I've just dug down to my spares AR88 which has silk screened lettering on top of the crackle, no flat spots. My main AR88 is an old one which has an engraved front panel and an all-yellow tuning scale. I can understand why they flattened the crackle. The font of your printing looks just the same as that on my direct-to-crackle one. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

2nd Jul 2021, 11:05 am	#6
Jon_G4MDC Nonode Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 2,015	Re: Repainting/re-labelling Collins A style Equipment Yes it's always puzzled me somewhat. It looks original but I have never seen another one like it. I think that printing direct on the crackle gives the more attractive result.