Why Build Your Kit Plane Yourself — And Leave the Painting to the Pros
It’s hard to describe the feeling of taking to the sky in an aircraft you built. You really have to experience it to understand. Building a kit plane means pouring your time, skill, and passion into a project that’s uniquely yours.
After all that time riveting, wiring, and fine-tuning, the paint job is the final step that really makes your aircraft shine. If you’ve already spent the time building your kit plane, you may be thinking about tackling the paint job yourself.
But here’s the thing: painting an aircraft is tricky. It requires expertise, space, and equipment. It’s not like painting your house, a classic car, or even a boat.
The Challenges of DIY Aircraft Painting
While you’ve mastered many new skills building your kit plane, there are many challenges of DIY aircraft painting to consider before you decide if it’s something you want to take on by yourself.
Space & Equipment Requirements
Painting an aircraft requires a clean, controlled environment with specialized ventilation systems, temperature and humidity control, and dust management. Most home workshops aren’t set up to handle a full painting process, and would require building a painting bay.
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Complex Prep Work
A perfect paint job starts before the first drop of paint ever hits the surface of your airplane. It takes countless hours to sand and mask your kit plane, and rushing can lead to peeling, bubbling, and other costly fixes.
Dangerous Materials
Modern aviation paints, topcoats, and primers contain volatile organic compounds and hazardous chemicals. They require proper protective gear, ventilation systems, and disposal procedures for safe and compliant use.
FAA Compliance & Weight Considerations
Paint adds weight to your aircraft—and every ounce matters in light-sport aviation. To maintain proper weight and balance and stay in compliance with FAA regulations, you have to apply just the right amount of material and make sure it’s evenly distributed. Too much paint or uneven application can impact performance, safety, and your ability to fly your plane.
Aesthetic Quality
Achieving that smooth, air show-quality finish takes time, experience, and a trained eye. Your paint job is the first thing people will notice about your light-sport aircraft. After all the effort you’ve put into the project, the last thing you want is a paint job that screams DIY.
Why Trust the Pros? Benefits of Professional Aircraft Painting After Your Build
After you’ve put literal sweat and tears into building your kit plane, it should look the part on the outside. While the idea of handing it off to someone else may seem scary or potentially like you’re “cheating,” trusting an experienced paint shop is good for you—and your airplane.
Protect Your Investment
A professional-quality paint job isn’t just about looks. It also provides a layer of protection for your plane. Quality primers and topcoats protect against corrosion, UV rays, moisture, and everyday wear and tear. While it’s an investment upfront, a professional paint job means you can finally enjoy the skies after months (or years) of building your plane. Plus, you’ll save money on costly repairs.
Long-Term Value & Resale Appeal
As much as we hate to admit it, looks and first impressions matter. A professionally painted plane holds its value far better than one with a rough or amateur paint job. Air show judges and buyers will definitely notice. Even if you don’t plan on selling, a professional finish pays off by maximizing aircraft longevity and appeal if circumstances change.
Custom Design Options
One of the best perks of working with a professional paint shop is the endless amount of custom design options. Classic stripes? Modern metallic finishes? Bold color schemes? Logo design? Something you dreamt about and sketched on a napkin? You name it. You’re not limited to simple paint schemes that match your skill level or DIY equipment. Skilled aircraft painters will help you turn your vision into reality.
Time & Efficiency
If you’re like most homebuilders, you’ve probably already devoted hundreds—if not thousands—of hours to your plane. Painting an aircraft is a massive time commitment in and of itself. Even if you know exactly what you’re doing, it can significantly extend your project timeline. Trusting professionals means you’re free to focus on paperwork and inspections necessary to fly — and some of those non-aviation commitments you probably put off while building.
Warranty & Peace of Mind
Most reputable paint shops stand behind their work with warranties on materials and workmanship. If there’s ever an issue with peeling, chipping, or defects, you’ll have support and peace of mind knowing it’s covered. Obviously, this is something you won’t get if you opt to do it yourself.
The Perfect Partnership: Builder & Painter
At this point, you’ve already done the hard work of building the airplane. Our job is to put the perfect finishing touches and make sure it looks as good as it flies. Think of it as a partnership—you bring the craftsmanship, we bring the polish.
Carson (known online as @Wairworthy on Instagram) has spent 850+ hours building his Zenith CH 750 Super Duty sport utility aircraft airplane over the past few 2+ years.
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He’s partnered with ArtCraft to take his plane over the finish line with a beautiful, glossy paint job.
“Think of your build like your body,” said Alex Arredondo, Vice President of ArtCraft Paint. “You put in the time to get your airframe straight and strong—just like hitting the gym to build muscle. You eat clean to keep your heart and systems running smoothly, just like maintaining your engine. It takes years of hard work and discipline to make both you and your airplane look good.”
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the process and what makes aviation paint unique.
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