Data plate restoration

[Matt Anderson]

Does anyone have recommendations for data plate restoration?

Thanks

Matt

[Geoff Hill]

G’day Matt,

I had to get a new data plate for VH-BFR (old one had gone missing in action years ago). I found Jerry Turner from

Nostalgic Reflections
P.O. Box 350
Veradale, Washington 99037
USA

Jerry Turner <jerry@nostalgicreflections.com>

http://nostalgicreflections.com/

Take care though, Jerry is very slow and not so cheap. We also had some probs with delivery of the finished product, international deliveries seem to be an issue. All of the problems aside we stuck with him and the final product was beautiful.

Hope that is helpful.

Hilly

 

[admin]

I’m a DIY sort of person. I haven’t done an L-5 data plate, but I have done a couple for antique British cars. First I did reverse electroplating that knocked the corrosion off without removing any metal (you want to avoid mechanical abrasion,) and then I re-plated (galvanized) it with zinc which looked very original and could have stood on its own without paint. There are lots of websites and,  these days, YouTube videos that explain how. You could also do it with nickel, but that might be too bright.

After that I wanted the original black background but doing it by hand proved too difficult for me so I had a graphics company take care of the rest. They made a mask for the raised lettering and other unpainted areas, inked the plate, peeled the mask and it came out looking better than I had anticipated. Not quite like new due to a little pitting from the corrosion, but very acceptable. A matte black finish helped hide the little bit of pitting  from anything but very close-up examination.

I’d guess there are other methods but others I know have simply had reproductions made and kept the original tag with the logs and paperwork. Technically, you need approval for a replacement if the plane was registered using the USAAF number, but not everyone wants to deal with the FAA / CASA / EASA for that. If you go the repro route, avoid aluminum because it’s a dead give-away that it is not original.  A steel plate etched, stamped, lightly galvanized and then silk-screened would be per the original.

JG

• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by admin.

[Matt Anderson]

Thanks for the info, I contacted Jerry Turner since he also does restorations. He has already responded, so I will try him. Looks like he does quality work.

[Matt Anderson]

Update. Jerry initially told me that my data plate was not fully restorable. However he was willing to try if I understood that there would be imperfections. I agreed knowing that it had 80 years of abuse. I am pleased with the result.

[admin]

Looks better than most. Nothing wrong with having a little “patina”

[Geoff Hill]

Aw mate, that looks excellent, great work JG

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