My paint choice was based on the fact that I had a gallon left over from a previous bus paint job. I used Benjamin Moore super Spec Alkyd Enamel but had the color tweaked in an additional gallon for the top coat. This is an oil-based paint for industrial surfaces, railings, and playgrounds so I hope it will hold up well.
On my previous bus I had used an HVLP spray gun from Harbor Freight and while it coated well, I ended up with an orange peel texture which I had hoped to avoid. Benjamin Moore recommends an airless sprayer so I went with this recommendation hoping I would achieve a smoother surface. After borrowing two spray rigs from friends and not getting them to work, I wound up renting one and commenced painting early one evening.
The first couple of spray passes looked good but then the spray tip began splattering large globs of paint and I got a sinking feeling that things were not going to go well. I grabbed a smooth foam roller and flattened out the offending bumps and try it again with various pressures and techniques. Again I got one good pass and then things would turn South. After short time I resolved to spray coating and then back rolling which seemed to achieve a decent result, although the same orange peel texture as my original bus. So the thought of spraying the bus in an hour or two turned into a marathon wrapping up at 1:00 in the morning after clean up.
The final highlight that night came while cleaning the spray rig, the return tube flew out of the cleaning bucket and splattered mineral spirits on the back corner of the bus to give it a lovely pockmarked texture. All in all the surface looked decent for rolling and brushing in tight corners.
Reluctantly I decided to forgo spraying the second coat to avoid any further mishaps. The following day, I returned to roll on the top coat which was much less stressful although time consuming. By rolling on a covering coat and then back rolling with little to no pressure to prevent roller marks. The final results are not professional by any means but look good to most people, and to me from 8-10'
The plus side of this material is that I can do touch-ups as needed.
Then began the process of cleanup and reassembly.
We finally got her out in her natural habitat and took her to BC for spring break. Coming back to the US, the customs agent said he had to step aboard. "Here we go"
. He actually just wanted a tour of the bus. As he left, he said "you missed the wheels!"
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