The red incandescent bulbs for the cessna are losing their red coating - it's flaking off. Wondering what the coating might be and if anyone has tried and true recommendations for recoating the bulbs. I say tried and true, b/c I don't want to try something that ultimately just smokes or stinks up the cockpit, let alone a true fire hazard. Given the last statement, you might wonder why I'm even asking. If you look at the things, there's no magic being done at the manufacturer and someone is clearly just taking the clear bulbs and coating them - why shouldn't I be able to do the same? What's the secret?

I was faced with the same issue when the bulb appeared to be burned out. I came up with two ideas:
1) replace with a normal bulb, paint the diffuser cover red or replace it with red plastic
2) replace with some red LEDs.

While I was playing around with it, I discovered it was a bad ground on the socket, I cleaned it up and forgot about it until now.

The other thought is with the vertical card compass. It has white incandescent lights. There is now a replacement lighting plate which can be ordered in red, but I suspect I'd pay $50 or so and the thing would show up with the same lights written on with a red sharpee or something. Also considered the red LEDs.

Boil the light bulbs in food coloring like easter eggs.

Matt:

Red finger nail polish on a clear bulb works great. That was Sacramento Sky Ranch's suggestion as they can no longer get red replacement bulbs. Took a couple coats to get the brush marks out.

Flynengr

I know I'm going off the reservation here by suggesting potential techniques, but what about a bake-on coating? We use this candy apple red powder coat on aluminum that is transparent. It looks really cool and you can see right through it. Powder coating of metals though is electrostatic in how it gets the powder to apply before baking, so I don;t know if that will work with glass.

They sell red light bulbs at most all large truck stops and chrome shops. I have some red light bulbs that I have in my hangar that I've been meaning to try. Next time I get home I'll try them out and report back. Red LED would be the way to go.

flynengr wrote:Matt:

Red finger nail polish on a clear bulb works great. That was Sacramento Sky Ranch's suggestion as they can no longer get red replacement bulbs. Took a couple coats to get the brush marks out.

Flynengr

This has been the standard "easy way" to do it for years. Plus you can get a shade that reminds you of your favorite non-aviation squeeze.

bumper

Thanks all. In raiding the wife's nail polish stash, looks like my best bet is a bright red shade called "I'm not really a waitress" that just barely edged out a slightly pink/red called "kinky in helsinki". And to think, I never would have known this stuff with out the guiding knowledge of my pilot friends!

Matt 7GCBC wrote:Thanks all. In raiding the wife's nail polish stash, looks like my best bet is a bright red shade called "I'm not really a waitress" that just barely edged out a slightly pink/red called "kinky in helsinki". And to think, I never would have known this stuff with out the guiding knowledge of my pilot friends!

I have a bottle I commandeered from my ex's warpaint collection. Have only done a few bulbs with it, though. She called it "hoochie red" - Looks pretty spot on the factory finish when dry.

Flynengr

Maybe try these guys.............

http://www.superbrightleds.com/tail-brake-turn.html

When I used to do that stuff I'd use a rattle can of red high temp paint engine block or header paint and spray the bulb or lens cover.