Bare Metal: C-130 paint prep, or the Emperor gets some new clothes

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Alexis Wade, 31JUL2019.

July 2019, Ohio National Guard C-130H2 gets new tail markings.

Video from 2018, Dobbins Air Reserve, Georgia, explains how they picked the nose art for their C-130s:

Wyoming National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Jimmy McGuire, 16NOV2017.

In November 2017, after Hurricane Maria laid waste to Puerto Rico’s Air National Guard base their C-130Es were sent to Wyoming to get some depot maintenance.  Yes, using a roller brush to apply primer paint.

Missouri Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Audrey Chappell, 12JUN2018.

June 2018, this C-130H is fresh from the paint shop, with its Cold War era camo, heading to its new home as permanent ‘gate-guard’ for Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, Missouri.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Dana J. Cable, 26OCT2017.

October 2017, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, a vinyl decal is readied for use as the new tail flash for the 314th Airlift Wing’s C-130Js.

USAF photo by Greg L. Davis, 09FEB2017.

United States Marine Corps KC-130T sits at Oklahoma City (Tinker) Air Logistics Complex, waiting for new clothes, February 2017.

Oklahoma City Air Logistics video explainer:

USAF photo by Tommie Horton, 27JUL2015.

Masking the windows of a C-130 for painting, July 2015, at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Georgia.

Warner Robins video explainer:

McChord Air Museum photo, 25NOV2014.

November 2014, McChord Air Museum, Washington, primer paints C-130 for static display.

McChord Air Museum photo, 10DEC2014.

McChord Air Museum photo, 08JAN2015.

It took two months but finally, in January 2015, McChord Air Museum’s Vietnam era C-130 is almost ready for display.

USAF photo by Danny Webb, 09OCT2013.

Sheppard AFB, Texas, October 2013.

BARE METAL: C-17 STRIPPED

BARE METAL BOMBERS: B-1B & B-52H