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Racer38
11-22-2004, 12:18 PM
Canopies By Rick

Rick Lesinszki has been custom painting canopies for Wade McGee Trading company for the last couple of years, some of you are probably flying one of his creations right now.
Well Rick has set out on his own to do Custom Heli Canopies. He has purchased all of the equipment from Wade and is now the proud owner of a new company. His web presence is at http://www.bellsouthpwp.net/r/i/rickol/ “Ricko’s Place” and he has all of the standard designs previously offered by Wade McGee. He will also design schemes based on your designs.

Since I was looking for a new canopy, and Rick just started on his own, I figured I would give him a little business. Since there has been a lot of new found energy being directed at IRCHA, I wanted a little something to give IRCHA some advertisement. I wanted the canopy to be simple in design but bright in colors so it would be easy to see. I decided that a Florescent Orange with a fade to Florescent Yellow would be good base colors with some graphics in Blue. Rick drew up a very simple design on the computer and e-mailed it to me. I thought it looked great and told him to go ahead with it.

Rick spends a great deal of time and care in the prep work needed for a great paint job. If you look at the Photo’s attached you will see the canopy from start to finish. He ensures that the canopy is smooth with no seams or air bubbles in the gel coat. We started with an MA Fury Canopy, he gets his canopies from Ray Thompson “ Ray’s Heli Resource “.

I asked Rick a few questions about his equipment and here are the answers.

1. What types of Equipment are you using?
IWATA & Paashe airbrushes, various HLVP touch up and spray guns

2. What Paint do you prefer?
House of Kolor

3. What Clear Coat do you use?
Omni

4. What is the average time to do a canopy?
4 to 5 hours depending on the complexity

5. What is your pricing?
Paint jobs will cost approximately $75 to $100 again depending on the complexity

6. What types of Canopies do you paint?
I paint all types from all materials including the Micro Canopies as well.

So this gives you a little idea of who he is, what he does, and what he uses. Also be aware that Rick manufactures those cool knurl nut canopy mounts and stand off’s for the furies, and rumor has it he is also designing some for the raptors as well.

Attached are pictures of the entire process from start to finish, beginning with the computer generated design.

If your in the market for a new canopy for Christmas you better get one ordered right away, as I am sure Rick will be plenty busy over the holidays !

When the Canopy arrives I will add some photo's and my impression of it.

Thanks

ThBrtmn
11-23-2004, 12:03 AM
Wow...thanks Craig and Rick...
I really like the Picks. Wade explained to me one time how he painted canopies but I really like to see all that goes into it.

NolanManley
11-23-2004, 07:23 AM
This is one of the best Pics post in a long time. Looks easy doesn't it...I know different! :arggg:

3DWannaBe
12-05-2004, 06:47 AM
thank you for showing how it is done

rick gets my next canopy

Bonsai
12-05-2004, 09:58 AM
Rick did 3 canopy sets for me while he was working for Wade.. Im down to one set and you can bet he's getting my order's..
Dean

steve matteson
02-13-2005, 08:51 AM
Rick has done two Predator Gasser canopys for me and they are smoking. Great service and good price. The other fliers at the club had very positive comments.
Good luck Rick. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Clintstone
02-13-2005, 10:50 PM
Rick is the Man. He is fast and realy reliable..........he is straight guys caused if he says he can do it, it is done deal...........I will post pics of my new canopy which he made from a picture I sent him.

Marcus Kim
02-15-2005, 10:47 PM
Rick is the man. He painted all my canopies. Just got another one and it looks real good :glasses2:

WillJames
06-08-2005, 03:36 AM
Ricko does all my canopies!!

Here are a few of them.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/44505eec9e3cc86e54d3c3a4de314087.jpg

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/6b87b11ef741a85db856779b30702969.jpg

Laurens
06-08-2005, 04:58 AM
So much canopy painters and I still don't have a painted canopy :wink:

ricko
06-08-2005, 05:07 PM
Thank you for all the great comments! That's what makes the hobby (heli's and painting) so much fun!!!!

Shortman
06-21-2005, 07:02 PM
I was looking to see if I could get some custom paint scheme on my Raptor to make it different. Looks like you do a great job Rick. I'll be visiting soon :).

WillJames
06-22-2005, 05:12 AM
Here is more of Rick's work.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/4c843644b626a26ce098a72f70f4bfd7.jpg

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/c2bdf77b99010079075ace9b3d319067.jpg

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/c95477f4c0253ebfc2a272f0e336543d.jpg

dumbthumbs
06-18-2006, 07:16 PM
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/9874651a9a65c17c508d08a49b3cb7ad.jpg

buster1
07-25-2006, 11:01 PM
does anyone know if Rick will be painting Hirobo Lepton or the MA 50 canopy??

ricko
07-26-2006, 10:34 AM
If I can get ahold of them (and don't see why not) then I will paint them!!!

:)

does anyone know if Rick will be painting Hirobo Lepton or the MA 50 canopy??