Painting comp arfs

[scoubidou]

Can we use Top Flite Lustrakote spray can on CARF or we need a more sophisticated air compressor system?

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...p?&C=RHQ&V=TOP

[Flyinrazrback]

I thought of Vinyl, it would work if the base color scheme was not white. I do not want a white plane, or one that is mostly white with some vinyl.

[Flyinrazrback]

Thinking maybe a scheme similar to this, replace the red with blue, and the blue pinstriping a metallic black or charcoal. Just use the white base color and then clear.

[Shawn Berkheimer]

I have read a couple of posts and a couple of you talk about primer. On an all white Comp, you only need to sand the seam lightly then scuff the rest with a scotch brite pad, spray a good quality primer on the seam only. Sand the seam and feather edge the primer, spray white over the primer only, re-scuff, clean and you are ready for the colors to be applied. Any of the good quality ( Dupont, PPG, RM, Glasurit ) paints will stick well to the Comp ARF surface coat as long as it is well scuffed.


The purple and yellow 202 pictured weighs 37.5 lbs ready to fly. Yellow is the heaviest paint to apply because the coverage is poor and the purple is metalic.

Charles, can you post a drawing of what you think the paint scheme is going to be? You can also count on me if you need and advise/help. I would jump on that airplane if I was you, Perry is selling it way too cheap.


Shawn

[Flyinrazrback]

I found this pic, I actually like this scheme, its different. Thinking the fuse scheme of the far right, and wing scheme of the center pic.

[Shawn Berkheimer]

That would be a peice of cake, after getting the airplane all prepped and the seams filled / sanded, you could mask off and spray the red then mask over the red and spray the silver. There are no seams where the silver goes so you will be able to reduce a little more and use less. Adding a touch of pearl to the clear would rerally set it off as well. Pearl powders are available in several different colors. I have used blue pearl over red with great results but gold would look killet too. When we did Zak's Votec we put blue pearl over the the whole thing and the orange really pops.


Shawn

[Dennis C]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Shawn Berkheimer
	I have read a couple of posts and a couple of you talk about primer. On an all white Comp, you only need to sand the seam lightly then scuff the rest with a scotch brite pad, spray a good quality primer on the seam only. Sand the seam and feather edge the primer, spray white over the primer only, re-scuff, clean and you are ready for the colors to be applied. Any of the good quality ( Dupont, PPG, RM, Glasurit ) paints will stick well to the Comp ARF surface coat as long as it is well scuffed Shawn

First off you dont sand down or scuff a blend...you will see color seperation.

And second i really dont think the urethane paint's are designed to spray over just gel coat or fiberglass.

[Twizlair]

When you sand a comp arf with gel coat you are running a huge!!!! risk of disrupting the galss layers strength. All you have to do is take one stroke to many in the wrong place with the sand paper and the thing is worthless. Gel coat does not like anything on top of it unless prepeped. Ie. Chemical or sanding to give adheasion. The only place i sand on a comp arf is the seam and place tape 1/8" in either side just to make sure i do not disrupt the structure of the galss.
There are probally 200 ways to get a paint job done on one of these and they all have pros and cons. Take what you can from the advice given on this thread and run with it throw out some color and see how it works.
I do not use luster coat for anything any more just to heavy to get coverage and smooth.
Try dupli-color if you have to use a can it is sold at most big auto places. If you can live with straight lines no real graphics use single stage and mask quick cheap and lays down pretty nice with high pressure and a good gun.
correctly formulated primer for glass is very heavy. I would try to stay away from it unless you have no other choice. If you need to cover a blemish try white base coat and mix to match the color of the gel coat which changes from batch to batch. Ever seen a comp arf with the rudder and fin the same color?
Urethane stick's great to gel coat after a little love from modern chemistry.
Pearls or flakes are majic for airplanes they bring the curves alive.
Have fun with it you know you are going to try and break it the first time you throw out the blender.

[Shawn Berkheimer]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Dennis C
	First off you dont sand down or scuff a blend...you will see color seperation. And second i really dont think the urethane paint's are designed to spray over just gel coat or fiberglass.

Nobody said anything about sanding a blend. I was describing how to properly fill the seam and then paint the filled area with white so that the surface will be all one color so that less paint can be used to cover.


The surface of a Comp ARF is NOT gell coat. Gell coat is a polyester base and is not compatable with the epoxy/glass construction of these airplanes. The surface coat is PAINT and can be simply scuffed and overcoated. The purple and yellow 202 pictures in a previous post was painted just as I described and looks great 4 years later.

Please guys, I have painted a half dozen of these including 2 for Zak West I think I know what I'm talking about.

Shawn

[Dennis C]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Shawn Berkheimer
	spray a good quality primer on the seam only. Sand the seam and feather edge the primer, spray white over the primer only, re-scuff, clean and you are ready for the colors to be applied. Shawn

The way you have it quoted..it sounds like your saying rescuff the color ( white ) which is a blend

[Shawn Berkheimer]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Dennis C
	The way you have it quoted..it sounds like your saying rescuff the color ( white ) which is a blend

So that it can be overcoated with color!!!!!!!! if the surface is all white then it will require less paint correct??


It would be different if I was telling him to then color sand and polish, then yes it would leave a visable line.

Shawn

[Dennis C]

Correct