As promised I will do a finish piece.

It's a good idea  to clear the work area to start.  I will be posting as I go so you can ask questions. I build and finish rather fast so if I don't answer your question right away I will get to it in the evening after I am done working.

The air frame as seen here is 30 oz a little heaver than I like but doable. Because the plane has a balsa canopy I will need to putty it in (smooth). So I am going to glass the nose first and then add the filler. The reason for that is if I added the filler now and I try to sand the balsa being softer would be hard to blend in.

So thats where I'll start. I will show how I do Fiberglass on the nose. It will be ready to sand in 2 hrs. Then its on to 2 coats Nitrate dope. Keep checking back for progress.

OK Here's where I am at now. I have glassed the nose and cowl. I also put Z-Poxy on the LG doors as they will take some abuse. I have put the first coat of clear on the entire plane. Later tonight I will put 1 more coat on. I am going to try to keep this plane to 6 coats only. 2 at 100% and 4 more a 50-50%. Then the one coat of color and trim. 1 coat of auto urethane. I will weigh it as soon as it's dry to see how much weight is added for each coat. That will be my Gage as to the type finish I can give it.

The last photo is where I give up for the first day. Cowl and nose Glassed and finished. Second day finishing will be 2 more coats of dope 50-50 and sanding. Paper tomorrow night. CF vial on the third day. 4th day fillets and prime.

EDIT 5-29-06

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=891.0;id=825;image

The wings are covered in silk span and the vial is going on. On the second day. I realize that waiting would yield a lighter finish. Probably only by an ounce. I am pressed for time so this is a quick finish and will turn out fine. The nice thing with the new materials is the speed I can do things. I will post photo's at the end of my day.

This plane should be done and in the air in 2 weeks. I am hoping to take it to the NATS.

EDIT 6-5-06

OK here is what has transpired since the finish started. First sand airframe with 320 anything like 600 or 1000 is a waste. 2 Coats clear dope. Apply Silkspan and CF. 2 more coats full strength. Lightly sand. 2 more coats 50-50. The I sanded some more. Lightly coat with auto primer (cheap NAPA lacquer primer). Block sand with 320. I used 1/2 pint of gray thinned 50 -50 sprayed with airbrush. Next comes details and then the Auto clear. Total finish weight will be on the model 9 oz. A little heavy but it is big!

Hi Robert:

Do you complete the finishing process with the flaps and stab hinged?

Do you pre-finish them prior?

Thanks

Curt

When I finish the flaps and elevators are removed. I spray the final coat (color) with flaps and elevators attached with 1 hinge loosely.

I couldn't wait to see the fillets. So I did some of them. It was hard to resist putting the big ones in I know would look better but this is a lumber wagon and I need to keep the weight down. So I will settle for the 1/8 radius.