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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: dynasoar1948 on March 02, 2006, 10:37:12 PM
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Hi All,
This is my first posting at the Stunt Hangar- I'm visiting from the SPEED FORUM.
My question involves use of low cost commonly available spray can paint as a model finish. Now that nitromethane content is down to 10%, is it true that there are paints(possibly water based poyyurethane) that are fully fuel proof?
Inquiring minds want to know-
Thanks, Will Stewart
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I'ts quiet out there.... any paint suggestions??
Will
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the answer is NO they are not fuel proof.
The only real fuel proof paints even for 10% nitro are 2 part paints
I am talking about fuel proof not hot exhaust oil proof
Randy
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Hi All,
This is my first posting at the Stunt Hangar- I'm visiting from the SPEED FORUM.
My question involves use of low cost commonly available spray can paint as a model finish. Now that nitromethane content is down to 10%, is it true that there are paints(possibly water based poyyurethane) that are fully fuel proof?
Inquiring minds want to know-
Thanks, Will Stewart
I am not sure if this is what you are looking for?
http://www.rustoleum.com/product.asp?frm_product_id=18&SBL=1
This is what I use to paint most of my control line planes. ( If I don't cover them all in monokote) :P
You can get it a Wally World aka Wal-Mart.
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I have had good luck, many years ago, with oil based polyurethane. I don't know if it would qualify as "hot fuel proof" as Pactra used to say, but it held up as long as my aircraft, for what that is worth. Russell
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In my opinion, no paint is completely fuel proof to raw fuel. The methenol and nitro is what hurts. Now the residue that comes out of the exhaust should not hurt a good poly-urethane clear. I do finish most planes with a 2 part automotive which requires a great paint mask and air moving the spray away from you. Later, DOC Holliday
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Any Rustoleum color except the metallics, and clear, are sufficiently fuelproof (OK, exhaust-proof, who soaks their planes in raw fuel anyway?) for our purposes. I have planes several years old painted with Rustoleum, just about flown to death, no softening yet. Good enough for me.
--Ray
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what do you put down under the paint on raw wood before using this paint?
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I don't know about others, I use Rustoleum flat primer on the bare wood, usually 2-3 light coats, sanding between, then a couple of light coats of color, that's it. DO NOT try Rustoleum clear for a top coat--it doesn't even pretend to be fuel proof; likewise the metallics. Too bad 'cause they sure are pretty.
--Ray
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I have had good luck using the cheap brand at Home Depot. I think it is called Americas best or something like that- but it is made by rustoleum. look at the small print on the can down near the bootom- If it say manufactured by R O C, that mean Rust-Oleum Corp.
It's about 2 bucks cheaper a can, flows out pretty good if you warm it in hot water and shake the bejeezers out of it. I use the same brand sandable primer underneath, sanding all of the 1st 2 or 3 coats off, then lay down a good coat and sand with 200- 400. A couple coats of color on top and let it dry for a week. I use Powermaster GMA blend 10% - and as long as I wipe the plane down after flying i have not seen any damage.
Of course my planes don't get a lot of flight time, mostly they hang in the garage and wait for me to come home- but the paint is still good.
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I dont know why I didnt mention this before, but I have used epoxy paint for appliances to good effect in the past. I first painted a muffler black with this appliance paint, and the paint is still intact. I put some 25% nitro fuel on it after it ahd dried, and the paint did not even soften.
The down side is that it is heavy, and I have only found three colors: black, white and biege.
The good thing is that it only takes a minimum number of coats to cover.
I would not use this on a contest plane, but for a practice plane or a kids trainer, it should be great.
So if you think black, white or biege is a color you want to use, try it, oyu might like it.
Greg
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I wonder how well Rustoleum will hold up to high nitro fuel. I have been using 30% heli fuel in my TD .051. I have a new plane ready to cover and paint and I would like to give Rustoleum a try, but would hate to have the paint start coming off the first time I wipe the plane off after a flignt.
Allen Dye
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Probably the safest bet would be to finish a scrap let it completely dry and do an overnight dunk test in the fuel you plan to use.
I understand it can take some time to completely cure.