Color sanding (photo)

[RC Storick]

I know that some of you know what I am talking about. This is the part that I like the least but if done right gives great satisfaction!

I color sand as soon as the clear is tack dry this is because I hand rub. If you wait any amount of time with Urethane paint it will become too hard to buff with anything other than a high speed buffer. I can just imagine my buffer grabbing the wing and flipping the plane across the room. So I elect to do it by hand.

The items need for color sanding. (color sanding is just a term) 1500 and 2000 grit sand paper. A tub of warm water,a few drops of Joy dish washing liquid added. The soap acts as a lube. The water flushes the paper clean. I have been doing this in 3 stages. As soon as possible sand the entire plane with 1500 and buff with 3M rubbing compound. After the first round I go back over the whole plane with 2000 and re buff with 3M rubbing compound. The last time I hit all the spots missed with 2000 again and re-buff with 3M micro finish finesse-it compound. I have been using Tuttle wax fast detail spray for final buff.

Do this one part at a time and don't become overwhelmed. It will take me at least a week to do this 6-8 hrs a day.

[Bill Little]

It's my "least desireable" aspect of finishing.  It's can also be the most rewarding!  Great tip on taking one part at a time.    If you look at the whole plane and think about having to do it all, it can be overwhelming!

That is turning into one of the prettiest models I have seen in my life time!

[RC Storick]

You mean just like its farther. This is just one of the 200 photo's I took of this plane. This is the plane when I came back that inspired me. Of coarse they thought I was kidding when I said (before the plans came out) I was going to build this plane. But if I can see it I can copy it. I must be part Taiwanese, Korean or Japanese

[john e. holliday]

An awful lot of work for just a few points.  Takes a lot of dedication to do this and also being an artist helps.  Keep up the terrific work Sparky.  See ya down the road.  DOC Holliday

[Keith Spriggs]

There is an old saying "It isn't how much paint you put on it is how much you take off that makes the job"

I have had quite a bit of experience with color sanding and buffing, but there is more hand buffing on that plane than there is on three cars.  Did you ever use any 2500 wet or dry?

You of course now have a beautiful plane, that goes without saying, but even greater is the personal satisfaction of striving for perfection and knowing you have done the very best that you could.

Don't scratch that thing or get any bugs on it before I get a chance to take about 50 pictures of it.

[RC Storick]

Lots of sanding for sure. Here is two more shots but they really don't do it justice. This is the first round of the top. Bottom tomorrow and then the top final followed the next day by the bottom final.

[Bill Little]

Well, Sparky, you now done gone and done it!  There is absolutely no way that I will build my P-47 as a bubble top!

No way, no how, can I top yours! 

So mine will have to be a razorback.........

Man, it looks great.

Bill <><

[Manuel Cortes]

Sincerely impressed!!!!!!!
I´m 34, and feel to need at least 3 or 4 lives to work as well.
My biggest congratulations for a 10 pont job!!!
Hope it will fly as well as it looks (better is dificult).
Regards from Spain.
Manuel.

[test name]

I hope to do better than 10 points!

[Shultzie]

ABSO-LUTELY-AAAAABSOLUTELY one of the greatest

IN PROGRESS...SHARING OF A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF SKY ART during its amazingly detailed painting stages.

You just gotta get together with BillyW. Al Rabe, Keith Trostle...and a host of other great scale stunt builders and have a FLYING DEMONSTRATION...
WITH ALL OF YOU FLYING AT THE SAME TIME, IN THE SAME CIRCLE.
WHAT A GAGGLE OF A PHOTO PICTURE TAKING SESSION THAT WOULD PROVE TO BE...
"From the moment everyone starts their engines...
Each take off in order one take-off after each lap
Then followed by a  lead and follow in formation flying demo  then near the end of the flight...
Ending it alll in a mock battle. JUGS V/S SEA FURY'S N' GERMAN WOLFSKI'S ETC.
(Sorry gang....see what happens when suck up too much Starbucks java, tainted with a dope thinner chaser!

[Shultzie]

You mean just like its farther. This is just one of the 200 photo's I took of this plane. This is the plane when I came back that inspired me. Of coarse they thought I was kidding when I said (before the plans came out) I was going to build this plane. But if I can see it I can copy it. I must be part Taiwanese, Korean or Japanese

-----------------------hey, look at at that funny sneeker--------------------
Is it true that Billy W. is so old...that he no longer can remember how to tie his shoes or even worse,  can not bend over to tie his shoe laces?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, the ravages of aborbing too many toxic paints and thinners..into the old temple of flesh.

[Charlie Pate]

The day before the Nats began,the late Jim Kotesky was getting ready to polish
his gorgeous plane with an electric buffer/drill.
Jim made a slight error; He left the chuck key in the chuck. When he turned the unit on ,the key flew out and made a nice hole in the wing next to the fuselage.
Needless to say ,great stress became evident.
One on big Art,s boys said "no problem, I can fix it in 30 seconds, for less than a dime.Jim said O----------K.
Arts boy cut a piece of black wet or dry sandpaper into the shape of a wing walk,turn in bottom side up,and glued it on  the wing , next to the fuselage.
Jim was so pleased with the result, he had him put one on the other side.

Ahhh yes; Those were the days.