So much for sanding

[frank carlisle]

Well, so much for sanding at this point. It's all down to 400. Still plenty on spots that could be better but, I"M DONE.

Soon as the humidity drops I'm going to make it white then add colors and graphics. No more sanding till I get a couple coats of clear on top of it all.

You should know that I am in no way an expert at this finishing business. BUT- I plan to be.

I'll be starting a new kit today. A 1/2A Snapper I got from Ray Stone, the "MINNESOTA MODELER"............It'll be a cinch!! The wing is smaller than the stab on the LA Heat.

[Bob Reeves]

Looks like you have the hard part done... Unless you are like me and screw up the color coats then end up sanding it off so you can paint it again which results in adding 4 ounces that you didn't want so you lie about how much it actually weighs.

 

[Leroy Heikes]

Trying to paint has been a bear lately It has been rainy here everyday since Sat.
Leroy

[wwwarbird]

Is the Heat a trike gear or a taildragger?

[frank carlisle]

It's a trike Wayne.

I'm pretty good at masking Bob, but I plan to lie about the weight anyway.

Yup Leroy, it's been raining here too. I won't have a chance to put the white on it till Saturday so maybe the weather will clear up by then.

[Jim Oliver]

Will you now need a smaller truck for the 1/2 A??

Jim

[Leroy Heikes]

It should fit in the basket on his Scooter
He can save gas driving to the flying field.

Leroy

[Bill Little]

Well, so much for sanding at this point. It's all down to 400. Still plenty on spots that could be better but, I"M DONE.

Soon as the humidity drops I'm going to make it white then add colors and graphics. No more sanding till I get a couple coats of clear on top of it all.

You should know that I am in no way an expert at this finishing business. BUT- I plan to be.

I'll be starting a new kit today. A 1/2A Snapper I got from Ray Stone, the "MINNESOTA MODELER"............It'll be a cinch!! The wing is smaller than the stab on the LA Heat.

Hi Frank,

I forgot to ask, or I missed it........

What are you using for filler? 

Thanks
Bill <><

[frank carlisle]

Hey Bill,
I'm using Brodak Primer and sanding most of it off. I had 4 coats of brushed on clear under 2 coats of sprayed clear before I put the primer on. The primer was thinned 3 to ! and really didn't go on very thick. After I sanded it off ( the plane looked like well faded Levi's by then) I sprayed two coats of clear cut 1 to 1 then sanded it with 220. Then I sprayed a lite coat of white and sanded with400 repriming and sanding the pitted spots along the way.
That's where I'm at now. And work is at a stand still till Saturday. My plan is to make the plane white, then add colors and graphics. After that a couple coats of clear and sand with 600. more clear sand 1500. Then sand 2000 and fly. Rub out during winter.

Sound about right?

[Bob Reeves]

Good plan, please make sure you have nothing under that red but pure white. Red does not cover as well as one would think.. reason for sanding all the color off my Legacy and repainting it 

[James Lee]

Frank
The 'Heat' is looking good!!  I saw Bob fly the original at the Nats a 'few' years ago...!!  I htink you will be happy with it.
I gotta disagree with Bob a bit on the base for the red though.  Red is rather transparant...  the white base will make it look pink...   Use yellow...  It will really brighten the red.   Try a test panel.  A gold base will turn the red almost maroon...   I learned some interesting things with that when I did my '52 Nobler many years ago.  I had some Gold trim that I sparyed first, then sprayed yellow where I wanted the yellow darts on the wing, bigger than the yellow parts would be, then masked them off for teh red main color.  I got some really interesting colors...!! this is predicated on using Sig dope...  Got no experence with Brodak.
The Graphics are going to be awesome!!  And I do remember the Stunt Foo so your comments on your finishing talents are maybe being a bit modest!  Are you going to have it at Sig next year?
Thanks
Jim

[RC Storick]

Mask off the red areas and spray a light coat of light gray primer on before shooting the red. It will be fine. Looks good Frank

[Bob Reeves]

I used Brodak Mis Ashley Red over white and it came out well. The mistake I made the first time was having a combination of silver and white, thinking red would cover it, it didn't.

[frank carlisle]

It's been my experience that as long as there is a solid white or yellow base the red will cover well. This'll be about my 6th or 7th red white and blue airplane.

I've been studying those NASCAR paint jobs but haven't been able to see a way to get it on a plane. I'm hoping maybe wwwarbird will have an idea.

[john e. holliday]

Don't worry about the weight on something that big.  I always tell them that my planes weigh more than 10 ounces of actual weight so that everybody wonders how they fly so well.  Also tell them the planes would fly better with a good pilot.  DOC Holliday

[frank carlisle]

Dang Doc!!----------I never thought to tell folks it weighed more than it did!! I always tell them it's lighter....I guess that's why people think I fly so bad........