Started sanding around 6:00 am today. I got all the small parts done, all that is left is the plane.

Derek

The last picture is the nose of the plane if final clear but not buffed yet.

Derek

Ok, that's just sick! I mean slick, well, both! 

Can't wait to see this thing all together,
EricV

Well, I just learned that I have no finishing skills at all...
Man, what is that!!!
It's so shiny one can use it as a mirror for shaving.
Derek is Chip Foose of model airplanes.

Marcus

sick!



so sick, bro!

Could you explain the process, please. Thanks.

Ok, here is the quick rundown.

Once the color paint is complete I spray 2 to 3 coats of clear on everything with extra passes on the edges and paint lines.

I wet sand the entire plane with 1500 or 1000 grit sandpaper until most or all of the orange peal and paint lines are gone.

I spray another two coats of clear and then let it cure for at least one week.

I wet sand everything again with 1500 grit sandpaper until flat.

I use a medium cut rubbing compound then a polishing compound. (I like 3M and McGuire's rubbing compounds and polishing compounds)

I usually use McGuire's machine glaze for the final rub.

Wax if desired.

Derek

We're not worthy!  We're not worthy! 

Hi Little Buddy,

Thanks for laying out your buffing methods.  Do you use a machine at any point or is it all "hand" done?

Thanks!

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

This one should be twenty pointer for sure !

Thanks for all of the wonderful comments. TO be compared to Chip Foose and Windy is quite an honor.

Thanks again.

Derek

Derek,

You have just pushed all past front row airplanes back to the second row!

Derek:

Do use any type of block when you sand the clear?

Derek:

Do use any type of block when you sand the clear?

No, I do it all by hand with a piece of 1500. I cut the sheet short ways into about 1.5" to 2" strips and fold those into thirds. Wet sanding with just water works very well on the 480s and one piece of sandpaper last a very long time. I did all of the small parts with one of the folded strips. I got a new one when I started the plane itself. I have about 2/3 of the fuse sanded right now. I will take some pictures of the plane in different stages of sanding until it is flat so that you guys can see the process.

Thanks again for all of the great comments and support.

Derek

Will you finish this amazing bird and get it assembled? I want to see the final product. This teasing is killing me.

Trying my best Randy, I have been very busy lately with work and remodeling a new house.

I will have it done soon.


Derek

Randy, is yours ready for paint yet???

    Really nice work Derek.

Thanks John.

Derek

In these pictures you can see that most of the orange peel is gone. The rubbing and buffing can start once all the orange peel is gone. 

Derek

yeppers, looks like good times there,, time for solitude,, good music,, strong lighting, and lots of patience

Here are a few of the nose.

Derek

I don't know why it is that I can always seem to get a glassy finish on the nose. Probably because I lay the clear on there heavier than anywhere else. I try to go thin on the wings and such and usually end up with either the problems that Derek is experiencing or some orange peel that I can quite get out.

its also decieving on flats, because you never stay in the same spot as long as you will on a curved surface,,

but its looking good,,

 
PERFECT Derek,
It is a masterpiece in a airmodel shape.

Did we ever get any "complete" and assembled pics? If so, I missed them. Have you flown this one yet Derek?

Hey Wayne,

I have not finished it yet. I still have to finish buffing the wings. I had a rub through on the rudder that set me back a little but it is fixed now. I hope to finish in a week or two. Work has been crazy and the new house remodel is taking a lot of my free time. Thanks for asking though.

Derek

Derek : What is the max grit you flat sand finish with prior to hand buff ?

I stop at 12,000 - and on occasion I think thats pointless, 8,000 is usually smooth enough.

I go : 2k, 3k, 4k, 8k finish with a light 12k then start the polish process.

I use 1,500 and only 1,500. I have never seen such high grit sand paper. I would like some 2K and 3K. I can get 2K here but I don't have any.

By the way, congrats to the Aussies for winning the Masters last week.

Derek

WOW!!! How much time does it take to sand it out that many times?  There is no way I could find that time, even if I didn't sleep, I am married with kiddos time to sand airplanes is not the priority... 

I have found some 3K paper around here but it is on a hook-it pad for a small power sander.  Under power is rips down the clear pretty quick and will go through if your not careful.  It leaves a dull shine.  It's also designed to work dry.


Once you have sanded it out with 8K or 12K what is your polishing process and what do you use? Just a quick outline is fine doesn't have to be too detailed.  Derek, I dint mean to hijack your thread, just curious on his process.

Not at all, I am curious too. I am not sure why you would need 12K sandpaper. At work we polish granite and a 3000 grit pad is as high as we go to achieve a mirror like finish. Over 90 GU.

Derek

Having painted a few cars,, including a couple show cars,, I have never used anything finer than 2000# when cutting to polish,, 1200 or 1500 to cut the peal,, then 2000 to remove the scratches, then polish from there,,

I HAVE however used finer grits to polish acrylic aircraft winsheilds,, that is the only place I have seen use of that fine of abrasive,,

using finer grit would definetly reduce the effort to polish after sanding,, but wow, thats some expensive paper compared to a bottle of rubbing compound,,

Hey Mark,

What polishing compounds do you use and do you think I could find it locally? I am interested in what the pros use.

Derek

Hey Mark,

What polishing compounds do you use and do you think I could find it locally? I am interested in what the pros use.

Derek

And to piggy back on that question.  What kind of clear are you talking about polishing?  2 part polyurathane, dope, or a 480S, etc??

I have used the system Randy discusses ^^
Mcguires works great, just remember as with sandpaper, there is differing grades of abrasive,,

I have used pretty much anything mainstream,, some work great some work ok, a lot I have found is really dependent upon YOU and how you use it ,, at least as far as specific brands go. I know my buddy Al uses some bizarre name brand compound and I hate the stuff,,

most common besides Mcguires, "Finesse it"
There are a lot of little tricks,, but really, guys if I write it all out here then I wont have anything for my column in Stunt News,, 

You all do get stunt news right? 

My final glaze for appearance judging day,, its called "race glaze",, awesome slick stuff,,

I hate thread hijacking.. However the question was asked..

1stly - The online store I get the sandpaper in, just simply speciazlises in sandpaper and they go up to 12k grits.

If you understand what the polish process actually does the grades of grits just allow you to reduce the flat down to microns.


1500 grit sands close to 15 microns
12000 sands to 2 micron

Its just a finer process but it does take along time to do.
My buffing process is not dis-similar to what derek is doing.

I start with a very light 1000 just to "knock it down"
move to 1500 to smooth it out
3k spending time to get the main polish working

Now depending on the area - I would use the higher grits to develop a better quality of shine ( Wings - top of the fuse etc.. )
higher grit is 5k and 8 k

This is all just done with water, and detergent.   I also use whats called mircomesh cloth sandpaper.

I do machine buff also - its critical you have the correct pad I use 3M™ Perfect-it™ Foam Compounding Pad (05723)

3M Really do have the best range of buffing items. The material I use compounds are :
from the Perfect - it Range System 1 + 2

I will machine buff most of the major parts this is always a 2 person job ( 1 to hold the plane and I buff )

This is usually enough to get it to a high quality shine but I choose to use

Menzerna polish PO85RD which is also called Ultra finishing Polish - this is all dnoe by hand with a polish cloth and compound.

I then seal the whole model with canuba wax - depending on how much time i have left my last model had 6 coats of wax.


Please note : Derek has won 2 concourse awards before ; I have none.

THAT LOOKS AWESOME!!!!!!!

I can't wait to see it!!

What was that you said about practice??  WTH??

Comes a time when you just want to get it in the air.

FANTASTIC Derek!!!!

You've certainly raised the bar with this one!! Can't wait to see it at some point!

Hi Little Buddy!  It just keeps looking better and better!

What will you have at Huntersville?

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

Hey Big Bear,

Not sure yet. If I can get the Cutlass finished I might bring it for the first flight. You know, depending on what the wind is like.

Derek