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Building Tips and technical articles. => Paint and finishing => Topic started by: Miotch on February 06, 2023, 03:33:46 PM
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Cowling on the Starduster Too. I tried something new because I need extra strength here to hold the 1/32” balsa cowling when I start the engine. The inside of the cowl is coated with fiber cloth and epoxy. But after reading a link on planes built out of paper and alphatic resin mix, like paper mache, I mixed a slurry of wood glue and warm water and soaked my silkspan in it then draped the cowl. I have tear lines where I went over the nosebowl, which is what I want to make sure I get filled. I lightly sanded them and I can barely feel them now. Normally, I'd mix talc or microballoons in dope, give it a few coats and sand and you'd never know they are there. But I'm building this in my office and I absolutely cannot use dope here. I've never used auto primer before (well, on a model airplane anyway), but was thinking a few coats of high-build primer would get me there after sanding. I can spray that stuff outside and let leave the cowling in my car for a few hours until the smell is tolerable to bring back in the office. I will say that this cowling now is stronger than anything else I've ever built.
Anyone have any tips ??
Thanks
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I would have used light fiberglass cloth with finishing resin on the outside of the cowl. The plane sure looks nice.
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I would have used light fiberglass cloth with finishing resin on the outside of the cowl. The plane sure looks nice.
Thank you. That is exactly what I really wanted to do. But, I decided to stick with my see weird goal of using only stuff I already had and not spend a penny. Still have some West microballoons, but only cheap hardware epoxies and no cloth remotely lightweight.
I kind of laugh at myself for this goal (partly because I have an exception for glue and paint/dope), but it's actually kind of fun. I've never stepped out of the box building a plane. And I honestly have tons of stuff here, so most of this hasn't required much scrounging . I have both Koverall and silkspan, and I'm waffling on what to cover it with.
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Miotch,
One product that I have used to fill small low spots and edges is Elmer's color change Wood Filler (Home Depot) This stuff is water based no odor, sticks to anything and feathers smooth. I knock it down with 220 the finish with 400. After complete I put a quick coat of thin CA to fill and harden the surface.
Best, DennisT
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Miotch,
One product that I have used to fill small low spots and edges is Elmer's color change Wood Filler (Home Depot) This stuff is water based no odor, sticks to anything and feathers smooth. I knock it down with 220 the finish with 400. After complete I put a quick coat of thin CA to fill and harden the surface.
Best, DennisT
This is what I use too for the small places. Feathers as good as Blue Stuff and doesn't take a day to dry. I have also used the pink spackling paste. but I doubt you have that on hand. I tried making some from ModPodge and micro-balloons. Don't do that.
Ken
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This is what I use too for the small places. Feathers as good as Blue Stuff and doesn't take a day to dry. I have also used the pink spackling paste. but I doubt you have that on hand.
Never underestimate the amount of stuff I have lying around .... (and even more strangely, in my office) ...
Not Elmer's, but might work !!