Hi Brian,

Nothing wrong with your sequence but there is no need to go as fine as 800 preparing for color coats. As a matter of fact, that's too fine and the color may not stick. 400 is probably as fine as you should go, it will give plenty of "tooth" to hold the paint and the paint will fill it and level. You could almost polish top coat after sanding with 800

You said you you sprayed 2 light coats of dope and it feels rough. Well, that's normal, what you need to do is shoot a wet flowing coat on it and the roughness will for the most part go away. Whats happened if that the light coats dryed too fast to flow out.

Hi Ty; I was using retarder, the sprayed mixture was about equal 1/3rds of dope, thinner and retarder. I was just guessing on the formula. The ambient temp was in the mid 50's and overcast. I can only guess at the humidity; it's rained for the past few days and the ground is damp to wet.

I'm open to any and all comments/insights/suggestions.

Even with all the mistakes/errors, I sure am having fun! This plane will make it's "Contest Debut" at the Northwest Regionals at Eugene in May . . . that is if it flys. 

Brian

Years and years ago I tried retarder in dope per our local expert at the time.  It did not work for me.  If the clear dope happens to cloud up I usually wait for a cool day and repaint the clear.  Of course being in between Missouri and Kansas, almost on state line.  All I have to do if the weather isn't right is wait another day.  Sometimes it is even in hours, like yesterday.

I adjusted the amount of retarder, adjusted the gun for a "heavier" spray and shot my color trim. It made a huge difference!  I got that nice wet look and the paint flowed very well.

I haven't shot the clear yet, that's coming later this week. I read somewhere here to touch the edges of the trim with 600 grit. What if I sanded the entire plane with 800 or 1000 prior to the clear. Would that help or hurt?

Thanks all for your help!

Brian

Excellent Brian, we'd like pictures!!

I haven't shot the clear yet, that's coming later this week. I read somewhere here to touch the edges of the trim with 600 grit. What if I sanded the entire plane with 800 or 1000 prior to the clear. Would that help or hurt?

Thanks all for your help!

Brian



Take a credit card or your finger nail and run along the raised edges.  It doesn't take much pressure.  That is  my experience from advice from another modeler in the past.  

Too fine, no finer then 400. For the trim edges I use my airbrush and shoot a couple thinb coats on them, light sanding (400) before and beween and the edges will feather right out, this saves clear in the final coats.

Hi Brian,

Sorry for being so late to the party!  I agree with Doc on the credit card for removing the edges.  It doesn't take any real pressure, just scrape at about a 45* angle (both horizontal and vertical) to the edge.  I actually bought some nylon *razor blades* at Auto Zone and sharpened the edge a bit to use for this.  If yu have built up wings, it doesn't take a lot of pressure on the *blade*, if you have sheeted surfaces, it won't matter much.

Big Bear