stunthanger.com

Building Tips and technical articles. => Paint and finishing => Topic started by: wwwarbird on March 05, 2013, 08:32:30 PM

Title: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 05, 2013, 08:32:30 PM
 Howdy folks,

 I finally have the "Challenger 575" ready for paint. All of my normal prep work and sanding is done and I'm ready to start shooting color. The plan is for a white/orange Navy scheme, duplicating my .15 size version. Now all I need is a bucketload of ambition... Z@@ZZZ
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Mark Scarborough on March 05, 2013, 10:28:55 PM
Hey I will loan you my ambition,, I dont need it until I can breath better,, hang on,, its right here hanging on the wall behind my 109,,,,,,,
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Balsa Butcher on March 05, 2013, 10:38:59 PM
Looking good, I like your paint stand as well. As they say on the British TV series Top Gear: "Brilliant!" 8)
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Randy Powell on March 06, 2013, 04:19:17 PM
Have fun. It's looking ready to go.
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 06, 2013, 08:12:25 PM
Looking good, I like your paint stand as well. As they say on the British TV series Top Gear: "Brilliant!" 8)

 The makeshift "paint stand" is actually my normal workshop "island" bench. It's just a Black and Decker Workmate sitting on a pedestal stand that I made so it sits at a comfortable work height. It's normally always in the center of my shop with a towel covered platform top providing a 360 degree work station. When painting time comes, I just lift the top off and add my cobbled PVC and conduit plane holder "apparatus". It ain't purty, but it works and it's easy to move whenever necessary.

 Mark, thanks for the offer, but I don't want to risk being to blame for slowing down your progress on the 109. ;D

 Randy, this is my first plane with blue fillets. I've really liked the way the stuff works so far, I just hope the dope sticks...
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 11, 2013, 08:08:15 PM

 It's white now. Finally. :)
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 12, 2013, 10:12:09 PM

 Slathered on some of the orange on tonight... ;D
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Mark Scarborough on March 12, 2013, 10:20:56 PM
Wayne, I likce the chrome effect on the wings,, but maybe you should have used a bit more care masking for the blue,, its kind of rough around the edges,,


 LL~ LL~

keep on truckin man, at least someone is getting something done
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 12, 2013, 10:49:02 PM

 Yeah Mark, the white was just too clean and boring. I've always dug those wrinkly chrome Monokote jobs... ;D
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 14, 2013, 07:49:02 PM
...just finished with the orange tonight. So far so good, no runs no drips, just a few errors. ;D

Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Mark Scarborough on March 14, 2013, 10:18:27 PM
cool,, psuedo coast gaurd?
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 14, 2013, 10:45:48 PM
 Close Mark, pseudo Navy Training. It's going to be an exact replica of my .15 size one.

 I considered doing a WWII German Luftwaffe scheme, but... ;D
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Douglas Ames on March 15, 2013, 07:23:05 AM
cool,, psuedo coast gaurd?

I was thinking that too. Looks good!!
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Mark Scarborough on March 15, 2013, 12:58:11 PM
Close Mark, pseudo Navy Training. It's going to be an exact replica of my .15 size one.

 I considered doing a WWII German Luftwaffe scheme, but... ;D
subtle Wayne, very subtle

glad to see you stretching your imagination on this one,,
muah ha haha,,, LL~
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 15, 2013, 10:11:06 PM
 ;D
 
 I suppose we can say that I'm just sticking to my original plan with this "exercise".

 The "Challenger .15" original design by Keith Sandberg is superb flyer for it's size. A bunch of them have been built and flown around these parts, all with great satisfaction and big smiles. Keith has talked about doing an enlarged .40 sized version for at least the past 3-4 years, but just hasn't gotten around to it yet. We've always had the feeling it could be a pretty killer Profile .40 design.
 
 After I finished my own Challenger .15 and flew it last spring I decided I was going to go for a bigger one on my own. The small one is so good that I kept the design exactly the same, just bigger. I thought really hard about adding flaps, and almost did, but decided I wanted to stick with my original thought and see how well it would work just leaving it alone. Other than the overall scale enlargement the only change I made was adding a 1/2" of chord across the front of the stab. I did this soley for cosmetics. I did add a tip weight box and adjustable leadout guide too. Dimensionally though, including airfoil, moments etc., it's a straight up enlargement of the original .15 design.

 Anyway, since I kept everything the same I'm just seeing "The Plan" through, right down to the Navy paint scheme.

 Plus, this thing just wouldn't look quite right in German camo... :##
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Wade Bognuda on March 15, 2013, 11:16:46 PM
Nice!!!
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Bill Little on March 16, 2013, 12:31:03 PM
Looking good, Wayne, and waiting to hear how it flies.

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: MarcusCordeiro on March 18, 2013, 03:35:36 PM
Very cool!
I like it a lot.

Marcus
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: john e. holliday on March 19, 2013, 08:40:39 AM
Has it flown yet??  Really I like the paint scheme.   May borrow it sometime, the paint scheme, not the airplane.
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: RC Storick on March 19, 2013, 11:00:06 AM
Close Mark, pseudo Navy Training. It's going to be an exact replica of my .15 size one.

 I considered doing a WWII German Luftwaffe scheme, but... ;D

It's cool. Nice job
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 19, 2013, 06:03:44 PM
Has it flown yet??  Really I like the paint scheme.   May borrow it sometime, the paint scheme, not the airplane.

 Not yet Doc, still painting on it. The photo of the finished Challenger is my .15 size one, I just posted it to show what this big one is going to look like.

 Hoping to get the black shot on the fuse tonight...
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 19, 2013, 09:22:48 PM

 ...got the black done.

 Just have to spray the Polar Grey "glass" next and then all of the other markings will be done in vinyl. ;D
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: john e. holliday on March 20, 2013, 08:20:04 AM
I see I need to get some stock in aluminum foil.   LL~ LL~  I had heard Windy U. used it a lot, but never tried it myself.
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Bill Little on March 20, 2013, 01:58:19 PM
I see I need to get some stock in aluminum foil.   LL~ LL~  I had heard Windy U. used it a lot, but never tried it myself.

Hi Doc,

Aluminum foil works very well in my opinion.  I get the 4 for a dollar rolls at Dollar General and similar places.  The paint isn't going to weep through the foil.

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 20, 2013, 06:39:26 PM

 Yep Doc, it's the way to go if you ask me. I buy mine cheap at the local dollar store. Until you get used to it it's a little delicate to handle to avoid unwanted tearing, but in general it works very well. Tape REALLY sticks to it too. In certain situations you can simply mold it right around an awkward area and then just cover any questionable areas with tape. Also, when you're done, it crumples up and stays much better than paper! ;D
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Randy Powell on March 20, 2013, 08:11:56 PM
I use paint mask from the paint store. The stuff I get is brown and waxy (sort of) and doesn't soak from paint. but I have used aluminum foil before and it works too.

Is it soup yet?
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Mark Scarborough on March 20, 2013, 08:53:33 PM
I have to say, I have used aluminum foil for some things, like wrapping wiring harness' when painting an engine compartment, things like that,,
for me, let me say again,,, FOR ME,, I get very nervous about the little sharp points that aluminum foil can make when creased ,, especially around the more delicate things, like fresh paint,, silk-span,, ,not to say it wont work,,I prefer using paint masking paper,, no bleed through,, tape sticks,, and no danger of sharp pointed crease thingies doing the nasty,,

but I know lots of people who use it,, so,, pays your money, takes your chances,,

Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 20, 2013, 09:04:52 PM
 Yeah, you do have to be a little careful here and there with the foil, just gotta use the 'ol noggin' a bit.

 Just finished spraying the grey in for the canopy tonight. Now just have to let it dry a day or two and then do a little sanding along the color lines.

 That's it for color spraying, the rest will be vinyl...
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 20, 2013, 09:07:31 PM

 The BIG and little of it... ;D
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Mark Scarborough on March 20, 2013, 11:13:13 PM
I dig it Wayne,,
looks well done,,thanks for sharing,

now let us know how it flies,, when the time comes,,,
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: john e. holliday on March 21, 2013, 09:20:28 AM
They look great sitting together.
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Bill Little on March 21, 2013, 04:19:31 PM
They both look great, Wayne!

Please do us a favor and tell us how you do a finish from bare wood up.  A brief description or as detailed as you wish.

Thanks!
Bill
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on March 21, 2013, 10:01:15 PM
Please do us a favor and tell us how you do a finish from bare wood up.  A brief description or as detailed as you wish.

Thanks!
Bill

 Will do Bill. I just started a reply with the short version, but it got long in a hurry. One thing leads to another, I'll post something soon. y1

 No painting tonight, a long day at work and a few Coronas afterward... ;D
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Bill Little on March 22, 2013, 07:58:07 AM
Will do Bill. I just started a reply with the short version, but it got long in a hurry. One thing leads to another, I'll post something soon. y1

 No painting tonight, a long day at work and a few Coronas afterward... ;D

Hi Wayne,

Thanks!  I always like the finishes you get on your profiles, especially.  Unfortunately, diabetes, etc., have killed the Coronas now............... used to have a couple or two dark draft in the evenings but no longer.

Bill
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on April 01, 2013, 09:38:47 PM

 I finally got a chance to get back into the shop these past couple evenings. I finished putting on all of the markings tonight. I've got just a few little things to touch up and it's ready for clear...
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on April 01, 2013, 09:39:50 PM

 Hey Ty, check it out... ;D
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Mark Scarborough on April 01, 2013, 09:41:48 PM
looks great Wayne,, looks great,,
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: MarcusCordeiro on April 02, 2013, 05:13:29 PM
It's really beautiful work.
Congrats!! #^ #^

Marcus
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Randy Powell on April 03, 2013, 12:01:18 PM
Very cool, Wayne.
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on April 03, 2013, 09:08:37 PM

 Thanks guys, it is what it is anyway. ;D

 Just finished spraying the first couple of "dry" dust coats over the graphics to get them sealed. I'll do a few more of those yet before I go "heavy" on the entire plane. I might have gotten a little happy with the gun in a couple of spots, it's time to walk away for tonight and hope I don't find a mess in the morning.

 Fingers crossed... D>K
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on April 05, 2013, 09:50:26 PM
 Finally done, or as good as it's gonna get anyway. Shot the last of the clear tonight, finish abandoned. ;D
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: john e. holliday on April 06, 2013, 09:59:31 AM
I like the paint scheme as it fits the plane in my opinion.  Will you be at the Polk City Iowa contest?
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: Bill Little on April 06, 2013, 10:49:18 AM
Finally done, or as good as it's gonna get anyway. Shot the last of the clear tonight, finish abandoned. ;D

Hi Wayne,

It looks very good to me!  Now to hear how it flies!

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: MarcusCordeiro on April 06, 2013, 05:11:35 PM
 #^ #^ #^ #^ H^^

Marcus
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: wwwarbird on April 07, 2013, 01:11:35 AM
  Will you be at the Polk City Iowa contest?

 I'm planning on being there Doc, the only way it won't happen is if my boss throws a wrench in my plans at the last minute.
Title: Re: Well, here we go...
Post by: john e. holliday on April 08, 2013, 09:07:37 AM
Well I may just drive up just to get out of the shop.