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Author Topic: Latex Paint on Model Airplanes..  (Read 2030 times)

Mark Romanowitz

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Latex Paint on Model Airplanes..
« on: December 08, 2017, 02:41:13 PM »
Hi Everyone,

I have been looking through older posts and I saw that it is common in Scale to use Latex paint on models..

I've been a stunt guy most of my life and I have never known this..

Could someone outline the process for me? I saw some folks finish the plane with glass cloth, sand smooth, prime and then paint with latex..  What clear topcoat do you use?

I'm looking into building a Hellcat and I want a flat finish..

If there are links to other places on this site can you post a link?

Many thanks!

Mark

Offline Fred Cronenwett

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Re: Latex Paint on Model Airplanes..
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2017, 03:45:20 PM »
If you are flying with electric power you don't need any topcoat but to be honest I haven't found the perfect top clear coat that I like but here is the process that I used on several models.

1) Build as normal and then fiberglass the airplane with one ounce fiberglass cloth, using the Z-poxy finishing resin. for open framework I use Solartex covering which is iron on and is ready for primer and paint, but they do offer colored versions. there are lots of sources for fiberglass cloth

http://shop.balsausa.com/product_p/564.htm

http://cstsales.com/e_glass_cloth.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkIWK7b371wIVmLrACh3eLwSHEAMYASAAEgJP-PD_BwE

https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCX58&P=7


2) The primer I have been using is the rattle can primer from Ace or Home Depot, most of it gets sanded away. White for light colors and the grey for darker colors. The color of the primer affects the final color of the model. Try a test panel first before painting the real model


3) I get a good quality exterior grade latex house paint and get it mixed to my color chips at the professional paint store or Home Depot. I typically get flat paint and then apply gloss clear later. I also use a large air paint gun with a large compressor. I will thin the paint with windshield washer fluid, you have to try different ratios but the normal paint is too thick for the air gun. The windshield washer stuff sounds odd but lubricates the gun and doesn't change the color. I don't add much to thin the paint, if too thin it might run and if too thick it can splatter in large drops. Try it on glass test panel to check the air gun pressure and paint mix. I always do test panels before the real model.


4) apply ink lines


5) Apply decals


6) clear coat - still looking for the one I like best

Fred
Fred Cronenwett
AMA CLSCALE7 - CL Scale
Model Aviation CL Scale columnist

Offline Avaiojet

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Re: Latex Paint on Model Airplanes..
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2017, 05:22:49 PM »
Mark,

Here's a link to a paint build on a Stuka. If the link doesn't get you there you can go over to CFC Graphics where the Paint Build is.

"Stuka Tank Buster gets Some Color." I believe.

CB

https://stunthanger.com/smf/cfc-graphics/stuka-tank-buster-gets-some-color!/
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Mark Romanowitz

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Re: Latex Paint on Model Airplanes..
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2017, 07:45:01 AM »
Thanks for the info. Very much appreciated!

Offline John Rist

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Re: Latex Paint on Model Airplanes..
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2018, 12:23:04 PM »
I used latex on one of my scale models and got a good color match.  I painted it the instructions found at http://www.vaillyaviation.com/Intro.html 

On the Vally Aviation web site scroll down the page and look at the article titled  "Latex House Paints for Models  - Part 1  - Part 2".  Really detail instructions that worked really well.   y1
John Rist
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