Bootalini

Just finished painting that thin pinstripe. Holy cow!!...would you believe almost 2 hours to mask, paint the thin line (3 thin coats of black) and pull the masking off. The results were worth it though. Because the paint goes on so thin, there's only a slightly discernable paint ridge which will go away after the clear is applied. The photos show the revised gold trim along the bottom edge of the canopy. there's still a ridge that I'll have to repair and touch-up prior to applying the clear coat.

Did I mention I'll be painting all the lettering on this airplane? In the end, I decided to be 100% authentic ref the lettering so I'm simply scanning the lettering from the plans and then hand-cutting the stencils using artist's frisket,...labour intensive. First lettering photo shows depicts the tracing; second photo shows after I've cut the lettering; and the 3rd shows the masking tape applied which allows the whole mess to be put in place while maintaining perfect alignment of the lettering.

Jeff

dhal22

jeff, are you using any sort of a marker and straight edge to make a line to apply the tape to? i assume you aren't freehanding the tape for the paint lines.

david

Bootalini

David, it's a combination of free hand and a flexible ruler that I cut out of 3mm Depron. I used the ruler to help lay the ref line for the red but that line was only straight from the spinner until just aft of the canopy. If you check the ref side profile photo below, you'll notice the red gradually curves upward as it makes it's way to the back of the airplane. That's where the freehand comes in. I don't bother drawing the curved line...I find that too difficult. I simply made a pencil mark on top of the fuse where the red would end and then I free hand it using the Tamiya tape.

Jeff

Bootalini

I managed to get a fair bit done this long weekend. It's been slow going though as this particular paint scheme is labour intensive to apply. On the fuse, I still have the blue to apply along the bottom as well as the black Aurora logo along each side. I also got started applying blue to the wings.

Fun stuff!

Jeff

dhal22

dang that looks good!!

david

8178

My Feedback: (17)

Don’t you love the color schemes that match the box!!!

hrrcflyer

Bootalini,

All I can say is WOW, I sure wish I could paint like that. Your talents along with others here on RCU are an inspiration to all of us mere mortals... Keep up the good work and keep those awesome pictures coming.

Bootalini

Guys, thanks for the kind remarks. I hope to finish with the painting in the next 2 weeks.

I just painted the bottom of the fuselage blue including most of the bellypan. It went well with the exception of a bit of lifting of the paint [] on the fiberglass cowling. You can see it in the one photo.

This is the first problem I've had with paint lifting. I used automotive pinstriping to mask those thin lines and it's pretty tacky...too tacky I guess. Nothing that a bit of touching-up won't fix though...I have to fix the gold along the bottom of the canopy anyway. While on the topic of touch-ups, that's where base/clear types of paint systems have the advantage. Repairs are a snap and when the clear coat is applied, the underlying repairs will be difficult if not impossible to spot.

Jeff

rainedave

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks for putting everyone to shame Jeff.

Deadstick and I were curious about the Tamiya tape. What part number(s) are you using?

Try to get this thing on the cover of MA (where it belongs). That would give a big boost to BPA/SPA.

David

Bootalini

Raindave, I do hope some folks out there get re-energized on this design. I think our best hope is for someone to produce a kit, either wood/glass/foam, or glass/foam. When I think back, it's this Classic Pattern newsgroup and the nostalgic older designs that actually dragged me back into RC.

Ref the Tamiya tape, I'm using the 6mm wide stuff, part # 87033. The Tamiya tape comes in both thinner and wider versions. For my next project though, I'll likely take the time to find an automotive specific equivalent that will likely be cheaper and will work even better around curves.

Jeff

Atlanta 60

My Feedback: (18)

Looks Really nice Jeff!!

dhal22

Try to get this thing on the cover of MA (where it belongs). That would give a big boost to BPA/SPA.

you would think that this plane, the blue angel finished recently or others would be far better choices in the magazine section where people get to show off the projects. arfs should not be allowed.

david

Bootalini

David, concur about the ARFs not being allowed.

As you can see, I'm just about done applying the colours. Just in time I might add as I'm getting tired of masking!

The Auto-Air continues to work well. The yellow took about 6 coats to fill-in, but yellow tends to be that way with most other paint systems. Other than that, no problems.

Tomorrow I'll finish applying the blue to the wing panels and then I'll get started on the lettering. I'll be painting 'Aurora' on the top left wing panel and on both sides of the fuse, as well as applying the silver stars on the inner part of the top wing panels. I'm anxious to see how that goes. If the results are good, I may elect to paint additional logos. If fly JR so 'JR PROPO' might look good in the exact spot that Steve Helms has "FUTABA' painted. Any other suggestions?.....my last name has 13 letters so I'm not keen on going that route.

Jeff

dhal22

i was trying to answer raindave, i don't know how to put a box around and use someone else's comment. i don't want it to look like i was taking his idea.

david

Deadstik

My Feedback: (8)

Jeff,

As David said, we've been looking for an equivalent to the Tamaya tape since good masking is esscential to a great paint job. I'm going to order some of the Tamaya tape on Monday and try it out ASAP. I've use 3m fine line and honestly, I don't know if I got an old batch or old tape, or the stuff just doesn't work very well. Think I'll order some from a big auto supply paint house and see what it does.

Great work.... I've got an Aurora in the shop that has plug all over it..... more to come,


Dan
Carolina Custom Aircraft

Bootalini

Dan, a glass Aurora on the horizon?? A lot of folks will be happy!

Earlier today, I finished applying the blue to the wings. I then got started on the lettering. The photos show sequentially the method I use to produce my own masks. Maybe old hat for some of you but I thought I'd put it up and maybe someone out there can learn another method.
-1st photo shows where the stencil will be applied.
-next photos show the stencil (cut from artist frisket) with the sticky backing being peeled off. After removing all the backing, the stencil is applied to the wing
-the masking tape is then removed which in theory leaves the stencil behind. That's about when I started swearing as I realized that the masking tape I used was too tacky. I would not come off easily and it started to damage the stencil. That's when I decided to scrap that stencil and start over using a less tacky tape to place over the frisket.
-given that that stencil took a while to produce and it was getting late, I decided to be lazy and focus on the stars on the wing. Using the exact method described, I produced the stencil for the stars using MS Powerpoint to lay everything out. Anyhow, it worked like a charm. Have a look at the last photo.

Jeff

Bootalini

Progress is slow. Making those masks is tedious and time consuming. It's worth it though.

I tried attaching the Powerpoint file for those stars if anyone decides to paint their Aurora the same way. PP files are not supported here, so simply e-mail me if you'd like a copy. Simply print it out the pattern (it's already sized 100%), tape the frisket on top and then trace the pattern. Easy as pie!

Jeff

WEDJ

Question:

Once you put the frisket down, do you spray clear to seal the edges? Or does the frisket work good enough that you don't need that step?

dhal22

i would assume the entire project would get a clear coat.

david

Bootalini

WEDJ, I'm not using any clear coat to seal the frisket edges. The photo shows the frisket applied in place but not pressed down yet. The frisket is tacky enough to prevent bleeding of the paint but I was also cautious about how I applied the paint. The Auto-Air silver was thick enough that I could'nt dial the airbrush pressure down too low so I held the airbrush further back and was carefull to not build up too much paint.

DHAL 22, you're indeed correct that I'll be applying a clear top-coat to everything afterwards. As with any base/clear system, that's when the colours will come alive. I'm looking forward to reaching that point although the work won't be over. I'm anticipating having to use rubbing compound afterwards to get the nice smooth gloss. Maybe I'll get lucky and the clear coat will lay down perfect....I doubt it.

Jeff

Bootalini

Just finished painting 'Aurora' on the left wing panel. It looks OK but only after I went back and touched-up a few spots. All I can say is that any innacuracies cutting curves in the frisket will show in the final product! I'm going to make a few phone calls tomorrow and find out about having masks made commercially by computer. That will hopefully guarantee great results when I paint the lettering on the fuselage.

Jeff

dhal22

jeff, this has become THE thread recently. thx for continuing to allow us to admire your handiwork on a regular basis.

david

mmattockx

Jeff,

Jump over to the regular pattern forum and look up the Black Magic VF3 build thread. Find Handglider in that thread and PM him about paint masks. He is doing some amazing finishing work with masks in that thread and is quite willing to do custom work for others. Tell Dean I sent you!

Mark

Bootalini

Mark, thanks for the tip. That's quite the build thread on the Black Magic with tons of info on paint finishes. I'm not thru it all yet but will do so shortly. Notwithstanding, contacting Dean and getting stuff cut and sent here would take too much time. I'm hoping to apply the clear coat this weekend as the fall is setting in here in Canada and days where the daytime high reaches 70 or above may be in short supply. I spent last evening getting the required stencils cut for me from one of the locals who has a cottage business going. They look great.

Jeff

mmattockx

Jeff,

I thought you might be in too much of a hurry to get them done by Dean, but I figured I would point him out. The finish work he has done on those airframes is simply amazing. I have spoke to him about some paint masks for a motorcycle project I am working on and he was interested in that, as well. I think Dean will work on any finishing project that comes his way if you ask him.

Mark