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Need advice on primer/paint application

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Need advice on primer/paint application

Old 04-24-2014, 07:57 PM
  #26  
jester_s1
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Was this plane flown before? Are you sure about the weight? That does sound awful heavy. Usually scale models that heavy are flown by 50cc-100cc gas engines.

As for your question, it's rare someone actually recoats a whole plane like you're talking about. A cowl and a set of wheel pants? Sure. Maybe a wing tip that gets scuffed up or a repaired area would get the top coat treatment. But putting new paint on top of old paint on an entire airplane is just not generally done.
Old 04-24-2014, 08:11 PM
  #27  
speedracerntrixie
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Well being a twin that is going to be flown around in a scale like manner does not need a ton of power. However, a pair of 46 engines on a 25 lb airplane is just not going to provide any safe amount of power. A pair of 55s would be better. I read the flight report that Minnflyer did on this airplane and he felt that it had enough power at 18 lbs. 7 pounds heavier and I'm certain it would be a different story. By comparison a 25 lb war bird would be powered with 60cc. An aerobatic model of that weight would be powered with 80cc to 100cc. Flying an underpowered airplane is just about as difficult as it gets and it's my understanding that Orion does not have much flying experience.
Old 04-25-2014, 02:46 AM
  #28  
sensei
 
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What is the wing area of this plane anyway?

Bob

Last edited by sensei; 04-25-2014 at 02:48 AM.
Old 04-25-2014, 03:35 AM
  #29  
jester_s1
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Extra power doesn't fully make up for an overweight plane either. He could put a pair of .90s on it, and it still wouldn't fly well if it's 7 pounds overweight. More power doesn't lower the stall speed,so the minimum takeoff speed, stall recovery time, and general handling will all suffer. It's time to put this plane on a diet.
Old 04-25-2014, 07:01 AM
  #30  
speedracerntrixie
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Originally Posted by sensei
What is the wing area of this plane anyway?

Bob

914 sq in.
Old 04-25-2014, 08:54 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by orion4455
............I have bought lustrekote white for the majority of my plane......
best regards, orion4455
I had a bad experience with white lustrekote. A few weeks after spraying the flaps and ailerons of my T34B white, they started to turn a rusty color. I saw other planes at our airfield, also sprayed with lustrekote, do the same thing. I was using oil-based MinWax polyurethane over 3/4 ounce fiberglass cloth, then primer, then white Lustrekote. I would be really careful with Lustrekote if you insist on using it. Whenever I see a can of Lustrekote, I get braincramps!!! lol

If it was me, I would seriously consider using Ultracoat. As for stripes and other designs I like to use vinyl decals over Ultrakote because I want to keep it simple. As already suggested .... If you insist on painting maybe peel off all the monocote, apply natural Solartex, then paint with Rustoleum. Solartex also comes in colors and can be applied similar to Ulracote.

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Last edited by oliveDrab; 04-25-2014 at 09:01 AM.
Old 04-25-2014, 09:39 AM
  #32  
orion4455
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Gentlemen: I will check to make sure of the weight of the plane. Also, thank you for the instructions regarding monokote, lustrekote, and ultrakote. will update with the correct weight. thank you. orion.

OLIVEDRAB: GREAT LOOKING PLANE. JUST AWESOME!!!

Last edited by orion4455; 04-25-2014 at 09:42 AM. Reason: add information
Old 04-25-2014, 09:47 AM
  #33  
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Gentlemen (and, I use the term loosely): Back again. The correct weight, with everything loaded, for the Cessna 310 topflite model is 17 pounds, not 25. I stand corrected. orion4455
Old 04-25-2014, 10:01 AM
  #34  
Steve S. Helland
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oRION,
I HAVE HAD GOOD RESULTS PAINTING MONO*OTE.
Old 04-25-2014, 10:04 AM
  #35  
Steve S. Helland
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Sorry, got click happy and stuck on caps...Just rough up the monokote finish with very fine steel wool. Shoot your primer. Paint away! Use Lusterkote. Have fun and fly the sh*t out of it.
Good Luck my friend.
Old 04-25-2014, 10:06 AM
  #36  
Steve S. Helland
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Default Painting over Monokote:

Wet sand the primer coat with 400 or 600 grit.
Old 04-25-2014, 04:31 PM
  #37  
mike31
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If you gotta paint over Monokote it needs to be scarfed up with fine steel wool first. Wakes a surface for paint to bond to.
Old 04-26-2014, 09:08 AM
  #38  
speedracerntrixie
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Not a fan of painting onto iron on covering. I once sprayed DuPont chroma base and clear on white Monokote with OK results but chipped easily. The covering was scuffed and then cleaned with acetone. The 3W aerobatic ARF airplanes have painted Untracote and they chip up rather easily also. IMO if you want to paint, covering the wood with 3/4 oz glass cloth and epoxy resin is a much better way to go.
Old 04-26-2014, 02:10 PM
  #39  
TomCrump
 
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Originally Posted by speedracerntrixie
Not a fan of painting onto iron on covering. I once sprayed DuPont chroma base and clear on white Monokote with OK results but chipped easily. The covering was scuffed and then cleaned with acetone. The 3W aerobatic ARF airplanes have painted Untracote and they chip up rather easily also. IMO if you want to paint, covering the wood with 3/4 oz glass cloth and epoxy resin is a much better way to go.
+1
Old 04-27-2014, 02:47 PM
  #40  
jester_s1
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Yep. Polyester film is not made to be painted on. I've done it once, made some stripes on the rudders of a foam park flyer. The rudders were built up and covered, while the rest of the plane was EPO foam. I scuffed it with steel wool too, and it held up ok. I could scratch the paint right off with my nail if I wanted to, but the rudders didn't see any wear. There's no way I'd do a whole plane that way though. If Steve has some pics of planes he's done with an all over paint job on top of polyester film I'd like to see it. Some data on the weight gain would be handy too, because I can't imagine a plane done that way coming out light.
Old 04-27-2014, 03:03 PM
  #41  
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Here's another interesting tid bit. Ive called topflite and great planes companies. talked to their air support people. they say its fine to repaint a plane; however, I did not hear a rock solid voice at the other end. it was more like they were guessing on the paint, and I expected far better information. im going to give the guys at radio south a call on Monday... just wondering.... best, orion 4455.....
Old 04-27-2014, 03:15 PM
  #42  
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I wouldn't bet the farm on any advise given by GP tech support. The guys on the other end of the phone do not use the products they support, rather they read off tech sheets. Last time I called I ended up educating the tech.
Old 04-27-2014, 04:57 PM
  #43  
Gray Beard
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I only tried to paint over momo on an open bay wing once. Even with scuffing the covering it looked pretty good but when the covering sagged some of the paint came off, when I tried to tighten up the covering with an iron the paint flaked off. If I'm going to paint a plane I either glass or use Tex covering. If it's a sheeted plane then I glass, if open bay I use the Tex. It's also very easy to just use colored Tex covering and pin stripe but I do that because my painting skills are lacking and I take the easy sure way out. Some would say the chickens way but I'm good with that too.
Old 04-27-2014, 06:03 PM
  #44  
jester_s1
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Tech support can range from terrible to excellent depending on who they've hired to work the phones and how long they've been there. Can this be done? Sure. Is it the best way? No. So many guys call in to tech support with their minds already made up what they are going to do that the agents get complacent in offering you good advice.
Old 05-01-2014, 05:47 AM
  #45  
orion4455
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HELLO TOM! QUICK QUESTION: I was wondering if it would be appropriate to use a Ryobi cat corner sander to scuff the monokote, or if you think it would be too heavy and gouge the monokote. is sanding by hand the better option. I just thought I would be sanding both the fiberglass fuse and wing tips and the monokote over sheet balsa on the wings. any thoughts here? thanks orion....
Old 05-02-2014, 03:29 AM
  #46  
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I think a sander would be too much. Just a light sanding, enough to remove the shine, is what you are looking for. I'd use something like a 400, wet/dry paper.
Old 05-02-2014, 04:53 AM
  #47  
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OK. I thought the sander might be too heavy. thank you.... orion

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