I've painted a few planes over the years, and I have used glass and I have also elected not to use glass. I think the main part of the surface prep is to seal the wood with a clear dope, or clear polyurethane. I use clear coat (clear polyurethane) to seal my wood. If you are going to glass the wood, you can also use the clear coat paint to lay down your glass.

By applying just a couple of coats, it seals the surface of the balsa so that you can apply a filling primer. I like to use grey auto lacquer primer. It can be brushed on or sprayed. Once it is dry, less than an hour, you can sand 90 percent of it off and you will see the grey primer in the balsa pores. Dry sanding with 400 grit paper works fine. I would then spray on two more coats of lacquer primer and let dry for a couple of hours, then wet sand lightly with 400 grit paper. After that, it's time to start applying the color coats.

I used to use Super Poxy until it was discontinued. Now I use the Automotive base coat/clear coat system.

The base coats go on flat, and are easy to spray and it doesn't take a lot of paint for good coverage. The clear coats goes on wet. And if you get a run, you can sand out with 800, then 1000, and then 1500 wet, and then buff it out for a wet look shine. If you are good enough not to get a run, you can leave it as is for a nice shiny finish.

Now I don't have an unlimited budget like some people do, so I have to make the most of what paint I buy. I usually only purchase Red, White, Blue, yellow and Black base coat paint. With those colors, I mix them to obtain the colors I want to use.

For instance, I like Cub Yellow so I mix a little red in yellow to get the cub yellow I need. A little black with blue will give me the royal blue I need. You get the picture.

However, That's just my way. Everyone has their way of doing things and they should continue using what works best for them.

A word of warning: If you decide to use auto paint, don't rely on the sales clerk at the paint supply store for information on how to use the paint. He only sells it. Ask a painter at a Auto Body shop.

Frank