No alternatives, so this morning I sprayed clear on the body and control surfaces. My string of bad luck with painting is still with me. I got the clear paint mixed, pieces prepped, wait 15 minutes for the paint to "merge", turn on the compressor and the spray booth, and shoot a test spot. Nothing. Nada. No Paint. *** ?????

OK, pull the sprayer apart, clean the pickup tube, carefully put the cup out of harm's way, and look at the business end. Seems I didn't clean it well enough after the last spray, and there's a blue plug over the needle.

OK, take the business end apart, being careful not to let springs and washers go "sproing" into the abyss, and examine the nozzle with magnifiers. Sure enough, clogged. I just happen to have some fine music wire, and poke it through the opening, dislodging some crud. So I figure I gotta really clean it up, so attack all the buildup with a combination of toothpicks, wire and Xacto#11. All the while remembering that the clear EPOXY paint has a shelf life of about an hour......

So, get it cleaned up, put the pickup tube in the thinner and pull the trigger. Eureka! a full spray pattern rewards me.

OK, back to work. I start to spray the clear, and notice some blue dust particles in the clear over the white. S#$%t, the residue from the cleaning out is spitting through the nozzle randomly. Nothing to do at this point, so I continue to spray. When the paint dries, I will pick off the errant flecks.

At least I can start to hinge, radio, engine and landing gear the plane. Knowing I will take it to the VR/CS meet Oxford PA on Oct 11 has really put the fire to my posterior.

One night this week I will do the wing in the garage. It should prove interesting. Will the paint curse go or stay?


Photo 1 - shiny!
Photo 2 - blue fleck near T/E
Photo 3 - Blue spatter near the center. I know it's small, but it looks huge to me.