Getting ready to paint my TF Corsair and I have no clue what paint sprayer/compressor to purchase or where to buy it other than Home Depot or Lowes hardware Stores. Is this fine? Also, where would I locate the right color for the Corsair?
Thanks
Pat

Your friendly neighbourhood LHS

Can I get the paint here as well? How do I know the exact color for the Corsair?
Pat

For a spray gun, get a "Detail" gun for large areas. Make sure you match the SCFM rating on the gun to the compressor. I would suggest using a HVLP system (High Volume Low Pressure ). You will have a lot less overspray. I also find an airbrush is VERY handy. especially for smaller jobs.

You can get paint at the LHS (or the LHS can get it in for you) .

I suggest bringing a sample of the color you want to a paint store and have them color match it. A quart of latex runs about $8 - $10. Latex will cover just about anything.

I add 1 - 1 1/2 caps of FloTrol to an UNDILUTED quart of paint, then dilute it with water, not windshield washer fluid. Windshield washer fluid has a tendancy to tint the paint, especially light colors. You should spray latex at 25 - 30 psi. If it doesn't spray properly at 25 psi, increase the pressure to 30 psi. If it still doesn't spray right, go back to 25 psi and adjust the thinness of the paint.

Practice on a piece of glass to get it right.

MOST latex takes 7 - 10 days to cure, but can take as long as 30 days. To check for curing, press your finger FIRMLY on a hard part of the plane (the cowl is usually a good place). If it leaves a fingerprint it is not cured. The fingerprint will disappear as the paint cures.

You will need to clearcoat the latex to make it fuel resistant. After it is cured, I use two coats of a WATER BASE polyurethane. The water base will not yellow with age and is resistant to 10% (or more) nitro. You can vary the degree of "shine" by using the different glosses - satin, semi-gloss or gloss.

For masking use 3M BLUE masking tape. Make sure you get the "60 Day Safe Release". It will not pull the underlying paint, yet hold well. The 60 day has a paper appearance, not textured, and the plastic wrapper will have a "2 Dot" adhesiveness rating.

Hope this helps.

You could always paint it with a spray can..... if you don't want to make a major investment in compressor/gun/etc. Either use fuel proof paint, or paint with anything and use fuel proof clearcloat. Just test clear and paint to make sure they're compatible. That way you can clear over your decals as well..

Andy

Usually it's a good idea to learn how to paint and what kind of equipment to purchase BEFORE you're painting your pride and joy.

I suggest a good general purpose compressor - not an airbrush compressor. I second the detail gun.

I also suggest you build a Sig Kougar, glass and paint it and put your Corsair aside until you feel like you know what you're doing.

More about Painting Tools

Also, check out Klass Kote paints. They're excellent and extremely fuel proof.

- Paul

Here's another tip. If you use a different type of paint for handpainting details and you are painting over paint that you sprayed on, make sure the two brands are compatible. I learned the hard way last night while trying to paint the dummy engines on my fiberglass Cub cowl. I was painting Aerogloss over LustreKote and the Aerogloss seems to attack the LustreKote, making a runny, yellow-black mess. It seems to be OK if I let it dry and paint over it again, but it is less than perfect.

-Scott