Ok I'm looking for some help. I've got a P-38 from wing manufacturing and I'd really like to paint it but I'm trying to find out if I have to silk and dope or glass it before painting? Is a sending sealer and primer enough? Also I'd like to know what kind of paint you all would suggest, spray paint, air brush paint I've also seen a lot about car paints to paint them. So lets hear what you've got say. thanks very much.

fz,

It all depends on what quality you are after - good looks, light weight, long lasting. You could just brush a coat or 2 of colored dope on and go fly. Would be very light, wouldn't look so great or last too long. If you want lasting good looks you have to do something to harden and stabilize the soft balsa surface. This is why fiberglass base is used. The heaviest solution but no limit to how good looking and long lasting you can make it. The old silk and dope, or now days modern polyester fabric like Sig Koverall and polyurethane or epoxy paints. Not a rock hard surface but does the main job of stabilizing the wood grain. Wood grain expands and contracts with changes in the weather. This type of finish is a great compromise. Light weight and long lasting.

Multiflyer

thanks for the advise so how do you wrap the glass cloth around curves like the wing tips and other tricky areas with out folds and bumps?

Here is a link to using silkspan and waterbase polyurethane. SIG Koverall can also be done the same way.

FWIW - The BEST finishes I have ever seen have ALWAYS been on U/C planes.

Bradley Walker's Finishing Article http://www.egpworld.com/ultrahobby/t...INGARTICLE.htm

If you use 3/4 ounce cloth, you will be amazed at the compound curves it will conform to once wet with your epoxy or water based polycrylic. I'm working on my first fiberglass job - a Top Flite 182. I used Campy's described method of polycrylic. Works fantastic! and is easy to clean up any mess, as it is water based. Start out on something smmall, like control surfaces, and work your way up from there.