WOW - im confused. Ive read tons of threads regarding paint to be used on cowls and they are just all over the place. Im going to just keep this simple:

1) If I was to us an Enamel spray paint, should I clear coat it to protect it from glow? If yes, with what?

2) What should I be using for primer if anything specific is needed?

Im basically looking to paint a cowl using aerosol cans found locally ( Home depot, Lowes or auto parts store).


Lacquer, epoxy, enamel, latex, fuel proof, not, compatible, not, poly, - CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have just gotten back in the hobby after a eight year lay off do I know your problem I am building a spitfire, what do you do about paint. here is my solution..Paint with testors spray paints or model masters spray paint they have all colors.

when dry,. spray with lustercote flat clear to fuel proof, they make a lustercote shinny finnsh also in clear.


N241mz

I've painted and or repaired and painted a number of cowls, that have worked out VERY well.

I normally use a Krylon ( acrylic ) primer coat, then a coat or three of normal Krylon spray paints.

I have not had any problems with flaking, fuel dissolving the paint, cracking, etc.

Have you covered this with a clear? If so what type?

Krylon works well with no clear coat, however the aluminum and chrome colors are not fuel proof and will discolor with raw and hot fuel. I have not tryed any kind of clear coat yet as I am not sure what is compatible. As long as you are not using those colors it should work great.

sand cowl with fine wet and dry sandpaper and wipe down with panel wipe (methelated spirits will do), get automotive aerosol paint primer and give a couple of very light coats, sand off any runs between coats (you should be aiming to get no runs if you are your coats are to heavy),let dry fully and sand lightly then panel wipe, and then spray with automotive aerosol colour of choice, use light coats and let dry and wet/dry sand any inperfections between coats.

automotive paint is fuel proof but you need to let it dry in a warm place for a few days to totally go off, a clear coat of automotive paint can be added to bring out some colours but is not needed.

Basic rules I use are sand to key, lots of light coats (patience is required) and let the primer dry fully before top coat and let the top coat dry fully before handling and fitting cowl.

Automotive paint is great, loads of colour choices.

Maybe there is better products ot there or better ways of doing things but this is what works for me.

I've had my best luck just painting with whatever color I wanted, and then clear coating with Clear Finishing Epoxy. Some finishing epoxies are amber in color and will tint the color, so I just use the clear epoxies. They provide a very high gloss, durable, fuel proof finish, can be applied with rubber gloves on your hands, and will flow out nicely and fill any imperfections. No nasty paint fumes to worry about, so I can apply them in my basement.

Brad

Yup.

One key thing with Krylon is to give it a LOT of time to dry.... over a week before you fly the plane.

I have not applied clear coat over the paint on mine, when I've used gloss Krylon, the end result looked pretty smooth, provided I applied light even coats.