I'm getting ready to paint a Lyle Larson Vendetta and I have a couple questions.

Are you guys priming over the white gel coated wing, or just scuffing and painting?

And, how do you mask off, or paint over the aileron hinge tape on the bottom of the wing? On my last one, we painted over it, and it started to crack and peel almost immediately?

Thanks

Dave

Dave,

My 2 cents' worth -- based on a Lyle Larson Bird of Prey, which I believe would have the same gel-coat as the Vendetta. I scuffed the gel-coat by wet-sanding with #320 carborundum (wet-or-dry) paper, then shot the color right over it. So far, so good.

Of course, I did use LILAC paint. Your mileage may vary.

The aileron gap seals appear to be Mylar; my paint didn't stick to it either. On my next one I'll just mask off that part with a strip of tape.

I'm leaving for Phoenix tomorrow morning -- see ya there?

DHG

The gel coat of the bird is similar to that of the Vendetta. I'll do the same as you suggested without re-priming.

Taping over the tape has me concerned though. What type of tape would you recommend?? And how would you do it.

No LiLac here, same paint scheme as my avatar.

Dave:
On planes that will get clear I sand the “Gel Coat�, actually some kind of paint, with 200 grit on a jitter bug sander. If I wasn’t going to clear it I’d probably use 800 wet or dry. The only other prep for the wing, not including the belly pan, is going over the leading edge with spackle to fill any pin holes. No primer just paint. I only paint the area’s requiring the current color. If the plane is going to be red and black and I’m painting red I only paint area that is going to be red. I sand each overlap area with 200 grit to remove any dust bumps prior to laying on the next color. (so when I sand the next color it doesn’t sand through) After all color is applied I sand entire plane with 200 grit and touch up prior to clearing, then clear, color sand and buff. This works for me, keep in mind I don’t use base coat clear coat, I use regular paint for everything.

I paint over the gap tape but as you said the paint doesn’t stick well. If I was going to tape it I would use 3M ¼ inch fine line blue or green tape.

Barry

Dave,

What Barry said.

The 3M green is a low-tack, very clean tape that will work well for those Mylar aileron gap covers. But I wouldn't run out and buy a roll of it just for that -- any moderately low-tack tape such as hardware store masking tape or black electricians' tape would be fine. (Lay it out on some waxed paper and cut it with a razor & straightedge if it's too wide for your aileron strips.)

For trim colors, where you may have curves and certainly need a good seal, there's nothing better than the 3M blue, 1/8" wide. Lay out the edges with that, then follow behind/over it with 3/4" wide masking tape and Saran Wrap or butcher paper for really large areas. I like the Saran Wrap because it clings to itself -- you can wrap it & bunch it around your tailfeathers, for example.

D.

Barry / Duane, thanks for your answers. I have some of the green fine line tape, and will use it over the aileron tape to see how it works. It can't be any worse than having the paint crack and peal off the tape over time.

I've been using PPG Deltron Base Coat Clear Coat on these planes, which works pretty good, its just a little on the spendy side.

I recently tried some epoxy paint called KlassKote, I'm told its the old K&B HobbyPoxy / SuperPoxy. This stuff worked pretty darn good, and doesn't cost nearly what the PPG does. I think you can buy a quart for under $30. I will be switching over to this, once my PPG white and clear are gone. You can check them out here :

http://www.klasskote.com/

There local to me also, which is very nice.

Dav

I can't believe you guys are getting away without using primer! That's great as long as it sticks. How much wieght do you think you are saving?

Klaskote!!!! Yeah!! I wonder if their catalyst and reducer will work with my remaining stock of K&B?

I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure it would from what I've been told.

Give them a call at 612-243-1234

Dave

DN, I only prime in the spots where it needs it and paint over the rest. A light scuffing is all you'll need on the gell coat,,, as for the tape that comes with the plane, on one of my Ashleys I pealed off the tape and tossed it away. Then I painted it. I then cut out small strips of monocoat trim tape and applied it. The plane has been thru a few Races with no worries.


BV

Does anyone know what exactly this tape is, and where to buy it?

It would be nice to pull the tape out, paint, and then re-apply new tape in its place?

I think I asked Lyle about this once, and the problem he had when he shipped the tape seperate was that people couldn't apply it properly. I suppose if I had a whole roll (or 2) I could figure it out.

Any ideas where to buy this stuff.

Dave,

I ordered it from [link=http://www.nesail.com/]Northeast Sailplane Products[/link]. Here is the specific URL for the product: [link=http://www.nesail.com/gapseal.html]Hinge Tape and Gap Seal[/link].

Northeast Sailplane Products, Inc.
948 Hercules Drive, Suite 12
Colchester, VT 05446 USA
802-655-7700

Good luck!

edit=added mailing address and phone info.

John,

I have some of that tape from Northeast sail, and I don't think its the same stuff. Its similar, but I don't think the mylar is nearly as thick.

Dave

Dave;
Might it be the Prather "radio box sealing tape? Its clear, fairly thick and dissappears when you press it down firmly. Ive used that to seal aileron hinge gaps on quickies and hinge glider ailerond and elevators too.
Jim

RCC7017 Battery Strapping Tape Racer's Choice Brand $4.10 at http://www.leisure-time.com/rcc.htm

This is what RV Racing supplies with the Miss Ashley II Q40

Drew

Thanks Drew,

I ordered 5 rolls to check it out. Comes to roughly $5.00 per roll.

Dave

Drew,

How thick is that tape?

I am currently using .007 thickness clear mylar for my quickie hinges gap, but would like something thinner like .002-.004 if such a thing exist. Please confirm?

Thanks!

Performance Specialties sells "Control surface sealing tape" it is 0.002" thick. Make sure you ask for the correct stuff. They also sell the "100 mph tape" which is 0.005 thick

www.pspec.com

Ed S