I was wondering if anyone has used Flecto Varithane to fuel proof the inside cabin/tank area of a wood model instead of the 30 minute epoxy and alcahol mix. The Flecto Varithane Pro states it holds up to most chemicals can save time and money if used for fuelproofing over the epoxy/alcahol mix. I still would use the 30 minute epoxy brushed on to glue in blocks and strengthen the firewall and corners of the inside of the cabin.
Would this work or would the Varithane gum up if touched by Glow fuel???

I have used Varathane Diamond Floor Finish waterbased poly-u for fuel proofing cabins and fire wall areas, glassing, finishing flight boxes and fuel totes. I have yet to have a problem.

Works for me.

Dan

I sometimes spray Varathane Satin Finish over my ink lines, etc. on the finished, painted model, and it holds up well to normal fuel exposure. I believe it would also be fuel proof inside the tank compartment, etc.

This may be poor advice, but after some 28 years and 113 RC models built, I have quit fuel proofing the tank compartment, since I have only had one tank spring a slight leak in that time. But with the reputation of some of the tanks that come with today's ARFs, you may want to continue to fuel proof the inside.

Clair

Yes your right on that one - cheap fuel tanks and fuel tubing that slips off sends the fuel everywhere. I have had that problem with expensive ARF's not just cheap ones. Tanks and engine mounts are all cheap with almost any ARF. I wish the manufacturers would spend $5 more on these items - throw in better linkages also and have better planes. They can add the extra $5 to the price of the plane.

The Flecto varithane Pro oil based should be better than the Diamond. On the resistance chart the Pro looks like it can hold up to chemicals better than the Diamond. We have a guy at our field that uses the diamond also and he thinks it's great. He may have not sprung any leaks though and it's good to get some feedback before doing my plane.

How about a gasser. Will the gas eat through the Varithane?

If I'm not mistaken, Varithane was once marketed to the model industry as Perfect Paint. I used it to paint a Midwest Strikemaster in the late seventies, early eighties. A good tough paint.

It seems to be the perfect coating. I don't like to waste my 30 minute epoxy to make a coating mix. I am going to put together a 1/4 scale 300 extra if I use the 30 minuite epoxy mix I will use up alot of the stuff but the Varithane will last a long time. It would also make a perfect outside coating for a wood plane. But is it Gasoline proof!!