I have heard that Rustoleum is fuel proof. Has anyone had any experience using Rustoleum from the spay cans to finish their glow engine powered models?

I have heard in the past that it was,but I tried it and it wasn't.

I think that some is and some isn't. I used Rustoleum clear on a plane. What a beautiful finish it gave. The beauty wore off after the first flight. Now after I bring it home after a day at the field I clean it with mineral spirits to get the gum off.

But, I tested and finished a cowl with Rustoleum black and it has held up great. So buyer beware! Test your color carefully before applying to a plane!

mcarleno,
If the plane flys good, the beauty is that you can always wash it down and spray a fuelproof clear over the non-fuelproof stuff. The reason I make this suggestion is that I had the same problem and for some reason it took me forever to realize that there wasn't anything final about "the finish coat".

Now, all we need is the information about what clear paint actually is fuelproof.

You may wish to also look on the Composites, Fabrication and Repair board for the topic entitled "What paints are fuelproof?" http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3555845/tm.htm.

This thread discusses the fuelproof paint issue. Also, the link to Klasskote http://klasskote.com is a valuable one.

Hope that this helps.

Rustoleum is highly fuel resistant in solid colors -- not metallics or transparent. It also depends on the amount of nitro that you use -- high nitro content (>10%) will result in some softening. At zero-10%, it is pretty good.

A lot of these paints are fuel proof if you wait for them to fully cure. As I recall for Rustolium, it takes 2 weeks! Dry to the touch doesn't do it.

I have to backup what Ed states about allowing paints to properly cure. Recently I attempted to apply a clear coat (XIM 900 Solvent Based Acrylic) to my Gee Wheel pants and to the cowl panted in enamel. The application to the wheel pants was done after a period of two weeks after the enamel application. It was a perfect finish. The cowl application however, was a mess. The cowl had only set for 7 days before I attempted to spray it with clear. After removing the mess, and repainting the cowl, I allowed it to cure for two week, and ureka, another beatiful finish.

I tell this story because I believe the model feuls will have a simular effect on the paints. My plane will be completed in the next week or two and I will have a more definitive answer for you then.

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Instead of the usual "some colors are, some aren't" replies, I think it would be more constructive to list the colors that worked for us.

Flat black, yellow and red are fuel resistant. I have these on a plane with 10% nitro content fuel and I've had no gumminess issues. No clear coat.


(on another note, Krylon Acrylic clear spray was not fuel resistant for me - it became all gummy and difficult to clean after a few flights)

You must let Rustoleum cure for a long time, it may take as long as 30 days or more before it is fuel proof. Moderate heat will help to decrease the cure time.