Painting SolarTex
 

I need to paint some areas of SolarTex covering and need to know what type of spray paint to use. The TopFlight paint does not come in the correct color.

HUDnOTOW

RE: Painting SolarTex
 

My current build is a L-19 bird dog, covered in Solartex, primed and sprayed with Rustoleum Gloss white, red and black colors. Since PU yellows, still undecided on the overcoat for it. I don't use a spray gun just rattle cans, Rustoleum has a lot of colors that usually match, other brands work as well over Rustoleum automotive primer. Just always make a test sample to be sure. Still looking for a fuelproof overcoat that is readily available and will not yellow with age.

RE: Painting SolarTex
 

Hud-n-otow,

I second the Rustoleum. If you get the automotive rust preventive it is almost completely fuelproof. Burned fuel will not be an issue. I have painted many models with this and have never had a problem. You can get their clear coat also. I am going to star havung an auto body shop supply store mix wehat ever collors I want and find out from them what clear coat would be completely fuelproof. They will mix the paint and then put in an spray can just like Rustoleum. I want exact matches now. I just started building Scale Warbirds and want them to look right. Of course they will be covered in fiberglass.

Godd luck,

Gibbs

RE: Painting SolarTex
 

In a rattle can, I have found these clearcoats do not yellow (price from high to low) :

Ultracote clear
Dupli-Color Acrylic Clear (gloss only available - auto parts/supply houses )
Krylon Acrylic Clear (gloss and satin )

Do a search on my name in the tips forum. I have done some testing on clear coats and put the results up.

Hope this helps.

RE: Painting SolarTex
 

campy-thanks for the info-will give the Krylon or dupli-color a try. Its strange that the Krylon clear is fuel proof and most of their colors are definitely not fuel proof.

RE: Painting SolarTex
 

I am building a warbird which is partly covered with Solartex. I have two questions for you. Did you prime the fabric before painting and if so what primer did you use. Also where did you find an auto paint suppy store that will mix colors into a spray can? Thanks
Julian

RE: Painting SolarTex
 

Another alternative is latex paint; look through the color chips, find the color you want, have it mixed. It works great on Solartex, no priming needed, just a clean, oil-free cover. Any of the clearcoats Campy mentioned work well, and I am a fan of LustreKote clear. It goes over latex with no problems, just give the latex a week to cure (it shrinks a bit as it dries). I painted a couple of planes, including this DR-1 with latex on Solartex, with LustreKote clear to fuelproof it. The Fokker is covered with Natural and White Solartex.

RE: Painting SolarTex
 

My 1/3 scale Hostetler Super Decathlon was covered with white Solartex and painted with Rustoleum. The yellow was a mix of Sun Yellow and Pumpkin Orange. I removed the gas from the rattle cans and mixed the paint. Then I used an automotive touch up gun. The orange was straight from the rattle can. I did not use a primer and have not had a bit of problem from the paint pealing in 3 years of flying. Rustoleum clear gloss was used over all.