Just finished putting the bonder coat on the F86.I must say it has been an experience like none i have ever had .I must agree with B.V., you have to practice with this stuff.I have removed and reapplied the first stage multiple times, only to become more impressed with the look.Practice,Practice!!!!!Well just thought i'd share a picture and now on with the clear coat! Scott

Hey, once you get it done, post the tips! I have to do mine too this spring.

Hey, looks like you have chosen exactly the same colour scheme as I have! I am a few days behind you, just finishing levelling the gloss black today and getting ready to mask up to apply the colours prior to applying the metal kote. I have had a nightmare of 2 months of problems trying to get the 2-pack acrylic black to work but eventually found the cause of the trouble and it's lovely now. Did you have any problems applying the metal kote itself, have you any tips for us?

Harry

Hi H,

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Should you decide to do a club-night talk about your Metalkote finish (big hint!) how about an invite?

Cheers,

Dick

(Edited 'cos I can't spell!)

Will do Dick! I have done some test sprays of the metal kote on the underside of flaps and ailerons and it looks awesome, nearly blinded myself when it caught a direct reflection of the light!

In case it is of help to anyone else, the problem I encountered was contamination getting into the paint, making it ping away from the surface in little spots like a really bad rash. It has taken a lot of work and bad language to find the cause. I use medical syringes to measure the quantities of paint, hardener and thinner, because of my job I have a plentiful supply of brand new syringes. I discovered eventually that syringes have a tiny amount of lubricant (feels like silicon or ptfe) on the rubber plunger and though it is a tiny amount of course it contaminates the paint and makes life hell. Had I used old, already used and cleaned syringes I would be weeks ahead of where I am now. You live and learn.

H

Looks Great Scott! Let me know when you will do the first flight. I would like to drive up and watch ( I love F86's!).


Gene

Yes Harry I did exactly the same with syringes from a local farming distributor. Cheap and a good idea so I thought for mixing.

Wrong big time, like you it took me a month to fix the problem, but I did add a few new words to my vocab. Hope yours and my experience prevents someone else hitting the same problem.
Words for people who search on this problem

Orange peel, silicon contamination, major paint problem

Hope this helps someone else

Ian

H,

Have PMd you!

Dick

im covering part of my Rookie with Flite-Metal .. it looks a bit easier to aply than the metalkote ..... just stick it on, with not much prep work ...



Wojtek

metal coat made real easy:

1]prep surfaces and apply black basecoat
2]apply metalcoat
3]apply a very thin coat of whatever clear you use
4]when fully dry, lightly scuff with 2000 grit
5]apply trim colors and markings
6]re-clear
7]go fly

The metal kote instructions say to apply the other colours first and metal kote last, because the metal kote may not adhere well enough to stop it being pulled off by the masking tape. Did you find that masking tape did not cause any damage?

Applying metal-kote over base coat black which has a satin finish seems to give the metal-kote better adhesion than putting it over a gloss surface. There is no loss of the shine or brilliance of the metal-kote. Sealing it with a single coat of your clear as opposed to the bonding clear which is supplied protects it so you can handle it more "normally" to include application of trim colors, decals, rivets, etc. In doing it this way (on 5 scale jets), I have not pulled the first speck of metal-kote when unmasking. Don't forget to gently scuff the cured clear with 2000 grit before moving ahead with the trim colors, etc.

Just finished the wing and had to put it together to get the full effect. I applied the metal koak per BV's instructions and had no issues to speak of except the prep work must be smooth.Looks good even if I did it myself!hopefully the decal set will arrive this week.Scott

Looks great!