painting over flex hinges
12-16-2004 | 05:51 PM
#1
painting over flex hinges
I have a quick question for you experts out there. How do you paint over the "flex" hinges that are part of the actual layup of the model? I'm painting my Eurosport and I'm wondering what, if anything, I need to do to keep the paint from getting into the flexible hinge material. What I'm worried about is the paint soaking into the material and making it harder to flex, or worse yet, making it brittle so that it cracks and the surface departs the airframe...[X(]
Any ideas, or do I even need to worry about it?
Thanks guys!
Any ideas, or do I even need to worry about it?
Thanks guys!
12-16-2004 | 06:02 PM
#2
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RE: painting over flex hinges
I'm no expert but asked this question before to some pretty good paint guys and the response was "nothing, just get'er done". Interesting to see if anyone has anything to say about this. One painter I talked to about this recommended putting an "elasticizer" in the paint. I know you can get this from Dupont, but don't know if you can get it from PPG. The elasticizer prevented the paintjob from being brittle. My F-15 was painted with it and you can pop the sides of the fiberglass in with no effect on the paint.
12-16-2004 | 07:37 PM
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From: PORT CHARLOTTE,
FL
RE: painting over flex hinges
ORIGINAL: rhklenke
I have a quick question for you experts out there. How do you paint over the "flex" hinges that are part of the actual layup of the model? I'm painting my Eurosport and I'm wondering what, if anything, I need to do to keep the paint from getting into the flexible hinge material. What I'm worried about is the paint soaking into the material and making it harder to flex, or worse yet, making it brittle so that it cracks and the surface departs the airframe...[X(]
Any ideas, or do I even need to worry about it?
Thanks guys!
I have a quick question for you experts out there. How do you paint over the "flex" hinges that are part of the actual layup of the model? I'm painting my Eurosport and I'm wondering what, if anything, I need to do to keep the paint from getting into the flexible hinge material. What I'm worried about is the paint soaking into the material and making it harder to flex, or worse yet, making it brittle so that it cracks and the surface departs the airframe...[X(]
Any ideas, or do I even need to worry about it?
Thanks guys!
12-17-2004 | 10:16 AM
#7
RE: painting over flex hinges
ORIGINAL: Jeremy Ferguson
In the past I have sharpened a wax crayon to a point and drawn the hingline in, the paint will just slightly stay away from the crayon, no chance of cracking then
In the past I have sharpened a wax crayon to a point and drawn the hingline in, the paint will just slightly stay away from the crayon, no chance of cracking then
I was thinking of the grease with a toothpick method, but I think your idea is the best, thanks Jeremy! BTW, my painting won't be quite the same as yours...
Bob
12-18-2004 | 10:03 AM
#8
RE: painting over flex hinges
Also try 1/16" pinstripe or fineline tape then remove when you're done. But Sean's idea is probably the best, "Git 'er dun!"
Stay away from the grease/vaseline idea.
Stay away from the grease/vaseline idea.
12-18-2004 | 11:53 AM
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From: Raleigh, NC
RE: painting over flex hinges
Bob,
As "bcovish" said, I did nothing at all on my Kingcat and it worked just great. I used a PPG basecoat/clearcoat system and had no problems whatsoever with cracking, etc.
P.S. I was up at NASA Langley this past week on X-43 simulation business and visited the Tom Strohm to transfer a 10X program with his DataSafe cord. It looks like the GTM project is progressing fine.....
Robert Vess
As "bcovish" said, I did nothing at all on my Kingcat and it worked just great. I used a PPG basecoat/clearcoat system and had no problems whatsoever with cracking, etc.
P.S. I was up at NASA Langley this past week on X-43 simulation business and visited the Tom Strohm to transfer a 10X program with his DataSafe cord. It looks like the GTM project is progressing fine.....
Robert Vess
12-18-2004 | 01:22 PM
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RE: painting over flex hinges
If you are using a two component paint, reduse the hardener to 60%-70%, and allow the paint to harden 24 hours moore before touching it.
Remember to keep the temp up.
Your hingeline will be invisible, and it works fine. I assume you mean a all - over sheet hinge..?
If you are afraid about the reduced amount of hardener, have no worry, the trick is twenty years old.
This method is widely used in car painting, when it comes to soft spoilers and so on.
I surely would go for this one...
Gudmund
Remember to keep the temp up.
Your hingeline will be invisible, and it works fine. I assume you mean a all - over sheet hinge..?
If you are afraid about the reduced amount of hardener, have no worry, the trick is twenty years old.
This method is widely used in car painting, when it comes to soft spoilers and so on.
I surely would go for this one...
Gudmund
