Hi

I have just started to paint my 1/5 Hawk and I am dealing with some minor issues:

I have followed the following approach:

Sanded the all airframe with 1000 grit wet
Sprayed a 2K primer very thinned for better adesion
Sprayed a 1K acrilic base paint (not water based) and then apply water decals
Sprayed a 2K acrilic clear lacquer

The results are great, but I am not very happy and stoped after this part because the 2K clear lacquer is very thick: the issue is that the detailed rivets and surface details almost disappear and this is due to the thickness of the lacquer (not very clear in the photo). I am using 2K Spies Hacker automotive lacquer (high solids) and the manufacturer recomends not to use more than 20% thinner.

I guess that I am about to change clear lacquer and would like to know what do you expert painters use. I would like to use a 2K lacquer, so please no feed back for 1K

The base paint I am using is like automotive but it is not waterbased, it is like the old automotive technique of acrilic 1K base paint (no longer in use due to environmental regulations).

Maybe it is wise to use 2K polyurethane as a base colour and then a very thinned 2K clear coat. What do you think?

I have read this thread http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_95..._1/key_/tm.htm , but LGM is sparying the clear as I am (no excessive thinner), but I guess the firebird does not have rivet detail.....

Links to technical articles welcomed....

Best regards

Nuno

Nobody paints jets???

Come on, there as to be some crazy people like me outhere....

The upside of painting myself is that in the future I won't have to worry about matching the paint anymore, that is if I ever end painting it myself.

I have made some tests and seems that 50% thinner will work fine, but I really would like to have some imputs.....

Regards

Nuno

Nuno, I use PPG auto paint and use the clear coat they produce. I never worry about the thinning that I need to get the paint to flow properly. I thin it as much as I need to get a good wet coat that flows well and isn't real thick. Thinning 50% or more has not been a problem. If you are concerned, spray a sample piece and see how it cures. I'll bet you will be pleased with the results. The manufacturers are assuming you are painting a car and are not worried about weight. They want a good heavy coat that will stand up to the weather and physical abuse.

Mate,

In my book, if your details are dissappering away then that is becuase you are either applying too much paint or applying it too thick, i.e. the same thing. I concur entirely with Square Nozzle, I thin as much as is required to get the paint to flow the way i need it too.

Thanks
dave

I guess you are painting a scale jet with rivets and surface details. In Ralles article in the jetpower magazine he tells us to use 50% thinner for the clear coat, this helps in the rivets not disappearing and you will not get a shiny finish which makes your scale jet look like a toy. He also tells us to prime the airplane with a one pack primer and only use the 2 pack primer on the seam lines and places which are not perfect on the surface.

Chaitanya.<br type="_moz" />

Sorry, missed the 1/5 scale hawk.