Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Well.. considering your color choices.. that might not be a bad thing either :-D

How's the Super flying? Gonna get a King Cat?

BTW.. this post was nothing more than a shameless bump to get this thread moved back up top.. The information here is really worth keeping.

-Doug

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

hahahah, to funny, but thanks for liking it enough to bump it :D

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Ok, I know I promised the last installment a long time ago, but I kind of forgot, I delivered the canopy to Dean (well, we met half way :) ) And once out of sight, it was kind of out of mind as well.

Anyway, the last thing that was left for the canopy, was simply to paint the inside, since I didn't do it the way I normally would, I'll just describe it.

First, here is how I would normally do it.....

1. Mask off the outside of the model to protect it from overspray. Be sure to tape off all holes where overspray can run through.

2. next, I like to take whatever color I want the inside to be (usually a dark grey or something that will cover well) and mix about 30% of that color into some clear. If you are using poly urethanes such as PPG or RM Diamont etc, and using Base/clear finishing, this will work fine. But please, make sure the paints are compatible. Createx will NOT mix with Poly's, you can spray over them no problem, but they won't mix together.

3. Spray the inside, I prefer to use an airbrush for this since you can reach inside the model further. Spray into all the hard to reach area's first so you're not getting your hands, or gun all stuck into the fresh sprayed paint.

4. Let it cure up, peel off your mask, and go enjoy your new paint job :D


Now, here is what I did this time, it's actually a bit easier.

1. Do the same masking ritual as before, mask off all the outside.

2. I used a Fuel Tank sealant. It is a medium grey color, and designed for automotive tanks, you are supposed to dump the entire can into the tank and swish it around. However, it also brushes not to badly. So, I simply brushed the whole inside with this stuff.


The only real reason for painting the inside, other than it pretties up the inside, is that you are now sealing the fiberglass from the inside. Should you have a fuel leak, it won't have the chance of seeping through the fiberglass and damaging your paintjob from the inside.


Well, that is about all I guess, I hope this tutorial has helped you, and if anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask!

Jeremy

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Great job Jeremy. This thread and others like it is what this forum should be used for. Not all the BS which I'm ashamed to say that sometimes I get caught up in.

Keep us the good work.

painting tips
 

Me too....... :D

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

glad to see this thread hasn't just died :D Dean says the Hotcat is all together now, hopefully he'll put up some pictures of it soon!!

Book marked this thread!
 

Man Jeremyyou do OUTSTANDING Work!!! maybe we can work a deal :D

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Jeremy,

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Jeremy, Others on this site have indicated that the clear coat shoud be thinned at least 200% to help promote a good flow and to keep it light. My experience has also indicated that at the 3-1-1 mix (that you have suggested) , my clear went on very thick and did not flow well. I also use a similar gun and was using similar pressures. Would you please comment on this.

jim

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Well, depending on the clear I spray, I generally add one part reducer only. If the clear / hardener mixes 3:1 I'll mix (for the sake of arguement) 30oz clear, 10 oz hardener and 10oz reducer. if it's 4:1 40oz clear, 10oz hardener, and 10oz reducer.

My pressure is 40psi at the gun. Be sure you're getting 40psi at the gun, if you are using 40 at the compressor, and running a 30 foot hose, you're probably only getting 20 at the gun (I forget the formula for air pressure loss) I also try to maintain 70 degree temp and 35% humidity.

The biggest trick is you HAVE to let the paint serve it's induction time in the pot before spraying, and allow it to sit for 25 minutes between coats. If you put the paint on to thin, it won't flow out, it just stays looking speckled. If you put it on to thick, it runs. There is a fine line with poly urethane between enough to flow nicely and running. You will make it run the first few times you spray it probably. Also, realize that when it does flow out, it won't be absolute perfect glass like finish, but it will be very close. The other thing to remember, is if you have one coat that ends up rough, it will only get worse as you spray, you can't expect the paint to fill the valley's and end up looking smooth.

However, your paint should flow out like this, this guitar is just after spraying no sanding or polishing, just sprayed direct out of the booth.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/gallery/da...CN0010-med.JPG

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

for what it's worth, I have reduced up to 200% as well, specifically when I was flying pattern and every ounce counted, but it doesn't give as nice a finish in the end, and you are far more susceptible to runs. It also dulls the shine of gloss paint when you add that much reducer. If you put on 4 coats of final clear, by the time you are done sanding and polishing, you will only have about 1 and a half coats left, so you're really not adding much in weight. If you are after the ultimate in weight savings, then reduce it that much and don't polish afterwards.

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

For comparison of the smoothness of paint, and the depth, here is the same guitar after it was sanded, polished, and assembled.

http://www.lgmguitars.com/mvblpics/mvbl-8.jpg

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Dean just sent me a pic of the hotcat all together, it looks sweet! :D

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Another one

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Very cool, thanks both of you... :D

Goose

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

BTW Jeremy - although it's not 100% certain yet, it looks like the new RCU will have an area set aside for informative how-to's like this. That would probably mean moving it out of the jets forum :eek:, but would make it much easier for everyone else to find as well.

Will talk to more about that once we get the new system up & running.

Thanks,
Gordon

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

that's totally cool with me, I did it for the Jet guys cuz I'm a jet guy, but I put a mention of it in the heli section as well since it involved a heli.

Perhaps an RCU archive for tutorial stuff like this would be a good idea, something where, it's just an article in the archive, not something you can respond to, but just an article, people would still be free to ask the author questions about it, but then it doesn't get buried, and you don't have to go on a big search for it if you are looking for something along the lines of it, I've seen a couple really good ones on here, stuff that I bookmark :)

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Jeremy,

Great idea!

I have often seen something, attempted a bookmark, only to lose it while im at the bench.

I hope RCU take note of this, as I can see a benefit for the whole RCU community.

Cheers

Goose

get it up front where it belongs!!!
 

This is just to get this incredible site forward again. :cool:

Your workmanship is outstanding, Jeremy!

jonn

Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

fantasic job :D

Thanks allot for posting the guide, ive found it very interesting.

RE: Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Gordon,
I was just wondering if they had set up an area for how to's on the new RCU now? I really appreciate Turbulance hosting the pictures for me, especially since I don't have them uploaded anywhere anymore, but I don't expect him to host them forever, I was wondering if it would become permanent on the new RCU, or if I should resave all the pics, and then upload them individually to RCU (which would suck LOL)

Anyway, I was just curious :)

RE: Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Hi Jeremy,

Lemme go check with the boss-man.

Gordon

RE: Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

is there a provision for a thread like this to be dumped into some form of archive? like a pdf for later reference...

RE: Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

Just for information

Jeremy will be provided with an all white composite KingCat by year's end. He will be doing another complete painting tutorial which will involve the painting process from composite skin preparation to final buffing. His method can be used on most any composite aircraft. We simply chose the KingCat because...well we have one, its big and we have the manufacturer's O.K. for this session.

Regards
Dean Wichmann
fly'n turbin's and lov'n it

RE: Painting Tutorial, Hotcat completed!!!
 

And because I reeeeeeeaaaaaaaallllllllly owe Dean LOL!!!!!!! I can't wait to have a canvas that size to work with :D I gotta get some 3 views and start playing around with designs, actually, I need to call you to find out what "theme" or design theme you want to go with :)