I have been reading a lot of advice about different painting techniques. It seems that latex paint is the current favorite. Automotive paints seem to be rated best. I have a HPLV touch up gun and compressor so equipment is not an issue. All the reading I have done gives a lot of advice but very few pictures are shown.

What I would like to see is your best finishes and what you used to produce it. I’m not looking for a detailed explanation of how it was done. I'm trying to see what I can expect using latex vs. automotive Urethane or similar.

Please post pictures if you got em.

Thanks

I do some painting....what is "automotive Urethane" ?

FBD.

Automotive urethane such as Delstar is a catalized paint usually used on high performance models that have either fg covered balsa surfaces and or fg fuses such as many of the pattern and jet models. It's the most "bullet proof" of finishes out there and it produces a dazzling finish. Drawbacks are it is very expensive and potentially dangerous to inhale.
I would use it on model types as listed above but for scale types I would use two part epoxy or latex.

It's not potentially dangerous to inhale urethane. It's VERY dangerous. It's great paint but probably illegal to use in your community and you shouldn't even think about using it if you don't have the proper safety equipment.

Bill, I'd love to send you a photo or two of my latex finished Camel, but I can't solve the mystery of how to do so on this site. If you or a lurking moderator or anybody can explain it to me, I"ll make a fourth try.
Walt

PS this is the only site I have trouble with photos.

Click Post Reply instead of using the Fast Reply box. You'll see a button that says upload. Click it, find your image and submit it.

Step 1: Click on Reply
Step 2: Type your message.
Step 3: Click on "Click here to upload! I believe there is a size limit, so your photo should be JPG and no more than 50 - 60K. Not positive about the specific size rules though. But Steps 1 - 3 work for me.

Mike

Dave,

The "urethane such as Delstar is a catalized paint" is much like Hobby Poxy to me.

Enjoy,

Jim

Here is the Top Flite Sea Fury built and painted by my buddy Mark S. using Home Depot latex paint and HPLV gun:







More pictures and videos can be found on my website.

Awesome 'Fury Richard. I'm planning on using latex on a Balsa Nieuport 28 I will be building. Can you share some details with us on using latex? Prep, primer, masking, clearcoat, etc..

I have yet to see a warbird painted with latex that looks bad. It seems latex provides a nice DULL finish. I would like to see someones YAk or Extra.

Thats a nice bird Righard L. Lates seems to work well with the weathered look but what about something more crisp.

I also need someone to prove me wrong but obtaining a "200MPH" finish is not within the capabilities of latex.

I'm planning on using latex on a Balsa Nieuport 28 I will be building. Can you share some details with us on using latex? Prep, primer, masking, clearcoat, etc..

Tom
I am the builder and pilot of the Sea Fury you're looking at. It is glassed and primed with
a hi-build automotive primer which works well for panel lines and rivets...I doubt it would
work for a cloth-covered aircraft. The Latex went on beautifully with an HVLP touchup gun
at around 40psi. I am an airbrush artist of over 15 years experience but this was my first
painted 3-dimensional object. Masking was 3M tape from an automotive paint supply and
I decided to clearcoat/fuelproof with Lustrekote flat clear..

What did you use to thin the latex Mark, and at what ratio?

Maybe this is not the place to ask, but I bought some Benjamin Moore Acrylic Latex today for a scratch built Mosquito.

What is the difference between standard latex and acrylic latex?

I plan to top coat with a acrylic latex urethane, also by Benjamin Moore. So what's that?! Argh!

Tom
This is a link to an article that was really helpful. It suggests thinning the latex
with windshield wiper fluid! Try a 1-part wiper fluid to 4 parts latex to start, and go
from there. Test the spray pattern on scrap. If it runs too easily add paint, If it
spatters or seems to not flow well or you get a sandy texture,add wiper fluid...
I myself would build a small wood frame, stretch some cloth covering over it
and do my testing on that. This way you have a real sense of the results..



[link]http://www.modelairplanenews.com/how_to/latex3.asp[/link]

Thanky Mark.[8D]

Okay, I'm giving it a try.

I have seen some differing opinions about how to thin the latex. Some seem to prefer water.

I tried posting the photos so many times, I forgot what I had written. My Camel was finished in Krylon Kids colors latex from Walmart. I added floetrol to smooth the finish and thinned with summer formula windshield washer fluid at about 1-4. My spray gun was an automotive detail gun bought from Home Depot. Air source was a Sears diaphram (sp?) type set at 40 lbs.

For what it's worth the covering material was Walmart polyester dress lining sealed with two coats of nitrate dope and two coats of Aerogloss dope. The whole system gave a very scale-like WWI finish.
Walt

Thats a nice looking plane Walt. I've seen the Krylon Kids colors latex at several different location but was unsure how it would look. Did you use a clear coat after painting? I wonder how well automotive clear would look over latex.

W.M No clear coat as I fly elecric and it is a WI warbird.
Walt

Great tips and beautiful work! Is anyone aware of an aluminum pigmented nonflammable paint for spraying, to simulate WWI scale aluminum doped fuselage? I understand from the warcolors people aluminum pigment does not travel well in water based paints. I assume its an oxidizing issue. I have a good mask for solvents, but room is not explosion proof. Thanks!!

Seth