Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Hi gang, I want to cover my Goldberg Cub with the John Deere colors this time around.
Can I just get the fabric coverite and paint it? (maybe get the white) and paint it. ?
Thanks,
Jeff

PS there was a member here a while back that had one and wish I would
have kept his picture. it was a beauty :D

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

I use Latex OUTDOOR Paint and FLOWTORAL mixed in. Give's a nice even flow and leveling effect to the paint. Takes a liittle longer to dry but worth the wait.

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

http://www.vaillyaviation.com/Intro.html

Follow this link to Roy Yaillcourt and look for his paint article -cannot go wrong-2 parts

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Thanks Guys. But I also need to know what coving you used?

The paint part I will have to find in John Deere Green and Yellow.
Thanks,
Jeff

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Stits Covering System.

Bob

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

I find Solartex to be a user friendly fabric. All you need to do, is apply the covering, and you are ready to paint on the color coats. No primer, or sealer of any type is required.

This Cessna Airmaster is covered in natural Solartex and painted with Rustoleum.

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Awesome, thanks so much guys.. and I think I will go with Tom's Idea. that seems
perfect for what I need to do.. Tom what paints did you use on your fabric? I see now Rustoleum...
what about the fuel getting on it? did you coat it in anyway?

the plane your showing is almost the colors I need for my John Deere Colors. ;)
Jeff

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

I used the Cessna as my example, because I thought that you would like the color combination. LOL

Although spray can Rustoleum can be used with success on glow and gas powered models, I used the Rustoeum available in quart cans. An automotive hardener was added, and the paint was thinned with acetone.

The hardener dooes what is implied, harden the paint. It also improves the gloss, and aids in chemical (fuel) reststance.

As I remember, Rustoleum recommend thinning their paint with mineral spirits, or acetone. The acetone must be used, because mineral spirits isn't strong enough to thin the hardener. I tried mineral spirits, and the results were a disaster.

Primer over the Solartex is not needed, nor recommended. You can prime any sheeted area, but not over open bays.

I prime over some sheeted areas to seal the weave, hiding the fabric look. This simulates areas that would be metal on the full size airframe.

I use an HVLP spray gun, but standard guns will easily do the job.

The paint/hardener combination dries faster than the Rustoleum spray bomb paint. The paint will also be more durable.

Having said this, Rustoleum spray bombs will do the job. If you choose this method, spray your primary color (yellow?) first, and let the model sit for at least a week. Then, you can proceed with masking and painting the secondary color.

For masking tape, I use 3M fine line tape, available at automotive paint supply houses. Big, open areas, are masked with blue painter's tape, and newspaper.

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Wow,, perfect,,, thanks very much Tom.. now to find a cheap HVLP gun :-)

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Lowes and Home Depot should have spray guns. I bought my touch up gun from Lowes.

My HVLP gun was purchased at the auto paint supply house. They called it a " production quality" gun.

I see that you are from Wellman. I'm originally from the Cedar Rapids/Marion area.

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Tom, where did you fly when in CR?
I am trying out a grass crop duster runway these days LOL
Cant wait to try my GeeBee on it :-)
Now to deal with the COLD *yuck*

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

I became involved with RC after my move to Michigan.

I flew control line in the 50's and 60's, at Van Vechten Park, in CR, and at an abandoned airport, Hunter Field, on the Southwest side, right off US 30. I believe that the Club was called the Sky Challengers.

We also had a vacant field behind our house. The owner let us mow a circle from which we flew almost daily.

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Tom,
I am thinking about painting the covering on an utter chaos that I am building. It will have a glow fuel engine, so I am concerned about fuel proofing the paint.
Did mixing the hardner in the rustoleum paint make it glow fuel proof? Did you have to use anything else to protect the paint?

Thanks

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

I have flow my DVII for the last 3 years. It is covered with 21st Century fabric on everything but the bottom wing. That is Solartex. The paint I used is 21st Century spray paint. I fly with YS 20/20 glow fuel. Not a smear or problem of any type with the paint. I do not konw how it would hold up to gas. And I don't think it comes in John Dear green, but ya never know.

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Tom, there sending me all the samples today at no charge.. (the fabric)
And the hardener does help it be fuel proof correct? I have some of that
I need to use up anyways.
Jeff

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Like some of the others I used Solartex (or Worldtex) and Rustoleum spray paint on my Corsair.  You can see it in my models list.  It was a while ago so i can't remember if I used Rustoleum primer or Lusterkote primer.  But sanding the primer gives a finish that feels like metal.

One trick for soft lines between colors is to ball up masking tape to about a 1/2 inch ball and place freezer paper on it over the area that is to remain the original color.  Obviously do the light color first then the dark.</p>

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

FWIW...

I have taken to paint my colors with acrylic paint from the craft store (Hobby Lobby). I clear coat it with an automotive urethane paint. The clear I'm using is from Arnold Motor supply. They are an "Auto Value" parts store. I use the house brand and it has been fine for me. The urethane paint is fuel proof. The down side is you need darn good ventilation when you spray or a carbon filter mask. The urethane is a two part paint. I thin it more that it calls for and spray light coats so as not to build too much weight. The CAP in my avatar came out to 7 1/2 pounds. I did use Krylon for color. Never again though as I felt it to heavy, hard to control the amount of paint applied and several other issues.

Good luck on your project!

Ken

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

The info on rcu is priceless, thanks guys for the information. Just going to that part of the hobby myself!

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Boy, how did you get them to send free samples? I had to pay for mine. You can get cheap spray guns at Harbor Freight.com if you don't have a store near you. They work just fine.

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Well I went online at first and saw the sample was only $1.05 or so.. then I went to check out and it said it wanted
$12.00 for shipping [X(] so I called this really nice lady and said I want samples and before I could finish she said
gimme your addy And I will send them right out. no charge :D so that worked out she did say the one of the yellows
will be a perfect match for my john Deere scheme . now to figure out if I should just cover all in the yellow then
paint over the top of that ? not sure yet until I hear from the experts here. she did day use the cloth and dont use the
antique if I wanted to paint the whole thing. anyways a really nice lady.. just ask for the really nice lady if you call LOL

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

In my opinion, Solartex needs to have at least a clear coat , so that it won't accumulate dirt. If it has to have a clear coat, it is just as easy to spray a color coat, instead.

The color coat allows you to paint any cowl, wheel pant, etc, in a perfectly matching color. Otherwise, if you use a pre-colored covering, you have to have "matching" paint tinted up for you.

The automotive hardener does make the Rustoleum more fuel resistant. I use 15%, and have not experienced any problems.

Remember, if you try the hardener/Rustoleum thing. Use acetone to thin your paint. Using mineral spirits will lead to disaster.

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Make's since Tom... Thanks
Hey ! you going to be around this weekend?
I would like call you if that's OK? just
to make sure I am thinking in the right path :D
Jeff

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Yup. I'm usually home.

I'll PM my phone number.

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Thanks Tom, one sent back.

RE: Painting Coverite Fabric?
 

Couger,

Since you live in IA check with Tractor Supply. They have all of the John Deer colors and the hardner to use with their paints. The colors are fuel proof. I use 25% nitro with out any damage. The price of their paint is close to Rusto by the Qt. Also you can use their hardner in Rusto. Time tested here.

Rick