advice on glazing an airplane.

[shrek]

iv'e been looking at glazing my plane with fiberglass .i was wondering what kind of lacquer sanding sealer would be good to put on the balsa before i start fiberglassing it.I will be using minwax policrylic to glaze the fiberglass. It is mostly water based so thats why they recommend the lacquer sanding sealer so the balsa won't absorb the minwax.that would make the plane very heavy.so any advice or experience from someone who has already done this would be greatly appreciated ;)

[zorba]

Are you sure you want to do this Steph?
Is alot of elbow work.
On my P-51 I used the ZAP epoxy-resin diluted with alcohol (99% pure). you thin it out so it can be absorbed in the balsa.
You brush it on with camel hair brush, and let it dry.
You wetsand with 400grit and then 600 grit paper.
Lay your presoaked cloth (I used 3oz.) and use a soft rubber queetzie to take air bubbles out. when tacky apply another coat of resin until you don't see the cloth texture. Let dry.
Now you have to sand ,sand, sand and sand some more. The surface has to be mat finish dull no shinny spots anywhere. Wash it down with alcohol (pure)
Then you prime it with automotive grey primer. Go to Carquest on Gouin W. they will mix it for you and put it in a can.
Use the red glaze (Reno-Depot) to fill any pinholes.
Wetsand with 400 then 600 again.
Fill any pinholes with glaze again. Continue sanding till the surface is smooth and shinny.

Paint

I hope this helps.

Cheers
Bill

[shrek]

Thanks Bill it was a big help. I was hoping you would reply to this tread. You are the master builder

[Kevin Rochon]

Hey Stephane first I would wonder why do you want to fiberglass your plane. It's a small scale so not too much room for extra weight. Monokote or whatever is on, might be just fine, no?

Don't forget Billy's mustang is much bigger so it can take the weight of 3 oz FG and auto paint.

Another option if you really want to go that way and since your engine is Gasoline powered you can use latex paint, it's not affected by gas. Also it doesn't smell, it's light and easy to use you can dilute it with windshield washer fluid(no more than 10%). On my planes that I've done in FG is use .5 oz FG. My system is to put it directly on the plane then pour the Zpoxy directly and I use playing cards to squeegee out the bubbles. You can do let's say the bottom of the wing let the extra overhang then when it's dry you sand the edges you do the top let it also overhang pass the bottom edge. When you final sand you cant see the seem.

Like Billy said you need to sand all over well, I myself didn't put a second coat of Zpoxy, I'm always afraid of extra weight, on myself too:eek:. Then use primer sand again. If you want panel lines you can do it now then paint another coat of primer remove the tape then go with your final finish either flat paint colored then a coat of clear, maybe satin if military.

Anyways that my 2 cents. Good luck.

[shrek]

Kevin its not for my p-47. It's for an other project i will be doing over the winter. All i can say is it's a 1/5 scale and i'll be puting the os max gt55 in her.

[Andrew Fernie]

Lots of work, and will add weight, but it does make a beautifully smooth surface if you put the time in.

Kevin is right about the playing cards. The advantage is that you always have a clean surface available - just take another card. (and the price is right). I also used one coat of resin, then a sandable primer. Spray it on, wet sand much of it off, spray again, wet sand again. Repeat until you are happy.

All this is from the days you built all winter to have something to fly in the summer. ARF sure is different.

Andrew

[zorba]

Kevin its not for my p-47. It's for an other project i will be doing over the winter. All i can say is it's a 1/5 scale and i'll be puting the os max gt55 in her.

I knew it... 1/5th scale about 80 to 100 inches wingspan and about 22 to 28lbs.
Yea baby..... Don't forget mine also has the aluminum sheeting on it.
28lbs total weight...
Good luck Steph...keep us posted on the build..


Cheers

[shrek]

Ok billy. It's from Top-flite but im not telling wich one it is.

[Kevin Rochon]

My guess is the new Fucke-Wulf 190 (can't misspell this:))

[Sempai-mj]

My guess is the new Fucke-Wulf 190 (can't misspell this:))

Perhaps a Big Fokker?
Or a little Fokker?
:confused:

[RichR]

My guess is the new Fucke-Wulf 190 (can't misspell this:))

It's Focke-Wulf 190, named after 2 of the founders Henrich Focke and Georg Wulf. :)

[shrek]

no not the focker aldo i was looking at that one alot.;)

[Kevin Rochon]

It's Focke-Wulf 190, named after 2 of the founders Henrich Focke and Georg Wulf. :)


I can't believe I actually misspelled it(even after looking at the Top Flite site) I have my new glasses 678$ down the drain:no:

[fbrunet1957]

Ha... nobody noticed;)