[bbbair]

Max - that sounds good - what tyoe of WBPU do you use?

and

Where do you get it?

[michaely]

Originally Posted by bbbair

Hey Guys;

There is a LOT of great information here - but I guess I missed out on a key point...

The plane I'm building is going to have a GAS engine.

How does this affect the materials used?

Will the 'Minwax' hold up?

Should I really contact Airplane Spruce and get some dope? (What is tyhe difference between Nitrate Dope and Butryal Dope)

Can I use thinned down epoxy?

So many questions...

Yup, so many questions - and potential pitfalls - when one strays from long established proven finishing protocols (using off the shelf products sold for other applications, mixing products/brands).

Perhaps, you may want to lay out in greater detail the particular situation/goals you are shooting for. I know, so far, you are attaching silkspan to sheeted balsa and you are using a gas engine. Are there open structures (eg. wings) and, if so, what are you covering them with? What is the size of the plane? etc.
I'm a bit confused about whether smell/toxicity is an issue as you initially mentioned dope is smelly but more recently said perhaps you should use it? Is smell/safe(r) application a deal breaker?

Here is a link to a general article by a fine woodworking professional that may give use some basic language on finishes
http://homesteadfinishingproducts.co...sing-a-finish/

A couple of personal experience observations:

If buying off the shelf clear and color coat finishes, buy the gloss and not the flat or semi-gloss; the level of finished sheen when using gloss can be fine tuned when all the coats have cured by using very fine abrasive media and then waxing.

Diluting epoxy to create a finish media... there are hundreds of formulations of epoxy geared for different/specific applications. I don't think you can confidently expect to dilute an off the shelf generic epoxy for a finishing application. Long ago, Petit mfgr. produced a two part HobbyPoxy line of clear and color finishes for r/c (K&B had "Ultrapoxy") which I used and were great; I don't know if another r/c line of clear/colour coatings has surfaced. Note that Aircraft Spruce has a lot of epoxy finishes. Finishes for marine use are very pricey but superior.

As for gas proofing, there used to be few r/c clear final coat finishes that
marketed for that specific purpose and I again "suspect" they will work on top of any previous finishes as long as those previous coats have been given plenty of time to dry/cure/harden. I have a can of Coverite Glaskote - since discontinued - that I once researched and learnt was a clear polyurethane.

Within the industry, for good answers on what product specifications/applications, I would go to other than big box store paint departments.
I suspect that the people at Aircraft Spruce know their stuff well.
I recently needed to buy some toluene so I finally went to my local Sherwin-Williams outlet (Benjamin Moore likely would have been another option) and was pleasantly surprised that they could answer all of my questions - or find the answer - and would special order for me just about any chemical/product in their huge catalog and have in the store in a few days. Plus, once you get on their emailing list I regularly get discount offers which offsets their higher prices.

good luck,

[Max]

Originally Posted by bbbair

Max - that sounds good - what tyoe of WBPU do you use?

and

Where do you get it?

Hi Rob. I use Flecto Verathane. Its just what I happened to find when I went to home depot (I think..or was it home hardware?) I was looking for something that would give a hard finish and non yellowing. So this was the best I found when I compared what was in the store.

So far I have been very pleased with the results of this WBPU. It doesn't stink and cleans up with water. BONUS!

I think I paid about 30 some odd bucks for a gallon, and that was over 4 or 5 years ago and I still have 1/2 gallon left. I have already covered so many models and parts, it was worth the cost. Lately, people have told me that a gallon costs a lot more. You don't need a gallon unless you have a huge project. A pint or a quart might do depending on the size of your model.

[Thunder Chicken]

I also covered my Norseman with Darcon fabric, Polycrylic and latex paint, it is Gas powered.(G20) The oily residue that spits out all over the bottom of my plane (just like a real norseman btw!) has had no ill effects on the paint that I can see, or care about. However, this is no Top Gun model. Now, unlike Max, I had bad luck for some reason with the Varathane stuff. I used this stuff....
I bought it in a quart sized can at Home Hardware, about $15 if I remember right.
Again, i have no clear coat over my Latex paint, with a gas engine.
This stuff is just used to attach the fabric to the wood, and to fill the weave of the fabric for painting. Latex is the obvious choice when using this stuff, as its all water based for easy clean-up and no stink.

[kip51035]

Hey Bruce! I have a little bit of stits left and some ultra-light fabric if you wanted to try it.