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Paintshop Progress 3

Lots of progress this week!

More Masking

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More thorough masking, keeping paint off those Beringers.

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When I primed inside of the fuselage side panels, I had also done the outside area at the wing root. This was because at the time I wasn’t clear how the exterior paint would be accomplished.

Anyway, the paintshop scuffed it up to prepare it for the exterior primer and paint.

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We don’t want paint on those Vetterman exhaust pipes!

Alochrom

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After scuffing, the aluminium has been treated with Alocrom.

Alocrom (or Alodine in the US) is a chromate conversion coating that can be applied to aluminium alloys, which provides a level of corrosion protection. Alocrom is also good for paint adhesion.

It’s a messy job, and needs to be removed with water after a set time to produce the desired result.

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The tailfeathers.

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The rear fuselage has been raised to give better access for spraying, so a weight has been attached to the tailwheel to prevent an upsetting tip onto its nose!

The weight is a filled water container : )

Primer

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Fuselage primed.

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Not easily visible in the photo, but the elevators are held at a convenient angle with thin wire attached to the water container.

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Tailplane ready for the top coat.

Top Coat!

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The main top coat is Sherwin-Williams Acry Glo, which is a high performance, multi-component acrylic urethane designed for use on aircraft.

I wanted a gentle off-white, and this is the first view of the chosen colour … Oyster White.

I had decided on the white based on a small colour square, so was a bit nervous about seeing it in the flesh on a large area.

I need not have worried, I’m happy : )

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The fibreglass fairing joins on the tailfeathers have disappeared under gleaming Oyster White!

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The whole plane will be painted with the Acry Glo, to provide sound corrosion protection and longevity, even the areas which are planned a different colour.

These areas have a slightly thinner base coat of Acry Glo … a universal base colour also ensures consistent colour hue for the colours added on top.

The canopy is an example of a more frugal base coat, since it will be coloured later.

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Shiny lower cowling : )

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Lots of pieces, and the wings are not even started yet!

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I got them to paint the tail spring, since as fitted there was a gap in the powder coat both ends.

The chaps have done a beautiful job … shiny enough to use as a shaving mirror!

Once the paint has hardened, the next job is to attach the fin, tailplane and cowling so that the fuselage colours and stripes can be masked up.

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2 comments on Paintshop Progress 3
  1. Steve Haworth

    Hi guys. Thank you so much for your website! I refer to it every week I am home and building. It’s so helpful to see how really good builders have accomplished all the tasks.

    I’m building an RV-14 as well. I think I want to paint my interior fuselage to save on cost. I was wondering what type of topcoat paint you used in the cockpit? I unfortunately applied self etching primer in that area, and am finding it hard to find a topcoat that can be applied over this. I was told I can remove that primer with acetone, rescuff the aluminum, and then prime and paint with whatever product I choose.

    Thank you,

    Steve

    PS…just saw the new website format…very nice!

  2. Steve

    Hi Steve … I used Lechler two-pack acrylic enamel, which was applied over a two-pack self-etching primer. It has proven very durable. See https://vansrv14project.uk/paint/priming/cockpit-paint-decision-priming-top-skins-10-30/

    Cheers

    Steve

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