Finishing Paint vs. Polish - Sonex #1629

Discuss painting, polishing, or painting vs polishing.

Finishing Paint vs. Polish - Sonex #1629

Postby ScottM-Sonex1629 » Sat Oct 11, 2014 9:50 am

To paint or polish, that was the question...and here was my answer after debating how to finish my a Sonex. Late in the winter, we took a day trip to the Air Force Flight museum in Dayton, Ohio. (wright patt AFB). Upon strolling through one of the exhibits about the Tuskegee Airman, my wife Michelle says you should finish your airplane that way.

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It took me another 4-5 months to settle on this scheme. I'm at the stage of the assembly now where it made sense to go ahead and polish and paint what needed to be done with the Tail, so I can move forward with final assembly and control rigging.

A little sneak of the tail polishing.
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Then taking the tail apart, and using PreKote to prepare the aluminum for primer.
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The PreKote is easy to use, is not nearly as toxic as Chromate...and cleans up with tap water. The directions say to prime within 24 hours, so that's what I did. I used high grade automotive 2K Epoxy primer (SW DP800). Two coats, let it dry thoroughly, then I scuffed up the surface and wiped everything down with wax and grease remover.
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Today was the money day! Made a small paint booth in my garage, and had everything staged ready to paint by 7:30 this morning. Had preheated the garage overnight so,it was a comfortable 75 degrees F.

First coat of Single Stage Urethane "Viper Red". You want to spray a light tack coat on the first pass, just enough to cover but not a wet runny coat.
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Final (second coat), a little slower on my passes, good overlap and no runs!
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There is a little bit of orange peel texture, but the gloss looks good. For an airplane, I'm probably going to let it go and not wet send and polish. It's supposed to look like a WWII war bird, not a show car!

Once it's fully cured I will take some outdoor pictures and post these.
Scott Meyer
Sonex 1629 - Sold...9/2019
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Re: Finishing Paint vs. Polish - Sonex #1629

Postby radfordc » Sat Oct 11, 2014 4:09 pm

That's going to look great!
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Re: Finishing Paint vs. Polish - Sonex #1629

Postby Sonex541 » Sat Oct 11, 2014 5:46 pm

Awesome ,
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Re: Finishing Paint vs. Polish - Sonex #1629

Postby Bryan Cotton » Sat Oct 11, 2014 8:02 pm

Looks good Scott!
Bryan Cotton
Poplar Grove, IL C77
Waiex 191 N191YX
Taildragger, Aerovee, acro ailerons
dual sticks with sport trainer controls
Prebuilt spars and machined angle kit
Year 2 flying and approaching 200 hours December 23
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Re: Finishing Paint vs. Polish - Sonex #1629

Postby vicdelgado9 » Sat Oct 11, 2014 9:25 pm

Paint looks great! were you using a spray gun or rattle cans?
Vic Delgado
Sonex "CorVex" #969 Plans
3.0L Corvair, tail dragger, single stick
Houston, TX
Expercraft Builders Log
complete: tail,wings, welded & angle parts
"Old Corvairs never die, They just earn their wings".
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Re: Finishing Paint vs. Polish - Sonex #1629

Postby ScottM-Sonex1629 » Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:02 pm

Thanks for the positive comments guys!

Vic, I'm using HVLP guns, and a big air compressor. When I did the painting today, since it is catalyzed urethane paint, I was in a full protective tyvek paint suit, goggles, and charcoal filter respirator. I've done a bit of painting like this over the last 4-5 years, so I invested in decent equipment.

From left to right: Sherwin Williams DP800 3-part (2K) Epoxy Primer, my large HVLP paint gun, the detail HVLP paint gun, and the Kirker Ultra-Glo Single Stage (activated) Urethane Enamel Paint in Viper Red
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It helps to have a large air compressor:
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Remounted the horizontal stabilizer tonight. Trial fitted the fairing, and the vertical stabilizer was doing and impression of Jaws...

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While I was painting, I helped my friend Steve with repainting his nose wheel pant and fairing for Waiex#54. He modified his nose gear and needed to make some updates to the wheel pant...and get it painted.

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Last edited by ScottM-Sonex1629 on Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Scott Meyer
Sonex 1629 - Sold...9/2019
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Re: Finishing Paint vs. Polish - Sonex #1629

Postby Bryan Cotton » Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:24 pm

We had some Tuskgee Airmen here at Air Camp in Rockford tonight. They were honored at our final assembly.
Bryan Cotton
Poplar Grove, IL C77
Waiex 191 N191YX
Taildragger, Aerovee, acro ailerons
dual sticks with sport trainer controls
Prebuilt spars and machined angle kit
Year 2 flying and approaching 200 hours December 23
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Location: C77

Re: Finishing Paint vs. Polish - Sonex #1629

Postby ScottM-Sonex1629 » Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:33 pm

A few pictures of the tail going together. Vertical stabilizer is attached now, and the elevator trim tab is mocked up temporarily.

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Scott Meyer
Sonex 1629 - Sold...9/2019
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Posts: 441
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:00 pm
Location: Dublin, Ohio (MRT)

Re: Finishing Paint vs. Polish - Sonex #1629

Postby Bryan Cotton » Tue Oct 14, 2014 11:45 pm

The red looks good with the reflection.
Bryan Cotton
Poplar Grove, IL C77
Waiex 191 N191YX
Taildragger, Aerovee, acro ailerons
dual sticks with sport trainer controls
Prebuilt spars and machined angle kit
Year 2 flying and approaching 200 hours December 23
User avatar
Bryan Cotton
 
Posts: 4957
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2013 9:54 pm
Location: C77


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