To Awlgrip or not to Awlgrip...this is the question...

I just took delivery of an RS-15 in dire need of a
face lift...excellent workmanship but packing in the
cosmetic side...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91412217@N00/272587388/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91412217@N00/272585143/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91412217@N00/272593549/

Whats the consensus on finishes? Awlgrip, Polyurethanes
or Epoxies?

Since the old paint is peeling that badly, why not take it to your frendly
local "U-Squirt it" car wash and blast the rest off with high pressure
water. I was able to take the color coat off an old 2-22 that way while
leaving the aluminum dope undamaged - no messing with yucky paint stripper.

As for paint, since this is an experimental, why not look into the new water
based automotive paints. I hear a lot of praise from the auto repair people
about this stuff. It's non hazardous, has brilliant colors that last and
the final finish has a "wet look" like Imron. They can shoot your glider in
their spray booths. I like the dazzling "arrest me red" used on Jeep
Cherokees.

Bill Daniels


"Travis Beach" wrote in message
...
I just took delivery of an RS-15 in dire need of a
face lift...excellent workmanship but packing in the
cosmetic side...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91412217@N00/272587388/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91412217@N00/272585143/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91412217@N00/272593549/

Whats the consensus on finishes? Awlgrip, Polyurethanes
or Epoxies?

Bill,

I'd agree that a bright shiny red is attractive. However,
studies have shown that red color is not very good
for seeing at a distance; it begins to look black at
a surprisingly short distance away. For see-and-be-seen,
those studies suggested a rather ugly orange, as I
recall. Fire trucks are now a curious yellow green
because red doesn't show up well at night -- for the
same reason. Maybe that color is a good one, but I
don't think I'd want it.

At 17:42 19 October 2006, Bill Daniels wrote:
Since the old paint is peeling that badly, why not
take it to your frendly
local 'U-Squirt it' car wash and blast the rest off
with high pressure
water. I was able to take the color coat off an old
2-22 that way while
leaving the aluminum dope undamaged - no messing with
yucky paint stripper.

As for paint, since this is an experimental, why not
look into the new water
based automotive paints. I hear a lot of praise from
the auto repair people
about this stuff. It's non hazardous, has brilliant
colors that last and
the final finish has a 'wet look' like Imron. They
can shoot your glider in
their spray booths. I like the dazzling 'arrest me
red' used on Jeep
Cherokees.

Bill Daniels

Unfortunately due to the construction technique I am
going to have to stay with Whites, at least for the
wings and tail, the Fuse and boom can incorporate colors
but do to the wing ribs being PVC and the possibility
of a color sitting in the sun generating harmful amounts
of heat within the wing i am stuck with whites...the
winglets will be red, the ruddevators red and a little
red on the nose...

Water based automotive paints huh...I work at one of
the largest Ford dealers in the US...I might have to
checkout my body shop...

Beach

"Travis Beach" wrote in message
...

...snip...

Water based automotive paints huh...I work at one of
the largest Ford dealers in the US...I might have to
checkout my body shop...


Toyota 040 white, or Ford equivelent, looks great on a metal sailplane.

Wayne

You'd want to look it up of course, but I seem to remember that PVC foam is
good to better than 400 degrees F. Maybe you can paint your glider any
color you want.
BTW, the new automotive bright reds make fire trucks look dull as mud. I
used to hate red since it faded so quickly but red 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokees
are just a bright and shiny as when new.

They apparently use super florescent pigments. I was with group leaving a
trade show where we had been given samples of the then new ultra bright blue
LED flashlights. In the dark parking garage everything lit up in monochrome
blue except a Jeep that glowed brilliant red. The blue light from the LED's
set off florescence in the red paint.


Bill Daniels


"Travis Beach" wrote in message
...
Unfortunately due to the construction technique I am
going to have to stay with Whites, at least for the
wings and tail, the Fuse and boom can incorporate colors
but do to the wing ribs being PVC and the possibility
of a color sitting in the sun generating harmful amounts
of heat within the wing i am stuck with whites...the
winglets will be red, the ruddevators red and a little
red on the nose...

Water based automotive paints huh...I work at one of
the largest Ford dealers in the US...I might have to
checkout my body shop...

Beach

It isnt the foam that is the problem. It is that adhesive that bonds
the foam to the wing skin.

Brian
HP16T N16VP "V6"

Bill Daniels wrote:
You'd want to look it up of course, but I seem to remember that PVC foam is
good to better than 400 degrees F. Maybe you can paint your glider any
color you want.
BTW, the new automotive bright reds make fire trucks look dull as mud. I
used to hate red since it faded so quickly but red 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokees
are just a bright and shiny as when new.

They apparently use super florescent pigments. I was with group leaving a
trade show where we had been given samples of the then new ultra bright blue
LED flashlights. In the dark parking garage everything lit up in monochrome
blue except a Jeep that glowed brilliant red. The blue light from the LED's
set off florescence in the red paint.


Bill Daniels


"Travis Beach" wrote in message
...
Unfortunately due to the construction technique I am
going to have to stay with Whites, at least for the
wings and tail, the Fuse and boom can incorporate colors
but do to the wing ribs being PVC and the possibility
of a color sitting in the sun generating harmful amounts
of heat within the wing i am stuck with whites...the
winglets will be red, the ruddevators red and a little
red on the nose...

Water based automotive paints huh...I work at one of
the largest Ford dealers in the US...I might have to
checkout my body shop...

Beach