Topcoat is easy. Just go foggy with 2 then go to 2 or 3 medium coats. The main thing to remember is to let it get to the right tack between coats. When you touch it with the back of your knuckle, you wont get ANY paint on your knuckle, but the paint is still sticky like fly paper. Sometimes it takes 5-10 minutes, sometimes 30+, depending on the coat thickness, humidity, temp and very importantly airflow across the surface and in the booth.That's the most critical part of the whole application. If you hurry it, you'll get solvent pops. They'll look like little volcanos in a magnifying glass when dry. You have to remember you're not evaporating a solvent, you're evaporating water, so take your time. I have to leave the booth or I get myself in trouble, even after 20+ years. You will have a better finish with light coats than heavy. If you ever even get close to a run, you're way too heavy. Make sure it's clean as per the instructions and you have a good clean DRY air supply. Waterborne paint isn't as forgiving as solvent borne when it comes to contamination, so keep it clean.
It's not that hard...in fact it's much easier than a solvent borne paint once you figure it out.
I'll PM you my cell number just in case you have problems.

How difficult is to sand the Stewart's system top coat? Have Pacer in my hanger with a horrible paint job. Has just over 100 hours since recover. Runs and significant orange peel.... definitely a 20 foot paint job..


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You haven't seen horrible till you've seen my plane[emoji30] We'll find out tomorrow how hard it is to sand the top coat for repaint.

The topcoat is really tough. I don't envy you at all.
John

Huge thanks to hardtailjohn for getting us straightened out. We owe him big time. We ran into some problems, self induced, and he filled us in on what we needed to know. Unfortunately I don't have any great pics to share and we still have some areas of paint we need to fix but overall I'm pretty happy. I really like the color and think it is going to look pretty cool.

Pic after the brushed coat of primer and headed to my dads for remaining coats of primer and paint.



Sneak peak. Sorry for the poor pic.

Looks good Whee!! Told you that you could get it done! It'll keep flowing for a few days, so will get minutely better and better. Glad to hear it went well.

Awesome, man!

m_moyle wrote:How difficult is to sand the Stewart's system top coat? Have Pacer in my hanger with a horrible paint job. Has just over 100 hours since recover. Runs and significant orange peel.... definitely a 20 foot paint job..


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The top coat is tough to sand, but not real tough. I start with fairly a fairly aggressive grit (150) and then work to finer(320). You will need to keep you hand/finger on underlying structure so as not to sand over those and damage the fabric. Stewart's recommends cleaning with their cleaner, then wiping down with alcohol before sanding so you don't grind any oil, wax, or silicone products into the paint with the sandpaper that will cause top coat problems later.

robertc wrote:You will need to keep you hand/finger on underlying structure so as not to sand over those and damage the fabric.

This ^

The difference between damage and no damage is only a couple of passes with the 320 grit, if you're sanding against a weldment or some other lump under the fabric.

Battson wrote:

robertc wrote:You will need to keep you hand/finger on underlying structure so as not to sand over those and damage the fabric.

This ^

The difference between damage and no damage is only a couple of passes with the 320 grit, if you're sanding against a weldment or some other lump under the fabric.

I agree, I should have been more specific. If you are only going to repaint, then 320 works great to scuff up the surface. If you are sanding the old top coat to remove imperfections prior to painting then you will have to be carefully aggressive. I just use the coarse to get the process started, then move to the finer grit. But as Battson said, only a couple of passes over a weld will cause damage.

Finally finished painting the fuselage. It's not perfect but I'm ready to move on. Still no good pic but you guys will see it soon enough.



One of my best buds has been helping me cover the control surfaces.


Nothing else significant to report.

I just flashed on a photo of the airplane after it's done....
with a big iron-shaped scorch mark on the tailfeathers.
Doh!

Nice work Whee!!! You have an airplane now..

hotrod180 wrote:I just flashed on a photo of the airplane after it's done....
with a big iron-shaped scorch mark on the tailfeathers.
Doh!

Not if his temp is right.

I'm looking for thoughts on my panel layout. What do you guys think? What can me improved? The plan is to layup the carbon fiber this week and start wiring the panel.



The GRT Sport EFIS and EIS are in hand. The steam gauges and xponder will probably be added later if my dad decides he still wants them.

Tell your Dad to get with the program, and ditch the round steam gauges, I did and have not missed them at all, those old antiques are heavy. And before anyone chimes in, if you can't fly without a working ASI you ain't a real pilot! man that project is looking good

Is that a 9.7 inch iPad ?

If so, there is a new 10.5 inch iPad Pro model that is basically the same size as a 9.7 inch iPad due to reduced bezel size. Plus the latest 10.5 inch boasts a super low reflective screen coating ( I think I read somewhere < 1.8% reflected light).



A few LINKS from slickdeals.net show:

https://slickdeals.net/newsearch.php?src=SearchBarV2&q=ipad+pro&searcharea=deals&searchin=first

https://slickdeals.net/f/10803327-ipad-pro-10-5-64gb-499-microcenter-in-store-only?src=SiteSearchV2_SearchBarV2Algo1

MicroCenter.com has 64GB Apple iPad Pro 10.5" WiFi Tablet (2017) on sale for $499.99
Space Gray (MQDT2LL/A)

Specs:

10.5" 2224x1668 LED-Backlit Multi-Touch Retina Display
Apple A10X Fusion Processor
64GB Internal Storage
12MP Rear w/ 4K Video Recording + 7MP Front Facing Cameras
Dual Band AC WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2
Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor
iOS 11

Note the latest iOS 11 might present a few glitches on some EFB packages. Also, the A10X processor is an improvement over the 9.7 inch iPad Air 2 ( A8X) and 9.7 inch iPad Pro ( A9X). Incidentally, I have recently seen iPad Air 2 tablets with 128GB on CraigsList prices for $250.00.

So…$500 for a new 10.5 inch iPad Pro 64GB and A10X or $250 for a used 9.7 inch iPad Air 2 128GB and A8X. Tough call.

CG, that's why we are going to start off without them. I think he'll be totally fine once he gets used to the glass. I definitely like the classy look the steam gauges add but don't need them.

Denali, It's a 8.0" Samsung Galaxy S2. Has to be an android to pair with the GRT EFIS.

Are you flying from the left seat?

My opinion? I know you've done plenty of PIC in a 4-place, so my views may not match yours. Here goes anyway.

It's a very centrist panel to me. Great for a Patrol! Do you have a bench seat up front?? Sorry! I would make some subtle changes for a 4-place, personally.
I think that space on the left is the most "directly" in front of you while you're flying. To me, that left-hand side is the pick of the panel space.

I promise you, that radio placement would drive me INSANE. Things on the right side are too far away to see or use easily, especially in any turbulence. The adjustments on a radio are pretty small and fiddly too, knobs are easily damaged by an outstretched arm when that windshear strikes. The wrong button is easily pushed. The radio is probably the instrument you touch most often too (I hope so at least haha, with some people I am not sure). I suggest you put it closer to your hands and eyes.

Steam gauges you are almost never going to look at in reality, I guess? They are probably a backup? If that's true, you might want to consider putting them outside the "prime" panel space. I decided against having backup steam gauges, seeing as they are less reliable. Electronic backup in the GPS is better in almost every way.

I would vote to ditch the stand alone intercom and go with garmin 240 audio panel so you can easily expand in the future and also have a four place intercom system. And you get music, pilot iso, ipad audio inputs, etc., etc
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/gma240.php?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9Ibc2PPd1wIVioV-Ch0dQQy3EAQYAyABEgJswfD_BwE