Wing Lower Surfaces Painted

 We had a beautiful warm dry day which allowed me to start painting the color on the wings.  I decided, on the lower surfaces, to use Tuscon Cream with some Aluminum powder added to reasonably match the fuselage and tail.  This seemed like I could get a good match without all the work.  I added 4 Tablespoons of Aluminum Powder to a gallon of Poly-Tone.  I like it but I should have added a lot more aluminum.  It looked like a match until I painted it.  If you look at the wing closest to the fuselage you can see I could have added a lot more aluminum.  I never had good samples to match for this color so I'm leaving it even though I have enough Poly Tone to repaint everything.  I'd rather get this done and back in the sky.

My next bit is to start on the markings.  I need White under the Red and Blue.

Wings Sanded - Last Coat of Poly Spray

 The last wing was sanded and a final coat of Poly-Spray applied to everything.

You can see the generally light sanding in this picture.  There are no big bear spots after sanding.

 All you are doing is knocking down the high spots from dust, etc.

The edges of the tapes get sanded just enough to remove any sharp edge along the pinking.  I didn't sand along the cap strips so I wouldn't accidentally sand through the tapes at the rib stitching.  You could carefully sand between the stitching, I didn't.

I'm ready to start painting colors when we get some more dry weather.

Second Coat of Poly-Spray Complete

We've had some soggy weather which was good for wet sanding all the surfaces which had 2 coats of Poly-Spray.  I used 400 grit paper and just sanded enough to remove any dust, etc.  I didn't think they were very rough but after sanding they are so much smoother.  It was well worth the effort and time.

Today was warm and dry so I was able to get the second coat of Poly-Spray on the last wing panel.  when we get some more dry weather I'll be ready to put more Poly-Spray, to replace what I sanded off.  After that I'll have to start on the colors.  I have the Poly-Tone for the lower surfaces.  I need to order the clear to mix the colors for the upper surfaces.

First Coat of Poly Spray

Today I finished the first coat of Poly-Spray on all the surfaces.  The ailerons received their second coat so they are ready for a light sanding, then another coat of Poly-Spray.

I need to order the color for the finish coats.

Poly Spray on Ailerons

The nice weather looks like it will hold for a few days.  I've got the first coat of Poly-Spray on the ailerons, center section and one wing panel.  It always amazes me as you go from bare frames to covering, and then from covered to silver, just how different, and more like airplane parts, everything looks.  Very Cool!

Started Spraying Wings

 We finally got some warm dry weather.  The first spray coats are done with Poly-Brush.  All the wing panel and ailerons are done so I can move on to Poly-Spray (silver).

I had to replace the paint cup on my HVLP gun because the old one cracked.  It's a plastic cup molded around a steel mounting nut.  As the plastic dries out, over time, it shrinks around the nut until it the plastic cracks.  I a cup at Lowe's which fits, but the anti-spill plug in the cap works differently.  It took me a while to realize I needed to remove the plug to vent the cup.  I would start spraying and it worked fine for a while and then the paint flow slowed to a mist.  I would stop to see what was wrong and when I started up again it worked fine until it sucked the air from the cup.  The old one had a valve which you opened to paint and closed to prevent spills.  This one you have to remove the plug, a sure plan to loose the plug.

Wings Finished Through Poly-Brush

 We've had an amazing week in mid February, warm, dry, sunny days with light to no wind.  I've been able to get a coat of Poly-Brush on all the tapes.  The last tapes also had the pinked edges smoothed with the small iron at 225 degrees.

All the wings then received a final coat of Poly-Brush.  Today I was able to get the last coat of Poly-Brush on the bottom of the last wing.  Everything is ready to start spraying Poly-Spray (silver).  Next week is forecast to be warm also.  If it stays dry I'll get started spraying.  There is hope of getting this back in the air soon.