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Old 11-18-2016, 10:05 PM
luke strawwalker's Avatar
luke strawwalker luke strawwalker is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Needville and Shiner, TX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clhug
I've seen other people mention papering fins. Can you explain what that means? I would assume that paper sucks up paint much more so do you still prime before the top coat? But are you saying that you don't have to sand the primer before the top coat?

Thanks!


Here's a thread I did years ago detailing the process *I* use, which works wonderfully... Here's the relevant posts...

http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showp...406&postcount=6

http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showp...407&postcount=7

http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showp...408&postcount=8

http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showp...409&postcount=9

Which are part of this thread I did of a build of the Dr. Zooch Vanguard Eagle, here...

http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=7444


No, papering doesn't "suck up much more paint"; it provides a MUCH simpler and more straightforward (and MUCH STRONGER) way to fill the balsa grain BEFORE giving the rocket the usual priming/sanding/painting treatment. The paper basically laminates the balsa fins, giving them MUCH more strength for very little weight gain, and gives you a nice smooth surface to primer. The rocket it still given about 2-3 coats of a good primer, allowed to dry overnight, and sanded with 220 grit followed by 400 grit, sometimes even "damp sanded" with moistened sandpaper to give the final surface treatment before paint application. I've detailed the process on that in other threads if you're interested...

Papering saves having to put a half-dozen coats of primer or sanding sealer on balsa fins trying to fill in the huge honkin' voids in the grain, and having to sand them all out smooth between coats (well, with primer you CAN spray 2-3 coats, sand it out, and then another 2-3 coats and sand it out again, and get *acceptable* results, but usually a third application/sanding cycle is required to get EXCELLENT results. Papering the fins takes care of the grain, and gives you a fin surface more like the rest of the rocket, so a single priming/sanding cycle is usually enough (sometimes a few 'touch ups' are required as needed, but very few) to produce a terrific surface ready for painting to get a top-notch finish on the rocket.

later! OL J R
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