Chuck: Now that I've finished the last of the painting (wheel pants, cuffs and fairings) with the TCPGlobal Single stage AUE, I'll pass on a few things I learned along the way. This was by far the biggest paint job I've attempted and what they say about 90% prep and 10% paint job is correct. Don't let the fiberglass fool ya. Just when you think you've got it licked, those pesky pin holes will keep popping up ! If you use filler and think you have it really smooth...think again. Both almost always will require a re-do. This is where the primer comes in handy as it will show any of the imperfections in the fiberglass and filler before the paint is shot. I spent many, many hours on the fiberglass and final finishing of the filler I used to get it where it looks pretty good.
Now about the paint. I used the single stage AUE from TCPGlobal. Dan also used the TCP paint. I have no complaints about the paint. Buy it in the "kit" and you will save about $25.00 over individual can cost. It was a learning curve, both from using the paint and finding the right guns to use. Remember I am a beginner ( although I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night ). I initially mixed the paint according to the can 4-1-1. 4 parts paint, 1 part reducer and 1 part hardner. I found the paint was going on too thin, so I cut the reducer in 1/2, so the mix was 4-1-1/2. The paint gun was another story. I thought expensive meant good. For the experts that may be the case, but the gun I started out with was a big disappoinment. It was a Devilbiss HVLP gun and by the time I added a "cleaning kit and a few other "necessary items" I was close to two big bills for the gun. It may have been the HVLP aspect of the gun or just my inexperience, but it just didn't perform to my expectations. I decided to go with the HF Siphon Tube Gun #43760 after several other builder sites suggested it. I used it for the primer and the large areas of the A/C and it worked much better than the $200 gun. The HF unit I got for $10.00 with a coupon, so I got 2 ! The smaller areas like the rudder, ailerons, etc. I used the HF "Touch Up Gun" #086, which I also got on sale for about $10.00. From the pics you can see it did a very good job.
When you begin to paint, I suggest you start on the bottom sections as you can "practice" on them and your mistakes won't show as much. The nice thing about this AUE single stage TCP paint is that you can "wet sand" the paint when dry to remove any runs or "orange peel" and finish off with a buffing with Meguiar's
Ultra-Cut Compound 105 to remove the wet sanding marks. This process really works if you are not a pro painter. In fact I picked up this wet sanding technique from one of the hot rod web sites. Do not buy a bunch of pre-marked mixing cups from the paint shop. Instead go to a resturant supply house a pick up a bulk pack of 1 1/2 quart plastic cups. Don't buy the gun solvent from the body supply either. I got a gallon of acetone from a contractor paint store for a lot less.
I give my paint job a C+. If the sun angle is just right you can pick out a few areas where the paint is a little thin, but like I said this paint is easy to re-do an area and the price for the paint is certainly within the budget. The wheel pants I just did yesterday (between Winter fronts here in SAN ) and they came out better than I expected. As soon as the temp warms up I'll apply the vinyl graphics to the pants. There is a larger scale decal (same stars and bars) to go on the side of the A/C.
NX115RX
RB
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