Thorp Air Command - T18.net

There has to be a better way to do this ... the masking alone took around 6 hours, painting of course took 30 mins.

Hey motor guys, is there a less time consuming method here I'm missing? Do shops have pre-sized masking and or just old assessories/cylinders they paint over? Surely they do not mask the case like I've done here.

In the end the result is good and what I was going for, but for crying out load what a pain ... I'm only halfway .. this was motor one out of two.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

I don't know if there's a better way, Lee, but your parts look great. Six hours well spent.

Nice detail work.
Manufactureres and rebuilders don't put that level of detail into a paint job.

Thanks Dick!

Shipchief,
Yeah, I figured they just assembled and painted them ... one of my pet peaves is paint on gasket/seals/bolts/nuts. I guess I could save myself the work and just build them up and paint them but my hope is to either sell both or hopefully keep one for myself in that case I'd kick myself it were not "detailed" it's a curse sometimes.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

When I paint my engine parts, (in addition to the masking you did) I lay out a strip of masking tape and use a hole punch about 1/2" diameter to punch out a bunch of round tape pieces. Then use those to cover the area around each bolt hole in the case, pan, and accessory case. That way you do not get paint between the bolt and/or washer against the case, which can cause them later to loosen slightly. It doesn't take much extra time to do this, and I think it is recommended by the engine experts.

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Dave M
Sacramento
ex-T-18 owner

Good advise! Thanks Dave!

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

My engine guy uses stick-on circles you get from Staples to do what Dave says. He also paints the engine after assembly, having partially painted the cylinders (the in between parts) prior. He has pre-made cardboard covers he puts over the accessory holes such as the mags, etc.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Thanks Bob .... just walked over to Office Depot ... saved me some punching

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Lee: Beautiful job ! I would think some of the painting could be done AFTER assembly. Pretty sure that's how Aero Sport Power did my engine. You can see the attention to detail as all the studs have no paint on them. I would have to look at the gaskets, but never really noticed any paint on them ? 6 hours of masking makes for a show engine !

RB

Thanks Rich!

I suspect as Bob pointed out that the pros have sets of pre made maskings and or covers.

Here's round #2 .. note the Dave Magaw / Highley recommended "dot" maskings ... as with most things the learning curve played a part here 1 hour to mask the assessory case and sump. The case halves shouldn't take much longer.

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD