Aircraft Paint

[rgmwa]

I've been trying to decide on a suitable paint system for priming and topcoats, preferably water-based, relatively non-toxic and available locally in both tins and rattle cans at affordable prices. Most of the references I've found are for US brands like Valspar, Stewart Systems, Cortec and PPG. Surely there are local products that perform as well?

 

What brands are all you builders and restorers using? Is there anything wrong with Dulux or Wattyl paints for aircraft? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

rgmwa

 

RV-12

 

 

[Vorticity]

I have been recommended Protec paint, I believe made in Adelaide. I have used their single pack epoxy on my main spar and it came up great. Not environmentally friendly, though I used a HVLP system which helps control overspray.

 

 

[icebob]

cheap paints

 

Hi,

 

Have to agree with velocity here, it is a good paint. You need to get a good quality mask with the correct filters before spraying it.

 

Have seen a Volksplane(VP-1) painted with Wattle and it needed stripping and repainting after 4 years because of fading of the reds and dark blues and the aircraft was in a hanger when not in use, a long and messy job(stripping took over three full weekends alone).

 

Bob.

 

 

[rgmwa]

Thanks for the advice, Vorticity and Icebob. Anybody else out there have any experience with paint/painting?

 

rgmwa

 

 

[icebob]

Hi,

 

You did not say what sort of surface you are painting, if it is aluminium you know you can use ordinary car spray paint, it lasts a fair while especally if a couple of clear coats are applied over the finished job.

 

Bob.

 

 

[rgmwa]

Hi,You did not say what sort of surface you are painting, if it is aluminium you know you can use ordinary car spray paint, it lasts a fair while especally if a couple of clear coats are applied over the finished job.

Bob.

Yes, it's aluminium. Should have clarified that earlier. Thanks for the tip. I also looked up the Protec website, and they have a lot of paint products that would do the job.

 

I'd still be interested to hear from anyone else who has painted their aircraft.

 

rgmwa

 

 

[XAIRVTW]

Hi rgmwa Im a spray painter I have done a number of aircraft send me a email & I'm quite happy to talk to you.

 

Cheers

 

 

[eightyknots]

I read on an American site once that changing from one brand of paint to another saved 35 lb (more than 15kg) in paint weight. I'd rather use the weight saved to carry another 20 litres of fuel!

 

Does anyone have any comparison data for the durability and weight of paints suitable for ultralights?

 

 

[eightyknots]

What I meant in the post above is for aluminium ultralights as I am wanting to build a 'tin can' plane. I'm still interested in what people found most successful for aluminium.