The Cadet 1/2A model

My most recent plane I used a tiny bit of wax and a cloth baby diaper .... made it shine like the dickens!

Good idea. The wax would probably help to prevent the fuel residue from effecting the paint and make it easier to wipe off. Just car wax?

I can't remember exactly ... it was awhile ago. But since I like anything carnuba (sp) wax .... I'm sure it was that.

Don't quite have my "almost complete" shots of the Cadet yet, but I'm looking for some appropriate decals & haven't really found what I want. I'm envisaging something along the lines of a Goodyear Racer style. Mainly looking for the appropriate size & style numbers (No. 4. Not sure why but that just seems right) and I can probably use a few car type "sponsor" stickers to decorate it as well. I'm starting to get square eyes searching on Google and Ebay for what I want.

Rod.

She's looking good Rod , I like orange too , good luck on the decals if your not printing them , could bee a pain to find what U want .

getback wrote:She's looking good Rod , I like orange too , good luck on the decals if your not printing them , could bee a pain to find what U want .

Eric.
I've added a cockpit outline since the pictures and I'm starting to rig up the hardware, but I figure it needs some decorating. I might have some scaps of iron-on covering I can use for stripes etc. Never used it before buy I got some in a lot a while back. Does anyone know, can I just lay that stuff straight on and hear to adhere?

Rod, I detest auto-correct spell spcheck, But I'm sure if you HEAT the trim strips, they'll adhear to the model. If you try to hear them on.....you have to be listening for the glue to dry........

Marleysky wrote:Rod, I detest auto-correct spell spcheck,   But I'm sure if you HEAT the trim strips, they'll adhear to the model.  If you try to hear them on.....you have to be listening for the glue to dry........

With my poor hearing, they'll never stick
That's all good if I'd used a spell checker.  Just my dyslexia kicking in.

Oldenginerod wrote:

Marleysky wrote:Rod, I detest auto-correct spell spcheck,   But I'm sure if you HEAT the trim strips, they'll adhear to the model.  If you try to hear them on.....you have to be listening for the glue to dry........

With my poor hearing, they'll never stick
That's all good if I'd used a spell checker.  Just my dyslexia kicking in.

Does anyone know, can I just lay that stuff straight on and hear to adhere? Yes just listen for it .

getback wrote:

Oldenginerod wrote:

Marleysky wrote:Rod, I detest auto-correct spell spcheck,   But I'm sure if you HEAT the trim strips, they'll adhear to the model.  If you try to hear them on.....you have to be listening for the glue to dry........

With my poor hearing, they'll never stick
That's all good if I'd used a spell checker.  Just my dyslexia kicking in.

                                                                      Does anyone know, can I just lay that stuff straight on and hear to adhere?  Yes just listen for it .

Yeah, but that's going to be almost as boring as listening to paint ad-hearing to primer.

Yeah, yeah guys, so I made a "whoops" in my post. Enough said. Looks like I need to be a little more careful if you can get this much milage out of one letter wrong Greater scrutiny in the future me thinks.

I'm going to weigh in on the Rustoleum.  Nicholas and I just finished our 2 planes with Rustoleum spray enamel and let them cure 3-4 weeks before they saw any fuel.  The first couple flights we came home immediately and wiped them down and cleaned them up with alcohol.  After about the 3rd time out the paint started getting soft and sticky.  I don't think it's going to last.  We primed with Rustoleum gray primer and that dried over 10 days before we topcoated.  Our stores carry the Rustoleum 2X which they say covers better and goes twice as far.  That may be an issue, maybe standard Rustoleum enamel works better.  I "baked" on the enamel by putting the planes in my car in the sun for a few hours on the 4th or 5th day.

The paint is fine on most of the plane, it's mainly the front fuse and outboard wing top near the fuse that gets all the fuel and is soft.  I can't imagine a wax is going to protect it against our fuels.

I also had an issue with the finish, and this may be the primer.  My topcoat went on beautifully glossy and smooth.  I filled the top plank wings with an ultra-light filler.  When the gloss topcoat dried well it had roughened into a semi-gloss.  I then topcoated with a little clear and same thing, went on great, dried rough.  Never had that happen with spray enamel.  Overall we're happy with our paint jobs and now the planes are wracking up battle scars so it's all good!

I love the convenience and finish from a spray can and might try Krylon next time or some fuel proof car paint they sell at my LHS.  One day I'll cover with material and also try some dope.  I know that's not the most convenient method but it's a classic I should have some experience with.

Greg

Hey Skyray --- We both live in Florida, so we know how humid it is. Its gonna take a long time for it to cure up. I think I would have left the plane(s) in the car for a number of days. Let that paint bake right on and gas off.

I've only got 2 planes that I've used Rustoleum on ... but they don't see the nitro content of the 1/2a's. I think I waited a month before I flew them. Thats the only downside .... the waiting ..... drove me nuts. LOL

larrys4227 wrote:Hey Skyray ---  We both live in Florida, so we know how humid it is.  Its gonna take a long time for it to cure up.  I think I would have left the plane(s) in the car for a number of days. Let that paint bake right on and gas off.

I've only got 2 planes that I've used Rustoleum on ... but they don't see the nitro content of the 1/2a's.  I think I waited a month before I flew them.  Thats the only downside .... the waiting ..... drove me nuts. LOL

I kept the planes indoors under a/c where it's nice and dry at about 40-42% humidity.  The waiting was tough so we fished and gardened in the mean time.  Gotta have at least 2 hobbies so when you can't fly you have something.

Ok, looking for a little advice here.  I managed to get myself some nice digital scales today, mainly for weighing ebay packages but also aircraft.  No updated pictures yet, but my Cadet is almost done, less engine, bellcrank, lead-outs and pushrod. (Plus a little decorating if I choose to).  
My question is, it weighs in at 3.7 oz (103 grams) in its current form. (No engine).  How does this weight stack up?  It's 19" span with tip weight and a good thick coat of Rutoleum.  Add the weight of a Golden Bee, (or maybe Babe Bee), will this thing be too heavy or is that about right?

Rod.

Bump!!

Any thoughts?  

Oldenginerod wrote:Ok, looking for a little advice here.  I managed to get myself some nice digital scales today, mainly for weighing ebay packages but also aircraft.  No updated pictures yet, but my Cadet is almost done, less engine, bellcrank, lead-outs and pushrod. (Plus a little decorating if I choose to).  
My question is, it weighs in at 3.7 oz (103 grams) in its current form. (No engine).  How does this weight stack up?  It's 19" span with tip weight and a good thick coat of Rutoleum.  Add the weight of a Golden Bee, (or maybe Babe Bee), will this thing be too heavy or is that about right?

Rod.

Well the golden bee runs around 1.5 oz in weight and with the flight hardware included with the weight (need to weight the hardware and add that to the current weight to be sure) I think you should top off around 5.2 oz give or take so you should be ok weight wise. I know what the cadet is but I'm not familiar with its dimensions and performance so maybe someone else can give extra input. (Bandit)