Painting the Fuselage (partially)

I had budgeted about six weeks for painting the entire airplane. In June 2024 I began painting all the control surfaces, vertical and horizontal, stabilizer, landing gear, wheel, pants, etc. Even though this is the second airplane I have painted I still had problems. It started with equipment and pressure settings to the gun. I was also getting water in my lines even though I had two air dryers installed. Turns out the problem was in the air compressor itself, and that the pressure on the compressor tank was just too high. I had it set for about 140 psi. So I dialed down to about 100 psi or maybe even 90 psi and that seem to do the trick, no more water in the lines. It was also a challenge due to the fact that I have four colors. So everything has to be completely masked and re-mask and re-mask and re-mask.

I prepped the aluminum with a chemical etch and a red Scotch-Brite pad. That gives the aluminum a tooth for the primer to bond. After everything is thoroughly cleaned and dried. I move the part into the paint booth and I apply to cross coats of Stewart system primer. From there I use the stencil that was provided to me from evoke aviation and began laying out my pattern. After each part has been completely painted in all four colors, I would need to go over everything to clean up the lines take care of any blow through. In some areas I needed to do some wet sanding and buffing all in preparation for the clearcoat. I initially tried the clearcoat from Stewart systems, but I just was not happy with it. It really is not a true clearcoat as much as they want you to believe it is. It has a satin like finish. I finally ended up using Sherwin-Williams ultra clear. And while that stuff is rough to deal with in terms of the fumes, the outcome was exceptional. It fixed a lot of issues that I would not have considered and the gloss is fantastic.

By the middle of January 2025, I had completed painting and clear, coating the bottom fuselage. Because my fuselage is on the rotisserie, and not sitting on the gear. I am taking advantage of that rotisserie. Now that the fuselage is out of the paint booth, I'll finish wiring for avionics, and installing the control sticks and torque tubes.