rockom

My Feedback: (2)

Hello,

I'm rebuilding a kit that several years old. It's full of dings, scratches, low spots, and many other forms of hanger and field rash.
I stripped off all the covering and sanded all the glue off. I'd like to paint it instead of recovering. I'm looking for suggestions on a faring compound to smooth it out.

I figure I'll cover the whole plane with a thin layer and then sand it smooth. So, something light, easy to sand, and strong.

Drywall compound/filler was mentioned in another forum but I was concerned it would be too soft. Epoxy and microballons I fear is to heavy and difficult to sand.

What do you think?

Thanks,
-Rocko

dhal22

i use Bondo spot putty. available from auto centers. very light, very easy to sand and durable. i also have a big tube of blue body filler putty made by 3M but i don't recall the name right off hand. i bought it on #bay. it is very similar in performance.

david

combatpigg

My Feedback: (3)

If your plane is made with balsa, you want a soft filler that will feather out easier than the surrounding wood. Light weight spackle is the way to go.

rockom

My Feedback: (2)

I'll probably go with the spackle. I thought I could fare it with spackle, seal, prime, and paint but after more browsing last night I guess that's not a good idea if I want to avoid cracking. I guess the best method is spackle, silkspan fabric, primer, paint.


-Rocko

Ed Smith

Rocko,

I use drywall compound over bare balsa all the time for the purpose you mentioned. It sands and blends very easily with the surrounding balsa. I do not like the spackle, it seems to "Roll" rather than sand.

The picture shows a balsa fairing blended to the main fuselage with drywall compound.

Ed S

rockom

My Feedback: (2)

Good catch....I was using the work compound and spackle interchangeably but they are two different things. You are correct, I definitely want the compound, not spackle.

Thanks,
-Rocko

Walt Thyng

My Feedback: (9)

I go over large spackled areas (like wing fairings) with CA. It usually requires a final sanding with 400/600 wet or dry.
WT

jaka

Hi!
If you want a durable finish as possible use brown microballons and polyester resin (or 24 hour epoxy) mixed 50/50. Then sand with 80 Hiolit sandpapper (cloth) and spray 2 part automotive body spackle on and sand.