Turns out that several (many?) people have used latex paint on ultralights and fabric covered aircraft and there are good methods and results. For anyone still thinking about it, below are some links and posts that you can investigate. One also mentions that you can apply automotive paint over the latex for a harder outer finish, but for the aircraft that this method is mostly used for, it's very adequate. The one thing I would NOT do is apply "Son Of A Gun" or other silicone protectant sprays over ANY paint, as has been mentioned before. So here are some links:
http://www.ultralightnews.com/features/paintinguls.htm http://www.mykitplane.com/Planes/filesList2.cfm?AlbumID=5 (this includes an .xls and .pdf of UV tests that were run on various colors and brands of latex paint) An email from a builder, with some useful info: =========================== Hello Ted, I also used this method and works GREAT!. I used this method in my Ladder Pou, Nothing needed but latex and is UV protectant by itself. I used the latex (semigloss) paint as final color (blue and yellow), but two other builders here used automotive paint (with a plastifier to prevent the paint from "braking") as final coat over the latex, looks like show room finish. I like the finish of my paint (well, what can I say? :-) The best latex paint to use (and still is very inexpensive) is the one with more than 10 years waranty, this has the more UV protection. 3 years now in my plane and still perfect finish like new. here is one link to my project: http://www.fly5k.org/MEM/GaryPouchel/GaryGower1.htm I also have a photo page in Yahoo with the full construction process, there I have several photos of the painting process but the address was changed by them and I have it at my work computer, with other links related: Tests in direct sun for several years, etc. Will send you the info tomorrow. Is your new Piet readt to cover? Congratulations. Saludos Gary Gower. ======================= A very good email from Steve Eldredge, long-time Piet builder. Obviously much of it applies to wood-and-fabric airplanes, but the paint method is general: Included are several emails that I have written in the past to others on this subject. If you have further questions please ask, Steve Eldredge Steve(at)byu.edu IT Services Brigham Young University The latex coatings are not really that hard. You >cover the > > aircraft using the stits (poly fiber) process up to the point of putting > > on > > the first poly brush coat. Instead of filling the weave with the poly > > brush > > you brush on a coat of flat laytex outdoor black 90 degrees to the > > airflow. > > then another coat to fill the weave parallel to the airflow. The black >is > > the UV protection. After the black is done put on your dark color > > coats,for > > lighter surfaces paint a coat of flat white to hid the black. The >secret > > is > > keeping the coatings thin to avoid cracking. Mine is two years old and > > still looks fine. It isn't an award winning finish however. > > I actually brushed the first two coats, then sprayed the white primer for the wings, to smooth out the brush marks and just left the fuse as is, then sprayed the color. Rolling on the final coats is also an option. Just depends on what kind of finish you want. Duane used the UV latex coats and then sprayed an automotive finish to get the wet look. ... I have been satisfied with the latex method that I have used, and would use it again on a vintage airplane such as a piet. I did learn a few things doing it however, that I will pass along. I painted my project when it was too hot (80+ degrees) and had trouble with the paint drying too fast. The High Gloss latex need time to dry correctly. Also I used an airless sprayer like you paint a house with. I would try a regular spray set up next time. I also would be more patient in applying second coats. I admit that once it started to take color, I was anxious to see the luster I hoped for and applied successive coats to quickly which caused some catastrophic running that I had to fix. More below. I was just now looking at your message dated 03/03/1988 regar- ding the latex fabric finishing method you used on your Pietenpol, and wondered whether you were still satisfied with it. From pictures of your a/c at Oshkosh this year, I must say it looks great! There are a couple of things in your message that I would like clari- fied: 1. It seems you used the Poly-Fiber steps to attach and shrink the fabric. After applying the surface tapes, was there any reason why you did not use Poly-brush to fill the weave of the fabric? Was it a matter of cost? Or was there a technical reason? yep. both really. If you fill the weave with poly-brush the latex won't have enought tooth to stick to the slick coatings. I had to brush some places a couple of times to get good adhesion where there was a significant buildup of poly-brush already. 2. You stated that you used Sherwin Williams best grade exterior flat black latex to fill the bare fabric and that it is "100% UV formu- lated". Does this mean that the latex itself is not affected by UV rays, or does it mean that the black latex coats prevent UV from deteriorating the fabric? (Normally, aluminum pigmented coatings are used to reflect the sun's rays in order to shield the fabric under- neath.) The color exterior latex paints themselves are UV protected, and the flat black performs the same function to as the aluminum pigmented coatings in other systems. you know that your UV protected if after the two coats of black you cannot see light through the fabric. Using flat black just assures that no light will reach the fabric through other color coats. My Pietenpol was recovered in 1985 after 15 years of service with a Grade A cotton cover, doped finish. I recovered it with polyester fabric, doped finish. It is still good, but it is time to look at that wooden struc- ture again. Aircraft dope prices are out of sight and your method seems to be a good one. I only have 2 flying years on mine, but so far so good. I touch up with a brush during the annual condition inspection and within a couple of days the colors blend well. If I had the money I'm sure I would have gone with a more conventional method, but this is what makes mine a special piet to me. ==================================== Oscar Zuniga San Antonio, TX mailto: taildr...@hotmail.com website at http://www.flysquirrel.net
