Suggestions for painting PML rocket w/automotive paint?

[Joe Cacciatore]

I have an automotive repair friend who is willing to paint my PML
rocket but he needs some guidelines on what kind/type of plastic auto
paint to use along with if a flex agent is needed, etc. Of course the
PML uses quantum tubing and fiberglass. The Black Brant X uses black,
red, silver and white paint. Anyone who has had great results with
auto paint please share your forumula. Thanks,

Joe C,

[Steve Decker]

You need to talk to Ed Miller, or look up his series of article "Rocket
Art", that appeared a couple of years ago in HPR.

--

Steve Decker
square-jawed chief engineer of the patternmaking division

"Joe Cacciatore" <joc...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:3cddbe21...@news1.attglobal.net...

[Boomer]

I guess I'm a little fuzzy when you refer to auto paint as being plastic.
Auto paint in general is flexible to a point. Some more than others. Some
paints are specially formulated for painting gravel pit trucks to prevent
chipping etc.

As far as painting your rocket, your friend should be able to give you
guidelines as to what paint to use. Most auto body people have a preference
of types of paint they like to use. If you're planning on painting your
rocket with auto paint, be prepared to make a big dent in your check book.
Even the entry level basic paint is approx $35 a qt. Specialty paints,
because of the amount of mixes to get the color you want can range from $35
to well over $175 a quart, and it's not just metallics. Some reds, blues
etc. need large amounts of coloring to get the right color, so before you
get set on " I want that color", be flexible in choosing and ask for pricing
before they mix it.

Consult with the paint re-sellers. They know their product. They'll ask
you various questions such as where are you painting it, garage, paint
booth, do you have a venting system to get rid of overspray, what will the
temp be when you're spraying...etc.

Where we are, it's cold, so they set me up with a quick cure activator for
the paint. Also battles overspray because it sets up so quickly. They will
set you up right.

As far as pricing, here's what I spent on paint just for an idea of the
investment of painting with car paint.

Dupont Chromabase Black 30.65 qt
Dupont Hypercure Clearcoat Activator 15.30
Dupont Hypercure Clearcoat 27.30
Dupont Mid-Temp Basemaker 12.85
Chromabase Gold YM039KM 79.00 qt

(This is pricing after setting up a business account,. not retail)

So basically $165.00 in paint. Yes, this was enough to do a full size Black
Brant X, plus an Endeavour, with plenty to spare using 1 qt of the
Chromabase black. I bought a qt of gold, because even a pint was $53, so
made sense to buy the qt. I painted the nosecone, fin detailing, and have
plenty to paint a very large rocket in the future that I plan on calling the
"gold rush".

This is just a scenario of what me and a friend went through with our level
2 birds. Others have seen the paint job and are in awe of the quality. In
my humble opinion, it's worth the investment. I've made a promise to myself
that any birds I build 4" or larger will be done with auto paint from now
on...I'll post a pic of my level 2 Endeavour on ABMR probably sometime this
week so you can see.

Hope this gives you some insight and help. Just my 2 cents :)

--
Wade "Boomer" VanderBoom
NAR 80343 Level 1
DART SD

"Joe Cacciatore" <joc...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:3cddbe21...@news1.attglobal.net...

[RTaylor616]

Joe,The flex agent you refer to is an additive used when refinishing Urethane
and other plasic type bumper covers. To allow minor parking lot impacts without
cracking the paint finish as the cover flexes. Maybe its a good idea for
rockets too.
The important consideration is the primer. The new paints used in the
automotive trade have very strong solvents that could melt or wrinkle spray can
primers. Bob.

[Phil Stein]

This is an little OT from wha you asked but, it might help.

I've use Rustolium Metallics & have gotten great finishes from their
silver, dark blue, brass (looks gold) & red. I use their white primer
& use their clear after the color. Works great on Quantum Tubing & is
way less expensive.

Phil Stein

[Larry W. Hardin]

Joe,

I've successfully used Plastikote in spray cans. For Quantum Tube,
I used the primer for plastic bumpers. If you tell your friend to use
the same techniques he would in painting a plastic bumper cover,
you should be fine. For the phenolic tubes and filling imperfections
in FG fins, etc., I used the red spot glazing putty and Plastikote's
sandable spot-filling primer. Basically, I would mask off the QT
and take care of the fins with the filling primer, then prime
everything with the plastic primer and paint.

Larry

[Bruce Kirchner]

Akzo Sikkens AutoBase color coat/clear coar system will give you a rock hard,
durable finish. have your paint salesman mix you up a quart of "ready to spray"
and you're in business.
--

Bruce Kirchner
TRA L2 #5888
Michigan Team 1 HUVARS
Visit My Rocketry Home Page - http://members.aol.com/balthezar/index.html
Proud Gun Owner!