Imron Paint

[Andre van Rensburg]

Hi All
I covered my Eagle with Polyfiber and after a lot of research on
different paints, I have now found a company in South Africa that can
supply Imrom. I am going to spray my Eagle in the classic colour design
(D1) and have a few questions:
1. Do I need a primer between the Poly Spray (silver UV protection) and
the Imron white?
2. Do I need to add a plastisizer (soft face additive) or is Imron
inherintly flexible after drying?
3. How much white paint do I need purchase?
4. How much of each of the colours do I need?
Andre

[Kurt Haukohl]

ANDRE

I'm a member of the HIPEC cult, sort of the Rolls Royce of paints.  A great
second choice is US Paints Alumagrip, both loaded with flex agent and are
very hard but flexible paints.  I never heard of a tape coming up or a crack in either
paint system.  Ever.  They cost a fortune to use, and HIPEC is my weapon of
choice for putting tapes down forever.  I've used Imron over the top of Stitts fabric
through silver and just Imron on top of HIPEC (this also works well). 

I never saw a polyfiber process cover job without cracks or tapes coming up,
lots of people lie about this fact.  The mis-information is amazing in fact, but
the Stitt or now Polyfibre process is a cheap simple process. 

Dope works well and more importantly is repairable.  The problem with dope is
it needs waxing and is generally high maintenance, but it looks great. 

The Pitts factory used dope as a base and PPG or Randolf dope on top for a time
with terrible results and lots of warranty returns.  Keeping the tapes down and
sanding are the key elements of a great paint job.  Look at and talk to HIPEC
owners, or variants of HIPEC used to hold tapes down and as a primer coat. 

Alumagrip is outrageous in that you cannot strip or remove it without sanding
from metal, thats why it was initially used on Biz-jets and airliners.   You'll
hit close to $400 dollars a gallon of product however, and it might be a little
heavy.  Great material however and you do get what you pay for in all of these.

So it doesnt matter what your covering with if your flying hard aerobatics like
advanced or unlimited, because you'll be recovering every 5 years just to inspect
the substructure.  If your after a show plane finish that lasts 10-15 years without
waxing, polishing, or maintenance buy something expensive now.  Good luck
in any case.

http://www.hipec.falconaravia.com/

--
.
Kurt Otto Haukohl
1760 Montara Avenue
Sacramento, California 95835
(916) 825-3102 Nextel 116*968*53
.

[Andre van Rensburg]

Hi Kurt
I have used Polybrush (dope) and Polyspray (UV prot), both Polyfiber
products on my fabric and need a painting to apply over the Polyspray.

The main reason why I am thinking of using Imron is really the colour
matching. For some reason, non of the paint companies in South Africa
seem to be able to get the mixing formula from Imron, even those
associated with Imron (Du Pont). Du Pont also refused to hand it to me
and they would not even give me the US federal numbers.

Now, Polyfiber make 2 products for spraying:
1. Polytone is great, but has a matt finish - it's not want I want.
2. Urathane is also great, has a gloss finish, but has to be shipped by
sea only and is very toxic to use.

I am exhausted trying to find PPG, Standox, Spes Hecker etc etc..
company in (South Africa) to supply me with a suitable paint and to
match the Imron colours. For some reason, paint companies seem to
withhold this information from each other, who knows why????

Will appreciate more input, thanks.
Andre

[Andre van Rensburg]

Hi Ron
You make a good point and thanks for the input, but Polyfiber's paint
does not really suite me.
1. Polytone is available in South Africa, but has a matt finish and I
really want a gloss finish. The big advantage of using Polytone
ofcourse, is that any future repairing is really simple as polytone
disolves with MEK, but I am willing to risk in exchange for a gloss
finish.
2. Although Urathane has a gloss finish, it's not available in SA and
has to be shipped by sea only and I believe that it's very toxic to
use.

What I need most of all now, is someone who can help me find the
standard federal colours (numbers) for the Christen Eagle colours.
Andre

[mlmat...@comcast.net]

I have a 20 year old Eagle II painted with Imron. Built in South Carolina,
then moved to Michigan, Niagara Falls NY, and now in NJ.

No cracks --- a few very small chips hear (mostly on the landing gear
struts) and there but just normal hangar rash. Hence if it is done right,
it can last. There is no reason to recover my plane 20 years later -- It
shines like new.

I've had the plane just under two years. I looked at other Imron planes
built after mine and the cracking was severe. Nevertheless, I don't fly,
and the plane has never flown, hard acro (sportsman only) and I don't stress
the plane when OAT is below 40 degrees F.

Unfortunately, I don't know what the builder (George Kittle) did to obtain
such excellent results -- he is reportedly ill and may be living in
California. If anyone knows how to reach him, please let me know, as I'd
love to send him a picture and tell him what a fantastic job he did.

Mark
6GK

[David Wolf]

Mine is 24 year old IMRON and looks new except dumb things I did to it. Not
even the typical leading edge vertical crack. Built by Paul Gonsoulin.
Apparently there is a trick that works. Intermediate level aerobatics.

Dave