Painting Plastic Nose Cones

[RBrigham1]

Yes, another in a continuing series of newbie questions....

I have overheard a couple of HP builders at launches comment they they have had
trouble getting paint to stick to plastic nose cones. Presumably they are
referring to the polystyrene (?) nose cones produced by several manufacturers.
If this is true, how should I prepare the Aerotech 2.6NC I just got? Is
sanding sufficient? Is there a particular kind of primer I should use?
Expiring minds want to know.

Thanks in advance.
Rob Brigham
NAR 79579 L1

[Thomas Parson]

Rob,
I've not had too much trouble with Aerotech nosecones. Wash 'em with soap
and water, be safe, rough 'em up a little, then primer, sand, primer again,
and in _my_ experience, you should be good to go.

Now, LOC nosecones are a whole different ballgame.
Sand the heck outta them, and I do mean heck, then prime, sand, prime, sand,
and prime one more time.

They are made with different materials from what I understand, and the LOC
nc's are a bear to get paint to stick to.

Nothing against LOC, as they are some fine rockets, just a bit more work.

Hope this helps, and welcome to the hobby!!! It's awesome, aint it?

--
T. E. Parson
NAR #78955 L1
PHITS Member NAR Section #565

.
"RBrigham1" <rbri...@cs.com> wrote in message
news:20010919000244...@mb-cj.news.cs.com...

[RBrigham1]

Snip

>Hope this helps, and welcome to the hobby!!! It's awesome, aint it?
>

It does, and "you betcha"!

[RayDunakin]

For LOC nosecones, I just lightly sand it with a very fine grit sandpaper.
(400, I think). You don't want to get too rough or you'll end up with a fuzzy
nosecone. After sanding I wipe it down with alcohol to remove any traces of
oil, fingerprints, or mold-release. Then prime and paint. Works for me. I don't
know about the Aerotech nosecones, but I'm sure the same treatment will work
for those too.

[Mark Simpson]

I believe that LOC nosecones are polypropylene. Washing them with a solvent to
remove mold release is agood idea prior to priming. I also wipe mine down with
a tack cloth because they develop such a static charge that they suck lint,
pollen and other airborne garbage right out of the air.....dirt magnets.

Mark Simpson
NAR 71503 Level II