Fuel proofing help needed

[Tom Barley]

Hi All

I am quite new to scale and need some advice please.

If using a glow engine in a scale aircraft, what is the best method of effectively fuel proofing the airframe in a matt finish?

Are there any recommended 'matt fuel proofers' in the market that you have used and worked well for you, or are there other tricks and tips you can give?

Would be great to hear from you.

Regards





Tom Barley

[John Rickett]

Tom,

There is only one fuel proofer than works for glow fuel and that's KlassKote. Its a two pack paint so the colours are fuelproof or if the clear is used its equally effective as an overcoat. Its available in matt or gloss and its best sprayed but can be brushed though it goes off so quickly its hard not leave brush strokes. Its available from Phil Clark at Fighteraces.
KlassKote recommend their own thinners , they call it reducer, but its expensive. You can use ordinary cellulose thinners but best not to let the mixed paint stand too long without agitation.

[Tom Barley]

John

Thank you for your help.

As the airframe has already been painted with a lot of weathering and panel line detail, I will need to just apply a coat of clear.

I'll do as you suggest and contact Phil at Fighteraces.

Thanks again.

Tom

[John Rickett]

Tom,

The matt is very matt so would advise getting both matt and clear, then do test patches with a mix until you obtain the results you want.

Klasskote can be sprayed directly on to wood to protect the areas in the engine and fuel bays which are most susceptible to attack, however another method is to mix epoxy resin glue, then apply to, say, the engine bay and heat with a heat gun and brush the epoxy everywhere. Epoxy will run like water once heated and will soak right into the wood creating an impervious layer. Because you are heating the epoxy it will cure much quicker so best to use a slow curing epoxy - nothing will get through that!