Best paint for foam.

[rjisidro]

Im looking to add some detail to a kit im building. I was wondering what kind of paint do you guys use on foam. I have a couple of wheels and some other parts that are in need of some detailing.

[Jason Nowell]

Robert:

I have done quite a bit of research in this area....not to mention spending a TON of money. I'll tell you what I've learned and maybe some others will add there experiences.

I started out using Airbrush Acrylic from my local craft store. It works well because it has a LOT of pigment, it also dries very light! The only problem I had was if you were not spraying it through an airbrush, a nice finish required two or three coats.

Jerry Small turned me on to Krylon's new line of spray paint called "Washable" spray paint. It is Tempera paint in a spray can and is perfectly safe for every type of foam I've ever tried (Blue foam, Pink Foam, White Foam, Depron, and injection molded white foam). It gives great coverage, but is not glossy (in case that matters to you).

My latest, and favorite paint is also from Krylon called "Short Cuts" (they only come in the small cans). I have tried this on Depron, White foam, and injection molded foam like Lite Stick wings. It is great paint, it's glossy, covers well, and most importantly, comes in a WIDE variety of colors. I got Dark and Light Olive Drab, CHROME! and just about anything else you could imagine is available. The cans say it works on Craft Foam, I haven't had any problem so far, but I would test it on a scrap peice first if possible. I'm doing a P-51 Lite Stick in Chrome and it looks awsome! I just cut the wings and tail surfaces to scale and cut and sanded a foam fuse with the Stick running down the center of the fuse. I'll be posting pics of it soon in the indoor section of this bulletin board soon, as well as my B-24 after it's painted.

Hope this helps you out.

[rjisidro]

Perfect, thanks a million. Im off to the store. Ill look for your pics, cant wait to see the p51.

[Jason Nowell]

Here's a preview of the P-51 Stick. it's a lot closer to being finished than these pictures show, I'll send final photos when I get the rest of painted and assembled.

http://www.millenniumproductions.com/CH_0290.jpg

[ 05-13-2001: Message edited by: Jason Nowell ]

[pease1]

Wow! That's made from foam and a lite-stik? When you get that thing flying I want some serious details man!

Great work! Are you going for Rudder and Elevator or full 4-channel?

How do you keep the fuselage halves together? How do you mount the wing.

OK in short - how'd ya doit?

-Al

[t-turley]

Very nice. :cool: If there was an award for kitbash of the year, you'd be way ahead of the pack. You'll definitely have to share all relevant stats and how it performs. This could start a whole new wave of back yard combat. :)

Tony Turley

[rjisidro]

Ohhhhhhhh, man that looks like fun. Your right that silver paint looks sweet.

Hey I notice your using the ailerons, fun.

[Jason Nowell]

Well Guys, It's done! I'm about to go fly it at my top secret well lit parking lot :)

I'll go ahead and give you some specs and take some pictures. I'll post the NTSB report with pics after the flight. Thumbs, don't fail me now!!!

Specifications:
Span - 28"
Length - 21"
Weight - 5.6 Ounces RTF
Motor - GWS DX-A
Prop - GWS 9x4.7 (Will probably pick up an 8x6 for it at the SWAC)
Reciever - HiTec Feather (because I love to fly with glitches and all my HiTec 555's are in use)
Servos - Two HiTech HS-55's
ESC - Jeti 050
Control - Aileron/Elevator/Throttle

Most everything is from a Stick kit with the exception of the wheels and the two ply foam fuselage. I started by downloading a scale 3 view drawing of the P-51D. I blew it up on my computer using Adobe Photoshop to the desired dimensions and printed it in peices.

I got the foam from my local hardware store (Home Depot). It came in a pack of 5 48"x24"x3/4" sheets for $3.99. I cut two fuse profiles from this foam and hollowed out a Stick channel with my trusty old X-acto. I also hollowed out spots for the elevator servo, reciever, ESC, and channels for the wires.

I glued or snugly fitted the equipment in one half of the foam and then joined the halves with 5 minute epoxy. After about 3 hours of sanding, I had a fuse. The original Stick landing gear was used by removing the wing mount from the black plastic peice, sliding it over the stick and wrapping it in thread followed by a good dose of CA. Then I just cut channels in the foam for the legs to come out of. (all before the fuse halves are joined) I cut slots in it for the wings and tail after joining the halves.

Wings / Tail:
The wing and horizontal were cut to scale from the Lite Stick Parts. The vertical is just Depron (egg carton type) foam. I cheated on the wing and tapered it one less inch than scale to increase my area a little.

The ailerons are Pull/Pull. The ail. servo is mounted upside down in the faom wing. I just used Tooth Picks for horns, Spyder wire for pulling (No Stretch fishing line from Wal-Mart) and small peices of the inside of a nyrod pushrod for guides along the way. I'll get a close up of the rigging and post it.

Enjoy, Backyard combat starts at my house next weekend, I'll fire up the grill, and you guys bring the beer! :)

[Jason Nowell]

Here it is! I wimped out on the test flight...too darn windy, maybe later.

The fuse really is the same color as the wing, but it sure affected the flash on my camera differently :)

http://www.millenniumproductions.com/P-51.jpg

[Jason Nowell]

Well, the Mustang made it's maiden voyage at the SWAC show last weekend. It flew great after I ran it into the wall a few times getting the hang of it (it was incredibly sturdy!)

Gary Jones begged me to let him fly it in the modified Lite Stick Pylon Race, and after a little discusion with the judges, it was deemed legal and away it went. With no rudder, it tracked a little left on take off and caused Gary to cut the first Pylon. It was a ten lap race and Gary started one down right off the bat. He flew extraordinarily well, and coming across the finish line on lap 7, he passed the leader. He held the lead for the remaining 3 laps.

I'd love to take the credit for building such a great racer :) But those of you who know me know that if I had been flying, it probably would not have FINISHED the race.

There were some in-air shots taken, I'll post them as soon as I get a copy.