Here's the fill and finish process I use:
Filling the grain and tube seams:
1. Thinned Elmers Carpenter's Wood Filler (CWF) from the orange lid tub.
1A. On balsa: Sand leaving a very slight beige skin of CWF on the surface with 400 grit.
If you see the "pink" balsa showing through you may have sanded too much.
Tubes get the CWF sanded to surface pretty much all is removed leaving the CWF in the seams.
2. Fairly thick spraying of Duplicolor Filler/Primer
2A. Sand filler/primer to surface with 400 grit.
Spray Painting:
3. Gloss white undercoat light spraying
3A. Lightly sand any rough spots with 800 grit. Look close at surfaces in direct light and smooth out leftover any 400 grit scratches.
3B. Second gloss white undercoat, heavier sprayed if first undercoat is good.
The heavier final coat is tricky. Heavy enough to really cover, not so much as to create drips.
4. Let dry for a minimum of 48 hours, longer if you can still smell the paint.
Plastic nose cones and plastic parts require longer drying times!
Mask and follow with secondary colors.
I hope that answers your questions. I would never say: "It's my way or the highway."
Everybody has a different method. This is what works for me.
Here's a bunch of posts about filling balsa and tube seams:
Previous Post about some BAD filler:
I’ve had decent results with Rusto High Build Primer/Filler, #249279 version - the label looks like a riveted on plate - but the Duplicolor definitely sands easier. The extra solids in high build primer is a big help in getting things smooth. You use much finer sandpaper than I have the patience for, which is why your rockets look that much better than mine! Thanks for the step by step Chris, helpful stuff.
ReplyDeleteHi Openroad,
DeleteRegarding sandpaper grits - The new (colored sheet, blue and purple) sandpapers are better than the old black sheets. The new stuff doesn't load up as quickly and last longer. But, the new 400 grit seems rougher and leaves scratches that can show up after color coats are sprayed. I'm starting to final sand with 800 grit before spraying paint.