Should I paint my main air frame = from the rear keel to the frt keel to the mast and cheek plates OR would I be better off polishing the aluminum and clear coating to preserve the finish and not have to re-polish all the time.

I thought to use the same paint I used for the engine on the frame and cheek plates since it is almost the same coloration look as the bare aluminum.

The pod and wheel pants are charcoal gray and the black carbon fiber is for aesthetics.

This is the last thing I need to cover before everything goes back together for the push towards final assembly.

Thoughts welcomed. I need to make a decision in 2 days time to stay on track.

I am prone to polish because I know how to make it pop but it is a lot of work and time consuming.....painting not so much but still a lot of prep work.

OK nevermind....decision made and dilemma solved. I remembered Denis Shoemaker using this stuff for his Hornet build and look how that finish turned out.
Now I can polish it and protect it from our Florida salt air.

Whew...I thought for sure I was stymied again.

Solution:

.

Major paint manufactures like DuPont and PPG have clear-coats that can be used over bare aluminum ...... most aluminum car wheels come from the factory with a clear coat to prevent salt corrosion and chemical attack by dog piss.

I have never used it on aircraft so have no opinion whether it is a good idea or a bad idea , I just know it can be done.

http://www.axaltacs.com/content/dam/NA/ ... -C-Eng.pdf
.

Everything you need to know about polishing aluminum

http://perfectpolish.com/

I would have voted for polish... no clear coating, just polish.

I am not worried about mirror finish, just no dirt will do the grey that aluminium is is fine by me

Once it is clean, just rub on some of that 'canoodle' wax to stop the oxygen getting to the alloy and making the white powdery stuff

I like the bare aluminium because if any cracks start happening, they are not hidden under any paint or coating... and you can see the grey sludge of 'witness marks' if anything is moving. I like bare alloy too, because while keeping it clean or re polishing in between inspections, you can clearly see if any cracks are happening (or movement)

I saw this one beautifully done Dominator and ever since I wanted my gyro's air frame to look as nice as this example.

Great thing is the older women in my life is modeling it for us as well.........Maid Marian Springer!!! Luv that women!!! Her daughter is kewl too!

Is she any relation to Jerry (springer)

Have you considered wrapping the frame tubes? You can get a grey carbon fiber look

Just wrap an inch from the cheek plates so you can still see the bizz If you get sick of the color, peel it off and make it fuchsia instead?

You could hydro dip the outside of the cheek plates ... that would be KuuuuuL

I will polish.......then wipe it down with Sharkskin protectant inside and out and I should be good to go for years and then as it says just wipe it down again to recoat
after that and good for another 5-10 yrs again.

Wish me luck........

Polished looks good when it is polished, problem is that it does not stay polished, out in the desert where there is no humidity it will look good longer..I have never used the sharkhide stuff, but maybe it will protect the aluminum from oxidation.

I have always just wiped the frame with WD40 or inox whilst doing an inspection... I dont mind the dull grey alloy look... I did powder coat a couple of frames.... my second turbo EA81 machine in the late 90's had an orange frame and blue legs.... (unusual color combination... very rare... evidently)

Hey, those wheels on the shelf behind are the wheels that went on the 2 seater I got back recently.... so I must have built that in 1998..

Orange and blue are popular with Florida Gators fans.......

Powder coat is great if you can find someone who will do it right, and not treat your parts like they are for a fence railing...a lot of the small speed shops that would do small batches are out of business now.

That frame with the red wheels... I have one outside getting ready to be finished for my 503 machine...

will take a pic and edit it in in a while

Whats the deal with the grippy turf tires? Are you going to grind the tread off with a angle grinder?


That is a good looking Dominator..

Hey they make a really cool iridescent paint, as well as wrap that would look cool, nice and silver, but a whole spectrum of colors when in the sun.
Or go for the color or chrome look, never have to polish...

Those were wheel barrow wheels... they are great on soft ground and sand... and

That chrome car looks KuuuuL