paint and finishes for H-9 aircraft question

[timbo2410]

I am starting my H-9 P-47 and have been looking at not only painting and sealing the dummy engine but also the paint on the inner wheel wells and also the inner wheel well covers. Looking around at some of the photos it is clear that the silver/grey of the H-9 is not accurate (this is not a complaint), so I'd like to know if the covring used on the H-9 aircraft can be painted over using an acrylic paint. I know for the price they are not going to be 100% to scale nor accurate so a little touch up here and there should be allowed shouldn't it ???

[timbo2410]

ohh before I forget... does anybody know of a good airbrush that is user friendly .. especially in a small flat ....

[wharpoley]

I have heard of folks painting film coverings, but the paint doesn't stick well, you could scuff it with some super fine sand paper and try it, but even then i have heard or the paint want to pull up. silkspan is the best from what i have heard. lighter than glassing and painting...

[timbo2410]

not familiar with it I am very limited with supplies where I live ... I thought there might be an easier way .. silly me for thinking that ;)

[wharpoley]

Yeah, modern ARFs are very good quality, but thats one of the problems with them, you dont have much choice. what you have is what you get, unless of course you pull all the covering off.

[maxpower]

Lightly sand or use a Scotch Bright pad. I know of professionals that paint over clear coated surfaces by first scuffing up with a Scotch Bright pad.

There is paint that is made for painting over Lexan. I have never used it but I have seen it at all my local hobby shops. It is called Faskolor. I just purchased some black that I am going to paint over the plastic, then I am going to use my Auto Air colors to do a real flame job. Then I am going to finish it with with Faskolor clear.

I haven't done it yet so I can't tell you if it will work or not.

You could always try it on a scrap piece.

[timbo2410]

I may have an alternative. I was just given some 3 mm aircraft grade aluminium ... I might make up a new set of wheel covers and paint them accordingly. I don't like the pre made ones at all. The mounting screws interfere with the wheel wells, the brackets that hold the cover on the landing gear leg cause the wood to invert the opposite way and there is no shape at all... just flat .... doesn't look the best ... I may make from scratch ...I'm just wondering if the little extra weight will be a problem for the retract servo??