Quickbuild fuselage and interior paint
 

I'm only about 60 hours into this thing and I know I'm getting a little ahead of myself as I'm just working on the empennage but have the 8A quickbuild wings and fuselage in the basement. I've been reading ahead so I can get the big picture of what happens and when. I'm good until I get to the fuselage. I can't seem to figure where to pick things up from in the builders manual to continue on the fuselage. Any guidence here is appreciated.
And, I can't seem to figure when the interior surfaces get primer or paint. Are the quickbuild aluminum surfaces preped for primer or is there some sort of clear primer applied? It looks like as construction progresses things will eventually get tight in the fuselage making it all the more difficult to access with a paint gun. I've got an auto body friend with a booth that can do the work, (I also may need advice on interior paint choices later) I just can't figure when the appropriate time to paint is?
Any thoughts?
-Craig Ward
RV8AQB N24CW

Bad news about the quickbuild.

Even though it is primered, it's also sprayed with a preservative oil/wax for the trip from the Phillipines.

This oil is going to be almost impossible to remove around the rivets and seams.

You may want to use fabric panels instead.

Vern Little 9A

Guidance on starting the QB Fuse....
 

You start on page one of the fuselage construction instructions, and look over the assembly of each step until you get to something that hasn't been done - and then you pick the tools and continue on. Seriously!

Also seriously, as onerous as that sounds, once you start, it will take you a very short time to walk through it - and when you're done, you'll know how everything went together. You might even find a stray cleco or two - presents from the factory....BTW, you'll probably pick up tools about the time you are asked to run the rudder cable, it it is an -8 (if I recall correctly).

Paint - I'm a slacker - rattle can primer and finish for the entire interior - much of which then was covered with fabric eventually.

Enjoy the journey!

Paul

Ooooo, now that is interesting. I have a QB fuselage here fresh off the truck. Sounds like I should take a shot at serious cleaning before starting anything. No point in adding more bits.

I'm open for cleaning ideas...maybe lots of detergent and a pressure washer?

Dan Horton

I haven't noticed much oil on the inside - just the wash primer. The outside is a different story, though.
I was thinking of cleaning it with the sprayer I use to wash down the engine - varsol and air should get rid of most stuff (although it might get rid of the wash primer, too!)

Thomas

I've been looking at that oily film on the outside of my quickbuild fuselage for a few weeks now wondering when I'm going to take it off. I figured the sooner, the better. I don't know exactly what it is, but I do know that given enough time it may become harder and harder to remove. I cleaned off a small area using a paper towel and some window cleaner and it was kinda easy. I was thinking of rolling the fuselage into the driveway and spraying the whole thing down with a mild "bio" degreaser that we use at work (bicycle shop) and hitting it with the garden hose to rinse. I guess I may as well wash the wing surfaces also.
The interior looks to be free of this oil and needs, more than anything, a good sweeping out (only gifts found were the hat and some paperwork). Then it may be "rattle can" and paint as I go during construction. But, does this make sence? And, do I paint directly over the wash primer or is it customary to put something else over the top of it before the paint goes on?

Reading the construction manual, I did get to the rudder cables when I thought I should start working from there. From that point on it looks a little 'this is done, this isn't' for a while and then it's all me. It just wasn't as clear cut as I thought it would be.

Thanks for your thoughts and guidence so far,

-Craig

I also have a QB and it was no issue cleaning the oil residue from the fuselage.

Once installed on my rotating fuselage stand I moved it into the driveway, mixed up some Dawn detergent in my 50 gallon trash can and fed my pressure washer from it. I blasted every square inch of the fuselage inside and out, right side up and upside down. It dried in about 30 minutes in the sun. There is no oils residue anywhere.
If there is a will, theres a way ... ;)

P.S. I found 3 rusted clecoes and a handfull of rivets rolling around in there also.
-Jeff

Painting QB insides
 

The wash primer doesnt seem to stick too well with interior paint on top of it. I ended up removing the wash primer and applying my own epoxy primer, particulary for the wear areas of the interior.

As others have pointed out, most of the preservative is on the outside. Once you get the rest of the interior structure parts & pieces fitted/installed, but BEFORE you do any wiring or plumbing, is the time to paint. It is important to scuff the surface with maroon Scotchbrite as well as clean it repeatedly with clean cloths and a good surface cleaner. Of course you'll be both vacuuming and blowing it with compressed air repeatedly too. Take extra time here, you only have one shot at it. Believe it or not Coleman fuel works very well as a cleaner.
Then you have a choice, rattle can or mixed paint. There is a large difference in the hassle factor here, but also a large difference in the durability and look. I've painted three interiors now with mixed paint, in fact PPG Concept (DCC) acrylic urethane. It's a nasty job but yields a good looking and durable finish. Worth the extra hassle IMHO.

I was at my local auto paint store several weeks ago to obtain more DP primer. I noticed they had an extensive display of PPG rattle can interior automotive paint. The sample board looked like a nice subtle matte gloss, perfect for interior use. Auto interiors is the intended use. The sales person said the quality is much better than typical big box hardware store offerings. The color selection was quite broad with a good spectrum of grays and tans. I am farther down the road so it is too late for my project but you might want to stop by and visit your local auto paint supplier that sells PPG products. I have been mixing small quantities of two part auto paint and that is a project in itself every time you need to paint just a few components. Mix, spray, clean the gun, throw away unused paint, etc. Just another option to consider.