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  #11  
Old 08-12-2009, 08:57 AM
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islandmonkey islandmonkey is offline
 
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Steve Sampson's G-IKON has one of the best paint jobs I have seen. Take a look at the checker pattern on the tail:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n0oPgd-_rr...h/HPIM1682.jpg
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  #12  
Old 08-12-2009, 08:58 AM
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Installing vinyl checkerboards is reasonably easy. You do need to be careful to get the trailing edges matched up and trimmed appropriately. With vinyl you only get one chance to install it correctly. Once it's stuck, it's stuck!

Spray masks have the advantage over regular vinyl in that any errors can be trimmed and replaced easily with masking tape. This allows edges and obstructions to be handled on the spot without fear of ruining a big piece of vinyl.

Of course, after you install the spray mask, then you have to paint the part, but that's usually not much of an issue if you've already built the whole airplane.

We make spray masks quite frequently. Checkerboards are a snap. Give us a call if we can help.
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  #13  
Old 08-12-2009, 09:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vern View Post
Not too hard either way!


To mask for painting is not too hard either. The trick is to use very fine line tape for a car paint shop to layout squares. Then use regular tape to fill in every other one. There will be a tiny unseen base color separation between each square.
Actually there is another trick which works well and is easier IMHO.

Pain the base color first, then mask every other row of blocks and spray the contrasting color. Once the checks flash off, pull the tape and mask the in-between rows. That way you can get perfect checkers, and all the corners touch.
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  #14  
Old 08-12-2009, 09:46 AM
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Aero Graphics in Loveland Co. did my graphics....they specialize in aircraft and I am very pleased with their work.

Les
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  #15  
Old 08-12-2009, 03:58 PM
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L.Adamson L.Adamson is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flyeyes View Post
Actually there is another trick which works well and is easier IMHO.

Pain the base color first, then mask every other row of blocks and spray the contrasting color. Once the checks flash off, pull the tape and mask the in-between rows. That way you can get perfect checkers, and all the corners touch.
That's how I painted mine. The rudder was painted all white. I then masked off the white, used two pieces of heavy paper in each square, and shot the entire rudder black. And it is important to remove the mask, before the paint is totally dry; in order to pull the tape off towards the wet paint. This eliminates most paint ridges.



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  #16  
Old 08-12-2009, 04:39 PM
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Here are a few in process pictures of my top cowl. Not great (iphone pictures) but I think you can get the idea.
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  #17  
Old 08-12-2009, 07:58 PM
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Default Vinyl mask film

You can get a local sign shop to cut you a mask using vinyl mask film. It's very similar to vinyl graphics film except it uses a paint resistant film and a removable adhesive. Using a regular cheap vinyl film as a mask is a bad idea since your paint my melt it and it could pull up your base color. Make sure you ask for a mask film made for paint since they also make a mask film for sandblasting.
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