jimboshop99
Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 5
Hey everyone,
I just got back into rocketry this year and have built several kits so far (Shuttle Express, High Flier XL, Deltie B, Black Brant III, Crossfire, Crossbow) and they turned out ok, a few flew very well. The thing I'm having a hard time with is the spray painting. The first rocket I painted had significant crackling afterward, some drips. So I tried sanding it down after it dried, finally said "screw it" and launched it anyway. I did a little research, found out more about temperature and applying all the coats (2?) within 1 hour or waiting 48 hrs between, applying thin coats and long strokes. So this time I've held the rocket body by the engine hook in one hand, paint can in the other as I rotate the rocket while I spray in long (hopefully) even coats, and I'm stilling getting drips, which I might try to sand down and repaint in a few days. I'm using the Rustoleum 2 in 1 from Home Depot, seems to cover pretty well.
For my next rocket, I'm thinking about putting the body tube part of the rocket upside down on an old turntable, rotating it during painting, spraying SLOWLY at least 1 foot away.
Any ideas to make this easier and reduce the drips? How much time do you wait between coats? Do you sand between coats? How many coats total? I saw that someone on the forum said not to spend too much time finishing since I'll eventually lose it... Thanks again for any and all help.
Jim
I just got back into rocketry this year and have built several kits so far (Shuttle Express, High Flier XL, Deltie B, Black Brant III, Crossfire, Crossbow) and they turned out ok, a few flew very well. The thing I'm having a hard time with is the spray painting. The first rocket I painted had significant crackling afterward, some drips. So I tried sanding it down after it dried, finally said "screw it" and launched it anyway. I did a little research, found out more about temperature and applying all the coats (2?) within 1 hour or waiting 48 hrs between, applying thin coats and long strokes. So this time I've held the rocket body by the engine hook in one hand, paint can in the other as I rotate the rocket while I spray in long (hopefully) even coats, and I'm stilling getting drips, which I might try to sand down and repaint in a few days. I'm using the Rustoleum 2 in 1 from Home Depot, seems to cover pretty well.
For my next rocket, I'm thinking about putting the body tube part of the rocket upside down on an old turntable, rotating it during painting, spraying SLOWLY at least 1 foot away.
Any ideas to make this easier and reduce the drips? How much time do you wait between coats? Do you sand between coats? How many coats total? I saw that someone on the forum said not to spend too much time finishing since I'll eventually lose it... Thanks again for any and all help.
Jim