Official Freewing 80mm Avanti S Sport Jet Thread

[Hugh Wiedman]

Quote: "a complete re-paint plus the Spar Urethane," Questions: What brand Urethane? Is it water based? Do you brush it on or spray it?

I use the Varathane exterior water based gloss Spar Urethane, Lowes carries it but I get it on line and they send it to me cause I'm lazy. Comes in Semi-gloss, Satin and Matte (I think) as well. I brush it on with a foam or extremely fine bristled oil brush (obviously more expensive than the foam brushes). Others use the exterior MinWax Spar Urethane (and others use similar products) found at Home Depot (our HD here does not carry the exterior though, have to order it) and all give similar results. Just make sure it is the exterior, as the interior will yellow in the sun.

[AFTERBURNER]

Quote: "a complete re-paint plus the Spar Urethane," Questions: What brand Urethane? Is it water based? Do you brush it on or spray it?

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hi Wildman,

Have you ever weighed a plane before and after your coating process? It would be interesting to see how much of a weight gain it would be! I usually put 1 coat of Home Depot paint then 1 or 2 coats of a water based mat or a sheen. (what ever is the one "shine" below Semi Gloss) When I do the 2nd coat, I start to stew about adding weight.

I enjoyed reading your process and your photos look pretty cool!

I had to post since I get jittery when I do more than 2 coats, so I said WOW to myself while reading your process. Ha! Even with my 3 coats I've noticed that it gives the foam an extra toughness and I don't get as many dents.

Regards,

SJ




[/QUOTE]


No, I've never actually weighed them before and after, but it does add weight (usually the enemy). I also use a heavy battery in ever jet, the Admiral 6000mah 50C Pro, so I'm a "fat" flyer. The Avanti and my Camo F-4 didn't notice much of a difference in flying. The Stinger 90 and F-4 Blue Angel, which both had a complete re-paint plus the Spar Urethane, I could tell a slight difference in flying before and after. My F-16 is the only plane I have that I did not coat with Urethane, only because it was known to be a "heavy flyer" from the beginning, and even after installing the upgraded 4068-1835kv Inrunner, I did not want to make it any heavier. I did coat my new SU-30, but that seems to have enough guts to take the exact weight.

My 1600 mm Corsair, 1600mm Spitfire and 1700mm P-51 didn't notice much difference at all either.

It certainly does add some extra toughness though.

[Sheriffjohn]

[QUOTE=Hugh Wiedman;n240493]

For the additional yellow and red, I used testors gloss yellow enamel (TES1114TT) (hand painted) and gloss red enamel (TES1103TT). First I put down a flat white primer. Spray Rustoleum ultra coat flat white primer from Home Depot on the canopy, and hand painted testors flat white primer (which is now discontinued, although I think Tamiya makes it too) on the wings and elevators. I sprayed the canopy with the Rustoleum Ultra Coat gloss Golden Sunset yellow first, then hand painted the red. I could not get the paint to adhere very well on the raw foam so when I masked the area to paint the red over the yellow, it peeled everything when removing the trim tape, so the areas on the wing and elevator (picture with the afterburner was before I added red) needed 3 coats of Varathane exterior Spar Urethane gloss first over the yellow (should have done this first before priming with white). Then I could mask the area and get sharp edges without peeling any paint. The entire jet is coated with 4 coats of the Spar Urethane gloss, which really helps preserve the paint, gives it a hard shell and kind of glistens in the sun. You may see it better in the following photo on the nose, but in the sun it really stands out. The gloss also shows any imperfections, so if you like, you can use semi-gloss, satin or matte, but I like gloss. Hand spread it on with a foam brush, light coats each time, drying 2 hours between coats (keep it away from servos, linkage, hinges or anything where 2 coated surfaces come together - mask those areas).


Hi Wildman,

Have you ever weighed a plane before and after your coating process? It would be interesting to see how much of a weight gain it would be! I usually put 1 coat of Home Depot paint then 1 or 2 coats of a water based mat or a sheen. (what ever is the one "shine" below Semi Gloss) When I do the 2nd coat, I start to stew about adding weight.

I enjoyed reading your process and your photos look pretty cool!

I had to post since I get jittery when I do more than 2 coats, so I said WOW to myself while reading your process. Ha! Even with my 3 coats I've noticed that it gives the foam an extra toughness and I don't get as many dents.

Regards,

SJ

[AFTERBURNER]

These are the ones I paid $8 for a year or so ago. Looks like they have gone up a little since then.

https://www.buddyrc.com/glacier-1100...r-battery.html

Here are some for $7:

http://www.valuehobby.com/power-syst...h-2s-life.html

THANK YOU MUCH APPRECIATED

[rpellicciotti]

"LiFe receiver batteries cost $8." Where? Please tell me where I can get LiFe batteries for 8 bucks.

These are the ones I paid $8 for a year or so ago. Looks like they have gone up a little since then.

https://www.buddyrc.com/glacier-1100...r-battery.html

Here are some for $7:

http://www.valuehobby.com/power-syst...h-2s-life.html

[AFTERBURNER]

"LiFe receiver batteries cost $8." Where? Please tell me where I can get LiFe batteries for 8 bucks.

[rpellicciotti]

Has anyone used the Optipower Ultra Guard in their models yet? I want to run a backup power system for the receiver and this setup looks the ticket.

There is no need for a $50 solution. Here's what we do with our EDFs: We take the throttle lead from the ESC (which also supplies the voltage to the receiver) and we push the red wire pin back out of the connector and tape it off. This way, it could be put back in the future. With this pin pushed out, the ESC/BEC no longer supplies power to the receiver. I have a few 1100mah LiFe receiver batteries. These are small and lightweight. They cost $8. I install a standard receiver switch in the airplane and run the lead back to the back of the battery area. In the Avanti, this is the area where the plywood piece is located for the gyro. This way, the radio is powered from a seperate battery than the flight battery. The size of the battery is sufficient for 3 flights at least. If you happen to have a flight battery fail or run it down in flight, you still have control.

[AFTERBURNER]

Thank you Hugh. Much appreciated.

[Hugh Wiedman]

To give you a better idea of how the surface looks after coating, see below:

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hugh, what kind of paint and clear coat did you use on your Avanti?

For the additional yellow and red, I used testors gloss yellow enamel (TES1114TT) (hand painted) and gloss red enamel (TES1103TT). First I put down a flat white primer. Spray Rustoleum ultra coat flat white primer from Home Depot on the canopy, and hand painted testors flat white primer (which is now discontinued, although I think Tamiya makes it too) on the wings and elevators. I sprayed the canopy with the Rustoleum Ultra Coat gloss Golden Sunset yellow first, then hand painted the red. I could not get the paint to adhere very well on the raw foam so when I masked the area to paint the red over the yellow, it peeled everything when removing the trim tape, so the areas on the wing and elevator (picture with the afterburner was before I added red) needed 3 coats of Varathane exterior Spar Urethane gloss first over the yellow (should have done this first before priming with white). Then I could mask the area and get sharp edges without peeling any paint. The entire jet is coated with 4 coats of the Spar Urethane gloss, which really helps preserve the paint, gives it a hard shell and kind of glistens in the sun. You may see it better in the following photo on the nose, but in the sun it really stands out. The gloss also shows any imperfections, so if you like, you can use semi-gloss, satin or matte, but I like gloss. Hand spread it on with a foam brush, light coats each time, drying 2 hours between coats (keep it away from servos, linkage, hinges or anything where 2 coated surfaces come together - mask those areas).

Hope this helps, any questions and I'd be happy to help out if I can.

[AFTERBURNER]

Hugh, what kind of paint and clear coat did you use on your Avanti?

[MrVoyagerx]

Yup, I’m really liking the EDFs lately but just picked up this Blitz rc Skyraider at a garage sale for $10. , whatcha Gonna Do?

Sell it to me for $11...

Nice find!

[Beachsideflyer]

Has anyone used the Optipower Ultra Guard in their models yet? I want to run a backup power system for the receiver and this setup looks the ticket.

[Beachsideflyer]

Yup, I’m really liking the EDFs lately but just picked up this Blitz rc Skyraider at a garage sale for $10. , whatcha Gonna Do?

[Beachsideflyer]

And that's not all of my EDF's, and to think I said just 2 years ago that I would NEVER get an EDF, to fast and not enough flight time. Fly everything now on a 6000mah and flight times are not too bad 4-5 minutes.

Also have the SU-30 and F-18 hornet in build mode, so the fleet is expanding. It's primarily due to the Avanti S, which gave me confidence and experience in flying jets so I could fly others. The Avanti is such a sweet flying jet, almost a trainer, yet so much more.

Still love the WWII and 3D prop planes, but every other trip to the field is Jet Day, with at least 4 climbing in the truck for some fun.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Looks like EDF heaven Hugh!

And that's not all of my EDF's, and to think I said just 2 years ago that I would NEVER get an EDF, to fast and not enough flight time. Fly everything now on a 6000mah and flight times are not too bad 4-5 minutes.

Also have the SU-30 and F-18 hornet in build mode, so the fleet is expanding. It's primarily due to the Avanti S, which gave me confidence and experience in flying jets so I could fly others. The Avanti is such a sweet flying jet, almost a trainer, yet so much more.

Still love the WWII and 3D prop planes, but every other trip to the field is Jet Day, with at least 4 climbing in the truck for some fun.

[Beachsideflyer]

Looks like EDF heaven Hugh!

[Hugh Wiedman]

Looks great Hugh, how about zooming out for some more pics? Here is what I mean about just painting cockpit floor making stock canopy look darkly tinted.

I know, just foolin around. You asked for more pics, well I hate to post my photos , but OK. Added an afterburner also.

[Beachsideflyer]

Looks great Hugh, how about zooming out for some more pics? Here is what I mean about just painting cockpit floor making stock canopy look darkly tinted.