A couple of FMS 1450 P-51 V8 Questions

[Flygirl]

Hey all :) I've flown this plane twice this winter from chunky lumpy winter grass and the last time I hit a clump which broke the retract mount and actually bent the metal gear. I have it all replaced but when the gear sheared off it ripped the colored tape covering the wires. So my question is, what do you all use to replace the tape if you have? Also it scuffed the intake on the bottom so what do you all use for touch up paint? Thanks!

[OV10]

RE: A couple of FMS 1450 P-51 V8 Questions

Hello Flygirl,
I use 3/4" wide electrical tape and it works better than the original. The tape comes in all colors now a days. If you can't find any of that in your area, try using packing tape cut into the width required and then paint over it. Regarding your touch-up question, acrylic paints which is water based is probably the most used medium on foam. I have been using a brand from Walmart called Apple Barrel and it comes in the rainbow of colors and in three different shades - flat, gloss, and fluorescent. The stuff is really inexpensive, 2 oz bottles of flat for 50 cents up to I believe $2 for the fluorescent.
Best Regards,

[STOOPIDMONKEY]

RE: A couple of FMS 1450 P-51 V8 Questions

+1 water based paints are best for these models. Test the paint on another foam surface before you spray your plane because some paints actually eat (melt) foam. As for the tape holding the wires you may try and go to your sign company or a place who sells vinyl stickers and see if you can buy some vinyl from them the color you want. May try a arts and craft store for the vinyl as well.

[ryramZ]

RE: A couple of FMS 1450 P-51 V8 Questions

I love the way the 3m blenderm/ hinge tape holds paint. It's semi see through but porous and takes paint amazingly. Another beauty of it is it hides so well you can get away without painting since the color shows through. It has a flat finish.

[Flygirl]

RE: A couple of FMS 1450 P-51 V8 Questions

I love the way the 3m blenderm/ hinge tape holds paint. It's semi see through but porous and takes paint amazingly. Another beauty of it is it hides so well you can get away without painting since the color shows through. It has a flat finish.

Thanks guys!!! I will look for the colored tape OV10 and Ryan, I had never heard of Blenderm so I will look at that too.  And thanks for the paint tip Monkey. I'll go looking for water based paints. Good thing you told me that.... LOL!

[Jack]

RE: A couple of FMS 1450 P-51 V8 Questions

Hello. I was watching one Rich Bakers demos, and picked up a great paint tip. Take a part of the plane to lowes and they will scan it and match the color with a water base paint very accurately. It works great. 8 oz cost about 3.00$. Used this trick many times with good results. Good luck.

[Pheonix]

RE: A couple of FMS 1450 P-51 V8 Questions

Hello. I was watching one Rich Bakers demos, and picked up a great paint tip. Take a part of the plane to lowes and they will scan it and match the color with a water base paint very accurately. It works great. 8 oz cost about 3.00$. Used this trick many times with good results. Good luck.

I do this every time I need paint.  The paint can be thinned easily with regular acrylic thinner and therefore can be airbrushed.  This method is much cheaper than buying the very small jars for hobby shops.  I needed paint for my F-5 and got it from Lowe's.  I added a little thinner and used my airbrush for detailing.   This worked out well.