Refinishing Ventus b Fuselage

On Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 1:57:51 PM UTC-8, Charlie Quebec wrote:
Ain’t that the truth Mark M, just finished sanding and buffing my DG200-17C all over, about 50 hours to get the original Schaballac gelcoat back to looking new,
not bad for a glider made in 1980 to still have original gel in perfect condition.

All the work and you have drip. What to do?

http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

On Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 4:14:07 PM UTC-8, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
On Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 1:57:51 PM UTC-8, Charlie Quebec wrote:
Ain’t that the truth Mark M, just finished sanding and buffing my DG200-17C all over, about 50 hours to get the original Schaballac gelcoat back to looking new,
not bad for a glider made in 1980 to still have original gel in perfect condition.

All the work and you have drip. What to do?

http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

Stop painting and deal with installing an ADS-B Out system. The change will make sanding seem pleasurable. :-)

On Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 6:52:02 PM UTC-8, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 4:14:07 PM UTC-8, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
On Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 1:57:51 PM UTC-8, Charlie Quebec wrote:
Ain’t that the truth Mark M, just finished sanding and buffing my DG200-17C all over, about 50 hours to get the original Schaballac gelcoat back to looking new,
not bad for a glider made in 1980 to still have original gel in perfect condition.

All the work and you have drip. What to do?

http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

Stop painting and deal with installing an ADS-B Out system. The change will make sanding seem pleasurable. :-)

Installed one two weeks ago in a MinLak FES it was a lot easier than sanding.

Richard

On Friday, October 12, 2018 at 6:16:35 PM UTC-7, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
Pictures and process for refinishing a ventus b fuselage. Work in progress pictures and process as work is completed.

http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

looking really good. the Tetra will need a fuselage face lift in the next few years. not a total gel/paint removal like you've done, but still a huge amount of labor.

Brad

On Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 4:01:37 PM UTC-7, Brad wrote:
On Friday, October 12, 2018 at 6:16:35 PM UTC-7, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
Pictures and process for refinishing a ventus b fuselage. Work in progress pictures and process as work is completed.

http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

looking really good. the Tetra will need a fuselage face lift in the next few years. not a total gel/paint removal like you've done, but still a huge amount of labor.

Brad

Rolled on two coats of Duratec Vinyl ester surfacing primer, sanding tomorrow.


Pictures:
http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

On Monday, October 15, 2018 at 5:54:39 PM UTC-6, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
On Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 4:01:37 PM UTC-7, Brad wrote:
On Friday, October 12, 2018 at 6:16:35 PM UTC-7, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
Pictures and process for refinishing a ventus b fuselage. Work in progress pictures and process as work is completed.

http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

looking really good. the Tetra will need a fuselage face lift in the next few years. not a total gel/paint removal like you've done, but still a huge amount of labor.

Brad

Rolled on two coats of Duratec Vinyl ester surfacing primer, sanding tomorrow.


Pictures:
http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

Hi Richard,

Thank you for documenting this.

Watching with interest, I may do the same this winter.

How smooth/even was the primer after rolling, much different than spraying? I rolled marine PU on a trailer and it flowed very nicely.

What will you be using as a color/top coat?

Thanks,

Mike Carris

On Monday, October 15, 2018 at 9:49:09 PM UTC-4, Mike C wrote:
On Monday, October 15, 2018 at 5:54:39 PM UTC-6, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
On Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 4:01:37 PM UTC-7, Brad wrote:
On Friday, October 12, 2018 at 6:16:35 PM UTC-7, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
Pictures and process for refinishing a ventus b fuselage. Work in progress pictures and process as work is completed.

http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

looking really good. the Tetra will need a fuselage face lift in the next few years. not a total gel/paint removal like you've done, but still a huge amount of labor.

Brad

Rolled on two coats of Duratec Vinyl ester surfacing primer, sanding tomorrow.


Pictures:
http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

Hi Richard,

Thank you for documenting this.

Watching with interest, I may do the same this winter.

How smooth/even was the primer after rolling, much different than spraying? I rolled marine PU on a trailer and it flowed very nicely.

What will you be using as a color/top coat?

Thanks,

Mike Carris

Primer is rolled on to force it into the million pinholes left after sanding. If the first coats are sprayed many pinholes are bridged and show up again after the first sanding. How smooth it is doesn't matter too much.
UH

On Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at 6:34:59 AM UTC-6, wrote:
On Monday, October 15, 2018 at 9:49:09 PM UTC-4, Mike C wrote:
On Monday, October 15, 2018 at 5:54:39 PM UTC-6, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
On Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 4:01:37 PM UTC-7, Brad wrote:
On Friday, October 12, 2018 at 6:16:35 PM UTC-7, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
Pictures and process for refinishing a ventus b fuselage. Work in progress pictures and process as work is completed.

http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

looking really good. the Tetra will need a fuselage face lift in the next few years. not a total gel/paint removal like you've done, but still a huge amount of labor.

Brad

Rolled on two coats of Duratec Vinyl ester surfacing primer, sanding tomorrow.


Pictures:
http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

Hi Richard,

Thank you for documenting this.

Watching with interest, I may do the same this winter.

How smooth/even was the primer after rolling, much different than spraying? I rolled marine PU on a trailer and it flowed very nicely.

What will you be using as a color/top coat?

Thanks,

Mike Carris

Primer is rolled on to force it into the million pinholes left after sanding. If the first coats are sprayed many pinholes are bridged and show up again after the first sanding. How smooth it is doesn't matter too much.
UH

Thanks for telling me what does not matter to me. I had no idea!

On Monday, October 15, 2018 at 6:49:09 PM UTC-7, Mike C wrote:
On Monday, October 15, 2018 at 5:54:39 PM UTC-6, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
On Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 4:01:37 PM UTC-7, Brad wrote:
On Friday, October 12, 2018 at 6:16:35 PM UTC-7, Richard Pfiffner wrote:
Pictures and process for refinishing a ventus b fuselage. Work in progress pictures and process as work is completed.

http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

looking really good. the Tetra will need a fuselage face lift in the next few years. not a total gel/paint removal like you've done, but still a huge amount of labor.

Brad

Rolled on two coats of Duratec Vinyl ester surfacing primer, sanding tomorrow.


Pictures:
http://www.craggyaero.com/ventus.htm

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

Hi Richard,

Thank you for documenting this.

Watching with interest, I may do the same this winter.

How smooth/even was the primer after rolling, much different than spraying? I rolled marine PU on a trailer and it flowed very nicely.

What will you be using as a color/top coat?

Thanks,

Mike Carris

It will probably take several coats of surfacer, it does not matter if it is rough. Rolling on eliminates many pin holes. I will let you know after therapy sanding today.

Mike, can you share the boat refinish system you used on your trailer top? I want to refinish mine this spring. mhutnick ate papa tango dog dot fish catching thingy
Cheers
Mike