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Re : Smooth Prime

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johnwigney(at)windstream.
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:56 am Post subject: Re : Smooth Prime

Hi Fred, 

     

     I did my whole plane with Smooth Prime. I found it very easy to     apply with a small diameter foam roller and small plastic paint     tray. Instructions are at http://www.polyfiber.com/uvsmooth/

     

     I did the 3 coats and sanded down with 320 grit. Sanded down again     with 320 after another 3 coats. Sanding of Smooth Prime to get a     good finish is very easy. As I remember the dilution, if any, was as     specified on the can. I sprayed Aerothane topcoat after this with     good results. I understand that some have had problems with the     topcoat possibly due to inadequate drying of the water based Smooth     Prime. Instructions are very clear that it should be left for 3     weeks to dry. Poly Fiber now recommend sealing the Smooth Prime with     epoxy primer. I did not do this as it was not specified when I did     the job.

     

     Re quantity, I do not remember. Suggest you start with 1 gallon and     see how you get on.  

     

     Cheers, John

     

     

     [quote]ORIGINAL MESSAGE

From: Fred Klein <fklein(at)orcasonline.com> (fklein(at)orcasonline.com)

Subject: Smooth Prime

To those of you who have used Smooth Prime on their Europa XS...Have you used it JUST on the filled/foam control surfaces?...or on the ENTIRE airframe?

In either case, how much material is necessary for the required THREE  (undiluted) COATS before sanding?

Thanks in advance,

Fred[b]

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steven.pitt2(at)ntlworld.
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:50 am Post subject: Re : Smooth Prime

John et al,

 I did my trigear in Smooth Prime for all the  positives that have already been stated. I then had the aircraft professionally  painted (rather than by me) and after 5 years I am still very happy with the  results. However one other UK builder has not had such a good result with the  same Smooth Prime and same painter although it is being rectified in good order.  

 I was always told that damp was the main problem  with the Poly Fiber system ie it has to be absolutely dry before top coating and  I know that mine went into a newly built oven on a low heat after having 'cured'  in my garage for a couple of years after I painted the primer on.

 I was interested to hear that the recommendation is  now to seal with an epoxy primer and I can see the logic but who does it - the  builder or the painter and does the primer also need sanding down.

 At the end of the day you pays your money and  .......

 As I said I was delighted with my aircraft finish  and would recommend Smooth Prime again with the caveat.

 Regards

 Steve Pitt

 G-SMDH

 Trigear XS 912S

 [quote]   ---

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davidjoyce(at)doctors.org
Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 3:27 am Post subject: Re : Smooth Prime

Guys, If you haven't already bought the Smooth Prime, I 

strongly suggest giving some thought to gel coat. As far 

as I know every competitive fibreglass glider uses this 

system because it gives the ultimate finish, is very 

durable, andgives ultimate aerodynamic performance. After 

10 years my plane still has a surface which outshines 

virtually all Europas. The process is also simple: it 

needs a single sprayed layer (no primer, undercoat or UV 

protection - the gel is itself UV opaque) and then is 

rubbed down with wet & dry sandpaper 600, 1200 & 2000 

grit. The finish is like the bit of anatomy that Cuban 

virgins are alleged to use for rolling the best sort of 

cigars!, and is absolutely what laminar flow surfaces 

need. Unlike dry sanding, wet & dry finishing is a 

pleasure. It is sometimes said to be heavy but my plane is 

one of the lightest 914/wobbly prop planes on the 

register. The only thing I would advise is that you get 

the actual spraying done by an expert, someone who is used 

to gel coating gliders.

regards, David Joyce, G-XSDJ

On Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:55:38 -0500

  John Wigney <johnwigney(at)windstream.net> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Hi Fred,

 

 I did my whole plane with Smooth Prime. I found it very 

easy to apply with a small diameter foam roller and small 

plastic paint tray. Instructions are at 

http://www.polyfiber.com/uvsmooth/

 

 I did the 3 coats and sanded down with 320 grit. Sanded 

down again with 320 after another 3 coats. Sanding of 

Smooth Prime to get a good finish is very easy. As I 

remember the dilution, if any, was as specified on the 

can. I sprayed Aerothane topcoat after this with good 

results. I understand that some have had problems with 

the topcoat possibly due to inadequate drying of the 

water based Smooth Prime. Instructions are very clear 

that it should be left for 3 weeks to dry. Poly Fiber now 

recommend sealing the Smooth Prime with epoxy primer. I 

did not do this as it was not specified when I did the 

job.

 

 Re quantity, I do not remember. Suggest you start with 1 

gallon and see how you get on.

 

 Cheers, John

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 ORIGINAL MESSAGE

From: Fred Klein<fklein(at)orcasonline.com>

 Subject: Smooth Prime

 To those of you who have used Smooth Prime on their 

Europa XS...Have you used it JUST on the filled/foam 

control surfaces?...or on the ENTIRE airframe?

 In either case, how much material is necessary for the 

required THREE  (undiluted) COATS before sanding?

 Thanks in advance,

Fred

- The Matronics Europa-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List

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