Painting - Top Flite P-47D Thunderbolt User Manual

Painting

Everything that was painted on this model was
painted with Top Flite LustreKote (except for the
canopy frame—more on that later). LustreKote was
selected because it matches MonoKote and dries
fast. Usually, you can paint one color in the morning,
then wet-sand and paint a second coat later that
same day. Some modelers prefer to do the painting
after they cover the model, but we recommend
painting the intercooler air exits (if you have built them
in the open position) and the wing fillets before, since
they are attached to the model. The wing fillets can be
covered with MonoKote if done in several sections,
but we think it's easier to paint them.
Due to all the hard-to-reach corners and small
surfaces of the intercooler air exits, it would be
nearly impossible to paint them with a spray can. Too
much paint comes from a can to coat all the "nooks
and crannies" without ending up with runs. Painting
small parts like this is much better accomplished
with an airbrush. With an airbrush you have control
over the amount of paint that is being applied—a
much finer mist can be sprayed, making it virtually
difficult to get the paint to run. The wing fillets could
be painted from a spray can, but you will achieve
better results if these are airbrushed too. Though
LustreKote is only available in spray cans, there is a
way to apply it through an airbrush. Here's how:
❏
1. Spray the paint through a tube into a cup.
Spraying the paint through a tube keeps much of it
from becoming airborne.
❏
2. Transfer the paint from the cup into your
airbrush jar. Thin LustreKote about 50%. We use K &
B thinner. Other thinners may work, but should be
tested for compatibility. Now your LustreKote is ready
to spray through your airbrush.
❏
3. Mask and paint the intercooler air exits to match
your trim scheme. A little bit of careful sanding will
remove ridges built up where the paint meets the
masking tape. A final coat of clear (also applied
through an airbrush) will finish the job.
Note: If using aluminum, do not sand the final coat.
Small scratches left from even the finest sandpaper
will not disappear after a clear coat is applied. It is
best just to apply aluminum (such as on the wing
fillet), let dry, then clear coat.
The rest of the plastic parts that are not built onto
the model (such as the cowl, oil cooler shutters,
turbo-supercharger cover on the bottom of the
fuse, the canopy) can be painted after the model
is covered. Paint these parts whenever you're
ready. Following are instructions how to paint the
cowl like the one on the kit box cover...
❏
To mark the stripes around the cowl after you've
applied primer, tape a pencil to a wood block of
appropriate height and lightly draw lines all the way
around. Use the line as a guide for applying masking
tape for painting.
-52-
If you choose to duplicate the paint scheme on the
kit box, paint the cowl in this sequence:
A. Apply at least two coats of primer, allowing to dry
and wet-sanding between coats.
B. Paint the aft end of the cowl white.
C. Mark the guidelines for the yellow as described
above. Mask, then paint the yellow.
D. Mark the guidelines for the red. Mask, then paint
the red.
E. Mark the guidelines for the blue. On the full-size
Tarheel Hal, the blue extends only about halfway
across the cowl flaps. As you can imagine, this would
be difficult and time consuming to mask. We cheated
by painting the entire cowl flaps blue (nobody will
notice!). If you want a really professional job (as we
did on our prototype—don't try this unless you're a
pretty good painter), you could apply stick-on stars to
the white you already painted on the cowl flaps, then
paint the cowl flaps blue. Peel off the stars, leaving
behind stars of white paint under the blue. Now the
stars will never peel off.
F. Lightly wet-sand the entire cowl with 400 or
600-grit sandpaper, then spray on a coat of clear.
G. Paint the inside of the front of the cowl and the
baffle flat black.
Just like the cowl, the canopy can be painted at
any time. Here are some guidelines on how to
paint the canopy...
LustreKote is not recommended for painting the
clear butyrate canopy frame because it will curl
the edges over time. Select another type of paint
that will not react with butyrate, such as Pactra
Formula-U or Chevron.