paint products downunder

All of us in our club who are useing nitro in our fuel mix are haveing problems with paint,eventually blistering and peeling, we all seem to be painting from spray cans and had success with one particular brand but sadly they have changed their formula and the product is useless.I am considering useing automotive lacquers with a plastisiser but worry about the weight.I would appreciate any input into what is generally being used around the world as the household enamels we were useing no longer make the grade.
cheers
Alan

Alan,

I have been experimenting with Cabot's Crystal Clear as a clear coat. I painted my stooge with it and left some 25% nitro sit on it for around ten minutes, after the clear coat had dried for 20 minutes. Slight dulling of the surface, but no real softening. That was raw fuel mind you. I have also painted a 1/2A model with and have yet to fly it, but the raw fuel test suggests ther will be no problems.

It isn't a super high gloss, or at least the way I applied it (brush) it wasn't, but play around with it and perhaps the idea of coating the fuel affected area of your model would work? I know it works fine over flat enamels but have yet to try it over other paints. BTW, it's water based. It lives up to it's name so far, clear without yellowing.

Luke.

the household enamels we were useing no longer make the grade.

Which brands? I used to use the small Dulux tinlets of enamel, airbrushed, but I can no longer find them. They were never really fuelproof even with zero nitro but they worked to a degree.

Another old trick was to clearcoat with a product called Forminex Forlinyl which was a 2 pack floor sealer. A friend of mine used it over acrylic laquers and swore by it but I have no idea as to the availability now, that was years ago, very high gloss too.

EDIT: Found it, Forminex Forlinyl is now called Forminex Vitraform, same product.

FORMINEX VITRAFORM CLEAR - Premium low-build, two-pack, water clear (non-yellowing) polyurethane for interior and exterior use. Has excellent UV, chemical and abrasion resistance and long life gloss. Designed for use over FORMARINE SUPER GLOSS to provide "wet look" and extra durability. Ideal over Metal-Flake. Also makes an excellent graffiti resistant coating over most paints, mural and signs (Including vinyl cut lettering).

Have a look here http://www.shipways.com.au/marine.htm

Luke.

thanks for the info Luke,I was useing dulux quick dry enamels with great success but they have changed their formula in the preasure packs reduceing the VOC content, it now lacks ahhesion,gloss and has a reduced coverage.Wattyl killrust and taubmans white knight products were also unsuccessful.I will give Shipways a call
cheers
Al

No worries Alan.
Don't forget the Cabots Crystal Clear either, it's readily available from the local hardware. Well, it is in Brisbane.
I think the Forminex is the best bet all round but probably not the cheapest. If you do decide to use the Forminex then it can be used over most paints, even totally non fuelproof waterpaint, that and the high gloss was why my friend raved about it.



Luke.

Hi Alan, You might want to try a 'quick dry enamel' available from Auto Pro stores called Septone (made in Queensland).
Available in a reasonable range of colours, it sprays and covers well when thinned with a general purpose thinner at 10 to 15% and providing you let it cure for several days is reasonably nitro proof to 15%.
Being an enamel, it doesn't polish well after 'feathering' edges however, another product sold by Bunnings in rattle cans called White Knight Crystal Clear Acrylic is great stuff for a final finish.
One warning, it "must" be cured in the sun for at least two weeks (baked if possible) to ensure it's nitro proof.
Keep having fun, Tony.