Wing finishing question?

[derbaier]

I was supposed to pick up my Thundergull 2000 kit today, but Mark
called a couple of days ago and said that the cage was delayed at
the powder coating shop. So, I try again next week.

I've been wondering how many of you with the all metal wings painted
the wings along with the rest of the plane. I noticed that Mark's
demo Odyssey has natural aluminum looking wings, and I was thinking
of doing it that way too. I'm curious what the more experienced
Thundergull flyers on this list think about painting the wings or
leaving them natural aluminum? I assume that an unpainted aluminum
wing should be clearcoated to limit corrosion?

Thanks for any info or opinions?

--Dave

[Jim C]

Dave,

I didn't have my wing painted when I first got mine. I am in the
process of getting ready to do paint it shortly. Unless you want to
spend a lot of time polishing and messing with that aluminum, it
dulls up a bit. However, by not painting, I also have found out I
have a couple of steal rivets here and there as well in the wing
versus all aluminum rivets. Interesting. I'll have to ask Mark
about that.

Jim

[derbaier]

--- In ThunderGull@yahoogroups.com, "Jim C" <jimc@d...> wrote:
> Dave,
>
> I didn't have my wing painted when I first got mine. I am in the
> process of getting ready to do paint it shortly. Unless you want to
> spend a lot of time polishing and messing with that aluminum, it
> dulls up a bit. However, by not painting, I also have found out I
> have a couple of steal rivets here and there as well in the wing
> versus all aluminum rivets. Interesting. I'll have to ask Mark
> about that.
>
> Jim

Thank you for the reply, Jim.
I kind of figured that the bare aluminum would dull up over time if
it was not clear coated. I assume that the panels are an alclad
alloy, but if they are not, the deterioration over time could be
even worse. From your experience, it sounds like the skin panels are
probably alclad?

I have been looking at finishing products by Aircraft Finishing
Systems, and they have an interesting called EverShield. If it works
like they say, it seems that it should keep the aluminum wings fresh
looking without adding all the weight that paint would? The
reccomended application thickness is 0.1 mil so it seems like it
would add very little weight. Right now, that is what I am thinking
of doing, especially after reading your comments about dulling over
time. If you might be interested in reading about it, you can see
the specs here:

http://www.aircraftfinishing.com/evershield.htm

I would be interested in hearing what you find out about the steel
rivets that you found in your wing panels?

Regards,
--Dave