Fighter Factory FM-2 Wildcat

[planenutti]

I understand why people like the weathered look of a paint job on a warbird, it is really simple, that is what they really looked like. However, what was left of the paint on the FF Cat was not doing the airframe any good. It needs to be remembered that the paint is not applied so that it looks good, it is used to protect the metal from returning to its natural state, RUST. There is always the arguement that at the end of the war that most of the army birds came out without paint, two real reasons, it cut down on production time and costs and it made the airframe lighter, so they could carry more or go faster. Now a days, we need to think preservation first and for most, so that means paint for now. Is there a paint process that gives the weathered look yet protects the airframe?
Bob

[Chris]

I realize I'm probably one in a thousand but I hate the beat up weathered look. Give me a nice clean just from the factory airframe anyday.

[CraigQ]

What stripper did you use?

Oh, it's some environmentally friendly stuff that is supposed to be what Boeing uses. I can check the data sheet tomorrow and get the name along with the neutralizer if you would like to know for sure. It's on the slow acting side, which is why we applied it late in the afternoon, wrapped it us and let it cook overnight. Worked great that way, it just peeled right off.

[Mark V]

It's on the slow acting side, which is why we applied it late in the afternoon, wrapped it us and let it cook overnight. Worked great that way, it just peeled right off.

The best ones seem to work that way these days. We use Ardrox here in the UK - spray it on, warm up the hangar and leave over-night.

[Yak 11 Fan]

warm up the hangar and leave over-night.

I can't believe you were allowed to warm the hangar up, was someone away???

[Warbird Kid]

warm up the hangar and leave over-night.

I can't believe you were allowed to warm the hangar up, was someone away???

I couldn't imagine the operating costs of a hangar like that! Heck I'd just get 10 guys together and hit it with hair dyrers!

[The Inspector]

39 turns of the hand crank while you're also trimming, retracting the flaps, adjusting power and mixture, lookin' for the rest of the guys. Don't let go of the crank or you'll have the sorest right knee in the local area!!

[CraigQ]

39 turns of the hand crank while you're also trimming, retracting the flaps, adjusting power and mixture, lookin' for the rest of the guys. Don't let go of the crank or you'll have the sorest right knee in the local area!!

28 turns and change counting cranking until it stops. Still a lot of turns though while flying and all else with the left hand!

CraigQ

[CraigQ]

Not much at the moment to say about the FM-2, interior of the cockpit and fuel tank bay painted, some painting of parts going on with others being sent out for clad plating. Got the engine mounts and accessories that go out for OH off Friday. A little bit of a waiting game right now, parts ordered, repairs to get finished, components being painted and reassembled, it's all good and can't wait for it all to start coming back together.
CraigQ

[Mark D]

Hi Craig

The paint work looks good. What is the manufacturer and color?

Mark D

[CraigQ]

Hi Craig

The paint work looks good. What is the manufacturer and color?

Mark D

The paint is from PPG. We matched an AN 611 paint chip to one of their chips to get as close a match as possible. While stripping the interior areas we were careful to watch for any original paint so that we could match the paint up with what was found. Our painter then tweaked the paint tint to match the original paint we found in areas that had not been overpainted by previous owners. The same thing was done with the light gray on the sta. 2 bulkhead/firewall and aft fuselage interior.

Craig Q

[mh53eflyguy]

Looking great! I only saw it flying as the show closed for this past years Warbirds Over the Beach. I didn't see it mentioned yet, but what is the plan for the colors? Is there a picture of the planned paint scheme, or is that a secret?

[Bill Greenwood]

The aviation approved Simple Green has an anti- rust addative added to it beyond what it used in the grocery store variety.

Still, that stuff is pretty harsh and I'd want to make sure it was all washed off.

Another and perhaps better degreaser, (not stripper) may be Carbon X, which I get from Sporty's in gal size. It cuts grease like Simple Green with no corrosion concerns. It can be diluted a lot and is not so toxic to breathe. You still don't want to get it in your eyes or inhale a lot. Both of them will turn your skin into parchment.

[warbird_patrick]

Looking good, what brand stripper did you guys use on the fuselage?

Patrick

[bdk]

The aviation approved Simple Green has an anti- rust addative added to it beyond what it used in the grocery store variety.

Besides the addition of a corrosion inhibitor, it doesn't have the "rusting" compound in it to start with. The chemistry of household Simple Green is not compatible with high strength steels.

If I can find the report, I'll post it.