Custom paint job

[Teodoro]

Hello guys, want to make a new custom paint job for my Raptor canopy and am wondering which kind of paint would work best. I'm guessing I shouln't just use any apaint as it would crack on the flexible canopy. Is that right?

Thanks for your advice.

[mplourde]

I think the secrect is in the primer you will use before paint... Me too I expect to paint my canopy but I don't know how... I'll see what others will post about that... :wink:

[DebianDog]

http://www.helifreak.com/about654.html

[chilipepper]

http://www.arizonaheli.com/painting_plastic_canopies.htm

This link provides the basic steps that I followed for my canopies (stock ones) and worked our real well. I used a flexible bumper primer made by SEM for the base coat I used Fascoat paint from Parma ( http://www.parmapse.com/faskolor.asp ).

I then applied the decals and then took it to a local body shop for a couple of wet coats of automotive clear. Worked great and looks real good as well! :^)


http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/ea36d50b86d7d603b0b5cca8dec04f2a.jpg

[chilipepper]

Here it the primer that I used.... http://www.sem.ws/product.php?product_id=137 which worked real well. Make sure you follow the instructions from the arizona heli site and sand the body until it is 'stringy', this is the key! Prime and sand a few times and start the base coats. Since I used a light color (yellow) I had to use a white primer (rattle can from auto parts store) as the last coat before my base coat. From previous experience I found that the yellow was fairly transparent and would show through any grey left over from the SEM primer. Hope that helps!

[dunbare]

Another good product to use is Bulldog Adhesion Promoter, followed by Bulldog bumper coat. It's the stuff they use on bumpers and it is flexible. After that you just spray anytype of paint you want. I did this to a couple of my Raptor canopies and it held up well even through crashes. I did have a auto body clear coat them for me though. You can get it at most automotive stores.

Now I'm to lazy so I just buy the decal trims to put on them.

[hammerfly]

I had a buddy of mine paint mine and he used the Bulldog method. He does it for a living and said that the first two coats of it are real light, then the third coat was a little heavier and before it could dry he shot the base color on it. He uses the NAPA brand paints and they can mix with the Bulldog. Like the others said, you need to clear coat it with a good automotive clear. Here's a shot of what he did for me.
http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/1079eac4d02e5e528e19d27ecf217618.jpg

[Mylee]

Just some info for you guys, check out www.canopycovers.co.uk (http://www.canopycovers.co.uk) for some nice quality covers to protect these top paint jobs.

I've got a few covers now to protect my painting efforts :oops: :oops: and the professional canopies I've bought :glasses: :glasses: