Need help painting Fiber glass canopy

[ZR2Chevy22]

Hey guys and gals,

I recent got a fiberglass canopy from gohbee for the stinger 30. I was wondering what the proper way to prep the canopy was for painting. It looks like it's got some type of gel coat on it and wanted to know what needs to be done. What prep work, what primer? It's going to be painted with automotive paint then clear coated to make a nice fuel resistent finish as well as a nice gloss finish.

Please any help is greatly needed to get my canopy preped as I have someone willing to help me paint it once all the prep work is done. I figured I would go as far as priming it to where all that needs to be done is the finsh paint and then cleat coats.

Thanks,
Andrew

[kjfaulkjr]

I just painted a Stinger 50 the other day.....all I did was wetsand the canopy with 400 grit sandpaper to take the gelcoating down just a little to make the paint stick better.
Then wipe the whole canopy down with alcohol....I used PPG automotive paint spraying thru a touch up spray gun....worked great....was able to get a fade job and everything.....the key I found was the more clear the better the finish job looks.

Also when using 2 or more colors if you may have a line to divide the colors, I used 2000 grit sandpaper on the lines to make it so that you could not feel the line from the color difference.

[ZR2Chevy22]

Will Isopropyl Alcohol be fine? or does it have to be true rubbing alcohol? I know there's a difference but all I have around is Isopropyl.

Andrew

[kjfaulkjr]

Thats is what I have been using and have been having great results.

[WJackson]

Listen to him , sounds like the same thing I do except I use Fascolor's. Its all about the clear , two part automotive!! :D :D

[flyinfool]

You really do not need primer. If you do use a coat of primer keep it thin and wet sand most of it off.
Primer does not add anything to the quality of the final finish other that filling microscopic imperfections. Primer is also very heavy. Extra weight that does nothing good for any heli especially a 30.
I wash my canopy with dish soap and water, scuff the surface with 400 wet, clean with alcohol, and start the color. Once you clean with alcohol do not allow skin to touch the surface till after the clear is on. The oils from your skin can cause problems with paint adhesion.

Have fun and post pics.