Prepping ABS for paint

[twmaster]

Hi All,

I have finally put the Electro Vee together, Thanks MikeC for the hull, and am thinking about paint schemes. The first question. How to prep the ABS hull for paint? I am planning to use a couple of different collors applied right from the Krylon can.

Pics to follow when painted.

TIA

[Bill Sellers]

Mike,

I'm no expert when it comes to painting and finishes, but for my boat I used a Scotch Brite pad to give the ABS surface just enough roughness so that the paint would stick to it. I read this in an article in RC Boat Modeler and it worked for me.

Bill

[George Pfeifer]

Wash the hull with dish detergent then use the Scotchbrite Pad or 220 grit sandpaper, and give it a coat of primer before applying the colors. Should be fine.

George

[RvE]

Washing the hull, light sanding with 1000 grit and priming with Krylon sandable primer is all that is required.
I have had some trouble with multiple colours, one on top of the other, with Krylon. I got wrinkles in the paint. What I do is mask the different colour areas so that the colour coat goes directly onto the primer. It is more work, but I am assured of a good finish this way.

Do several light mist coats of the colour to avoid drips. Final colour coat can be a "wet coat". Finish with the Krylon clear coat. When all is dry and hard, use auto wax to get a brilliant shine.

I have done this and folks have asked me if I had my boats painted in a shop - nope used a plain old Krylon rattle can.

Cheers RvE

[Bill Sellers]

Guys,

Would the same surface preparation apply to painting a gel coated fiberglass hull?

Bill

[George Pfeifer]

TWMaster;
If you want to try something a little different, Dupli-Color Paint available at most auto stores has a paint called Mirage. It was originally designed for the Ford Mustang. Color changes as you view it from different angels. It is sold in a kit; special primer, color coat, clear coat. Price is about $20.00 per kit, and additional cans of each are sold separetely. It comes in several color combos. I used "Magenta/Gold" on my EV, but have also seen Blue/Silver, and Green/Silver.
As you walk around my E/V it changes from Magenta to Bronze, to Gold. One kit was enough to do the upper portion of the boat.
It is a lacquer, and goes on very easy, and has a very high sheen, and so far has been very tough and scratch resistant.
George