lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

You can get WLS direct from the manufacturer for less than 1/2 that cost. Haven't heard anything on that hydro-sand paper you've mentioned. Don't have any experience with that....not yet anyway... Kevin -----Original Message----- From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Charles Brown Sent: Monday, March 19, 2012 4:18 AM To: lml@lancaironline.net Subject: [LML] Rain, primer, and paint OK, the guys who already know this can sit back and chuckle, the rest of you, here's a bulletin on flying IFR in primer. I gather that WLS primer is not as hard as paint and about a half hour in moderate rain at 210ktas was enough to visibly erode small areas of all the leading edges. I think all that really happened was that defects in the underlying layers, which had been filled by WLS, were revealed. At any rate, there were numerous small areas (largest: 1/4" X 1/4"; most areas smaller) where pinholes, underlying BID mesh, and occasional air bubbles in micro were revealed. Recommendation: fly with a harder coating than WLS or avoid rain. The WLS held up just fine in ordinary flying for 100 hours. I've scheduled paint as soon as I can get into the shop, in the meantime I'm repairing the leading edges and spraying the repairs with K36 primer which the paint shop recommended (and I can get a quart for $80 rather than paying $300 for a gallon of WLS). Then, until painting, I'll cover the leading edges with leading edge tape. Question for you IFR guys with APA (Already-Painted Airplanes): What's your experience with rain and paint? Charley Brown Legacy #299 100 hours -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html