Axis Refits

Finally managed to get a little time to get the silk span on Bismarck. Both sides of the hull are completely silk spanned. I hope to get at it tomorrow and fine sand the hull and apply the first coats of paint, then put the stripes, and false bow and stern waves.

I have a problem. I have no more dope or thinner for NC and the remainder of my fleet. I hear that lacquer type products are off the market. Does anyone know the best place to get dope and thinner or are there alternative products that work well for putting silk span on balsa?

 

Not sure about Canada, but in the USA dope can be had at any supplier that sells parts and such for full size aircraft.

Is lacquer truly not available there? I still use clear satin lacquer from many of the home improvement stores for patching. It is still available here.

 

I live in Canada, and dope (the chemical) is freely available at many rc airplane hobby stores, and some 1:1 airplane supply shops. Some places will ship, but it will be extra because it is a hazardous item.

Chase

 

Contact cement thinned with MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) at a 1:1 ratio will work too. The MEK can be a bit nasty, but not as bad as lacquer and lacquer thinner.
More info: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/mek/health_mek.html#_1_5

 

Dope is better than MEK and Contact cement, the contact cement and MEK is so nasty that you don't want to even read the 1 point type cautions
on the container. Contact cement will get rubbery if used on skin and patched with it. I don't use it anymore (MEK) because of the VOC and really
wife-unfriendly. But dope or lacquer isn't that much better in the wife-unfriendly area

 

I've read about it elsewhere but has anybody used a 50/50 mix of Titebond II and water for skinning in the IRC or Treaty?

Steve

 

Now that would be interesting to try out, Steve.

 

Carl, I agree dope is better, but it is sometimes hard to find (for those of us who live in the sticks, anyway). For patching I use Sigment and finger cots. Easy, quick drying, and no clean up pond-side.

 

Aircraft spruce co in Ga.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/east.html

I think Rick at BC is carring the Dope too;
"Pissst............ got some Dope?"

 

Thanks that's all very helpful information. I wonder if I ordered from BC will it ship to Canada? I don't know if Strike carries it and if so I don't know if they can ship it to Canada. I think the issue here is the shipping of such an item. Last thing I want to do is use Ambroid or Sigment to silk span an entire hull.

 

There are plenty of places in Canada to order dope from, so it is not necessary to order international. I'm fairly certain there are hazmat fees for shipping it, which means only certain ground shipping companies can be used. However you won't know unless you call and ask. I know there is an aircraft spruce location here in Ontario that will ship it, you may want to start there (there are others if you look at aircraft materials suppliers). I believe they carry Randolph (sp?) nitrate dope.

Chase

 

Thanks absolutke. I will try the companies in Canada first and see if that works out. If not then I will order it from Battler's.

 

http://www.randolphaircraft.com/distributors.html

That page has a list of four distributors for you that are located in Canada.

 

Sorry that I have been away.
But the chat about MEK brought back some memories.
Back when I was in the Military, I would go to the paint shop and procure a small bottle of MEK to use as glue for building plastic models.
MEK seemed to be the best stuff to weld plastic together.

 

Methyl ethy ketone....pretty volatile stuff. Keep it away from your polycarb blast shields. Don't ask me how I know this.

 

Sprayed more paint on Bismarck's hull. Both sides have the light grey on the hull above the waterline.

 

I hate the paint I used on Bismarck. Too light and too thin even after several coats. I smoothed sanded the splinter belt above the armor belt. I will try another type of paint that will coat better. I have it's new superstructure here at the house and will build that side by side with Tirpitz's superstructure.

 

Sanded the splinter belt today on Bismarck and applied more light grey to the hull . I haven't had the camera with me and no time to take the shots. It's been show up at the yard get a little work done and leave again immediately.