Best ways to paint DT Foam Board and bare foam?

[droneflyer200]

OK guys I want to pick your brains on the topic of sealing foam board and bare foam  for painting and water resistance . I have been using clear Minwax polyurethane its what the general consensus online seems to use  so you can use  oil base paint like  Rust-Oleum or Tremclad or some cheaper store brands Or Acrylic art and craft paint thinned with alcohol. Bare Foam I have been trying Mod-podge on to seal the foam so that the paint will not attack and melt the foam.

[Burkeomatic]

Apr 23, 2023 20:08:04 GMT droneflyer200 said:

OK guys I want to pick your brains on the topic of sealing foam board and bare foam  for painting and water resistance . I have been using clear Minwax polyurethane its what the general consensus online seems to use  so you can use  oil base paint like  Rust-Oleum or Tremclad or some cheaper store brands Or Acrylic art and craft paint thinned with alcohol. Bare Foam I have been trying Mod-podge on to seal the foam so that the paint will not attack and melt the foam.

I think if you brush the paint on the foam it will be fine. 

I like doing minwax first, then painting over it. 

I like to use acrylic or house paint. This is because I refuse to pay a boatload of money to paint a DTFB plane. Think about it, that F6F I built only lasted 6 months and I probably spent $30-40 finishing, bwarz plane didn't even make it to paint because I have made it a habit to maiden and ensure airworthiness before investing on paint. 

But overall, I have the best luck doing minwax and smearing glue around the bare edges, that is my starting point for nearly everything. 

I've gotten to the point to where as long as it looks good from 10 feet away I don't care. 

That said I did paint my F-35 with no prep with rattle cans I had left over, I got some wrinkles/waves in a couple places because of not being careful, but it came out ok. 

[droneflyer200]

Yeah I pretty much operate the same way I just want my planes to look ok. I was just wondering if anyone else had found any new ways to treat DTFB that works.

[Burkeomatic]

Apr 25, 2023 9:24:34 GMT droneflyer200 said:

Yeah I pretty much operate the same way I just want my planes to look ok. I was just wondering if anyone else had found any new ways to treat DTFB that works.

I did find where someone depapered both sides of the foam, layed celophane wrap out on the floor (from the dollar tree for gift bag stuffing) 3m glue it on, and it is one giant piece of tape over foam if that is what you are looking for?

[droneflyer200]

Hmmm interesting I have been using the experimental airlines method of packing tape finish.the only problem is that colored packing tape here cost more then shaker can paint it's only available here in large quantities if you want a variety of colors you have to buy it in bulk.I have seen guys use Kraft paper and other stuff then paint.Im thinking my next move is to try hot wire cutting foam and then sealing the foam with foam cure etc and just use carefully thinned paint . I wish good old balsa was still available today it was so much easier to work with and finish.

[Mr NCT]

I minwaxed DTFB and then let it sit for a month before applying some filler. The paper delaminated immediately. Fixed the paper and put on another coat of minwax and all is well. Haven't had that problem if I filled or painted it within a day or two.

[Burkeomatic]

Apr 26, 2023 11:25:29 GMT Mr NCT said:

I minwaxed DTFB and then let it sit for a month before applying some filler. The paper delaminated immediately. Fixed the paper and put on another coat of minwax and all is well. Haven't had that problem if I filled or painted it within a day or two.

I'm wondering if the thinned glue wouldn't work better than minwax at this point. Minwax is super easy, but does separate from the foam within a couple of months with the white. The black seems to do better than the white, but the black is also harder to peel off the paper in the first place.