Brush Finished Wings

[Archer39J]

There are others around with a painted body in colour with silver metal wings, is that what you have in mind?

That sounds like the direction I'm going. I'm curious if a satin finish can be achieved on bare aluminum in a way that's less work than painting and less maintenance than a mirror polish.

[Battson]

That sounds like the direction I'm going. I'm curious if a satin finish can be achieved on bare aluminum in a way that's less work than painting and less maintenance than a mirror polish.

The wings are actually one of the easiest parts to paint, big flat surfaces which you can do one side at a time. Don't be put off!
I painted my wings last, both times I painted the plane. I quite enjoyed it. Once they are painted, the protection the paint affords the metal will last a long time.

[svyolo]

I was thinking clear mylar film over the wings. Cheap, light, and the glossy aluminum look.

[Archer39J]

The wings are actually one of the easiest parts to paint, big flat surfaces which you can do one side at a time. Don't be put off!
I painted my wings last, both times I painted the plane. I quite enjoyed it. Once they are painted, the protection the paint affords the metal will last a long time.

Yeah that makes sense, I'm just wondering if I might be able to get the finish I want without having to paint it on. I'll still be painting the cowling, wingtips, and plenty of cover plates I'm sure.

[Glenn Patterson]

I think a good coat of urethane paint requires the least maintenance. Wax it once in a while or just leave it alone. If the aluminum is scuffed then that is a surface for dirt to adhere to. The aluminum starts off shiny so easiest would be to wax it well & keep it up. It would be good to learn how owners keep their P51 Mustangs & war birds shiny. The downside of the scuffed or brush finished aluminum is that it is not a slick surface that adds a drag component. Boats and airplanes can get a couple knots with smooth waxed surfaces as the surfaces are very slippery.

I did a search to see how the aluminum tanker highway trailers stay shiny. Here is one site. https://alumaclear.com/
https://alumaclear.com/collections/p...ine-shield-kit

[Archer39J]

The downside of the scuffed or brush finished aluminum is that it is not a slick surface that adds a drag component.

Well now that's a consideration, plus the aforementioned corrosion protection of paint. Guess I'm back to painting them like everyone else.

[whee]

Sounds like you've got a plan but I just wanted to add my two bits. I think keeping brushed aluminum looking nice would be much more difficult than keeping a polished aluminum looking nice. The roughness would collect dirt and the scuffing would cut into the corrosion resistant layer of the sheet. Keeping a polished plane looking nice is only difficult if you want to keep it looking like a mirror. I wanted to fly more than polish, the plane was kept outside, and I like to play in the dirt but I like the bare metal look. I think my bare aluminum Luscombe looked fine. When the polish job was new it looked great.
47570_1525756671195_2954010_n.jpg?oh=a8faed2cfdd4c219d6e822e8d61d7ce5&oe=5B232504.jpg

I think the aluminum parts of our BH will be even easier to maintain and keep looking good because the the aluminum is new and has never been scuffed and painted like the Luscombe had.

When working on my aluminum river boat I found that I really liked the brushed look. I put a cone wire brush in a drill and went to town on the transom and few other areas. I looked really cool till it got filled with hard water scale. Now I just give it a acid wash every so often to clean off the scale and the brushed pattern is gone. The bottom looks real nice and polished from sliding over the gravel bars...but I wouldn't recommend that for the airplane
13230124_10208370091797223_2538549062541263384_n.jpg?oh=2d9067218995e42c6c4bef0513db164e&oe=5AE1E0D4.jpg

[geraldmorrissey]

My hanger neighbor has a RV-7 with no paint except a body stripe. No scuff, no polish, just bare AL. Looks great after 10 years and 1500 hrs. Prettiest RV I.ve ever seen and I've seen a bunch. It is in a hanger however, not sure how the NW winters and acid rain would affect the AL This is how I plan to do my Patrol wings.
Cheers
Gerry
Patrol #30 wings

[Glenn Patterson]

It is very true that the completed wings are shiny pieces of art. My thought was if a person wanted bare aluminum then just wax it once in a while to keep the elements off the aluminum & it should remain shiny. It could get painted down the road. It is only 2 wings & mainly the topsides that would see all the elements so it is not acres of bare aluminum. It saves a lot of weight with paint and hours of work throwing paint on at crazy dollars. It all depends on what a person wants to achieve for build and colors.

[N942VT]

I've worked on several brushed Cobras. nice look but these cars are treated pretty delicately. You could always do it and paint later if you didn't like it.

[Bdflies]

OOOHHH! That's gorgeous! I'm betting that sleeps in a climate controlled garage and only drives in sunshine. Probably no bouncing down back country airstrips.
A 'continuation' car?

Bill

[N942VT]

One CSX and the rest Kirkham. I'm driving a Factory Five now, nice driver.

[Archer39J]

That's pretty much exactly the look I was going for. Still sounds like I'll have to paint it on...

[whee]

I've worked on several brushed Cobras. nice look but these cars are treated pretty delicately. You could always do it and paint later if you didn't like it.

That looks fantastic! My wife wants me to build her a Cobra replica when the BH is done. I'll be sure to NOT let her see this pic.