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Post by skunkwerx on May 20, 2006 9:21:24 GMT -5
Joe's Model98 Marpat style. Sorry about the flash, it didn't help.
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Post by skunkwerx on May 20, 2006 9:23:05 GMT -5
Without the flash.
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Post by skunkwerx on May 20, 2006 15:52:03 GMT -5
OK, this is pretty much the completed job. I've huffed enough paint fumes for today.
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Post by pistolpete on May 20, 2006 18:01:19 GMT -5
Baahhhh it all photochopped if you look close the lines don't match up and the colors are off in one of the pictures. Stop tryin to kiss up to the Tippmann croud and go lick a battery.
ps: very nice, I may be trying to do a digi pattern in shades of pink.
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Post by nobody on May 20, 2006 21:59:06 GMT -5
if it looks like a Tippmann, feels like a Tippmann, shoots like a Tippmann; its still a Tippmann.
but paint fumes are good. acetone is better. epoxy is best.
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Post by bobapunk on May 20, 2006 23:33:12 GMT -5
What did you use to paint it with? I have been seeing/hearing godd things about Duracoat.
Looks good BTW, I only asked what paint you used because I am curious to see how durable it is.
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Post by skunkwerx on May 21, 2006 7:19:05 GMT -5
After researching....
On an A5 or Model 98 you MUST strip it down bare. Totally clean, if not your are just asking for paint failure.
Aluminum and alloys of aluminum start oxidizing immediatley when exposed to air. Hence, a good primer, and doing the priming as soon as it's stripped is mandatory.
Any off-the-shelf poisonous , toxic, vile paint stripper works fine. Or regular tap-water from New Jersey.
After stripping, I get all the Primer and Paint Area ready. Then I do a bead blast , with glass beads, to make sure the surface is as clean as possible. Then Primer, right away, before the metal ahs time to start oxidizing. A humid day would not be a good time to paint.
Advanced Auto carries a primer called "Etching Primer". It contains chemicals that "etch" into the Aluminum alloy, for the utmost in adherance. I think this is the "key" to a good paintjob on aluminum alloys. The A5s and Model-98s contain zinc and other stuff, which is necessary for their casting process.
After Priming, use good quality Enamel or Acrylic/Enamel Spray paints.
Finally I used an Acrylic Clear Coat, for that protection factor. I used what I had lying around, which had some glossiness to it. oh well. It would be better, if starting from scratch, to purchase a SATIN clear coat, to cut down on the shine factor.
IF any OMHW wants the Marpat Color Match for the paints, Email me.
As far as durability goes, well, they use Clear Coats on cars for that purpose, so, ......??
Most of the paintjob failures I have seen happen from underneath, bubble off, flake and peeling.
Dura coat is supposed to be very nice , but it's also super-duper expensive. I can't see putting a $200 paintjob on a $120 paintgun.
Doing seasonal touch-up is not that difficult using off the shelf paints.
For a single color, I'd go with Matt's offer to Powder Coat. Powder Coating is the most "economically durable" finish out there.
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Post by skunkwerx on May 21, 2006 7:37:27 GMT -5
With Short Lapco installed.
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Post by bobapunk on May 21, 2006 10:58:49 GMT -5
Looking good.
Sounds like you did the prep work right, hopefully the finish is strong enough to take the abuse of woods-ball.
Etching primer is used on all metals, not just aluminum. The stuff I have used for autobody work is a light green in color.
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Post by skunkwerx on May 21, 2006 15:23:21 GMT -5
yes, Boba, etching primer CAN BE used on all metals. Correct.But, it is typical to also use other types of Oxide Primers on ferrous metals. In this specific case we are talking about aluminum alloys and what it takes to get paint to bond to the surface. On terms of the "abuse of woodsball" , What abuse? An automotive body surface is out in the weather, year round, exposed to road salts, summer sun, ozone, etc.
A paintball gun is outside how may hours per year?
I would wager that more painthball surfaces are scratched off-field due to player neglect, than they are on-field.
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Post by bobapunk on May 21, 2006 17:38:04 GMT -5
Well, I don;t know about you, but I don't make a habit of driving my cars through heavy brush, thornes, ect...
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Post by skunkwerx on May 22, 2006 10:08:56 GMT -5
Why Not?
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