Installing parts on Atlas U23B

[Anonymous]

Hey guys,

What is the best way to install the grab irons? There are holes pre drilled, but what kind of glue do I use to keep them in place? Also, I am using floquil paint with a bru***o paint them, but the paint dosent seem to want to adhere to the metal. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance,

Dave

[nfmisso]

Hi Dave;

For adhesive, a dot of gel type CA on the INSIDE, or GOO, or silicone sealant, or epoxy, just not solvent or anything thin like regular CA. Wood glue (yellow) even works.

For painting, first you need to get them really clean (you fingers are the number 1 source of cleanliness problems) using your favorite solvent. I like 91% Isopropyl alcohol due to cost, and relative safety. At the same time, clean your tweezers. Stick the grabs into a piece of cork roadbed or similar material (balsa, ... foam is not usually a good idea due to its reaction with Floquil)), with everything you want painted showing above the cork, using your cleaned stainless tweezers. If you touch them with you fingers, repeat the cleaning process. Next spray (can is okay) on a very thin coat of Floquil's primer, put the whole thing in the oven at warm, with the oven door cracked, and bake for an hour or so. Now you can brush on what you want, and repeat the baking.

Now get out your plastic tweezers, pull a grab out of the cork, and install in the shell. Put a dab of adhesive on the inside. Repeat until you've installed all the grabs. Breaks are recommended during this as it is tedious. When you are done, set the shell aside in a protected place for at least 24 hours, more is better.

The above is just one method that will work. There are other techniques that will provide similar resutls.

Have fun.

[Anonymous]

Nigel,

Wow, thanks for the great reply. I will try this today! Thanks again,

David