Deluxe Materials Aeropoxy

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Deluxe Materials Aeropoxy

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11 September 2019 at 22:40 #83774
Peter Crow
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@petercrow25030
I am in the process of building an RC yacht of RG65 proportions. The hull is being fabricated from 3mm x 1mm balsa strips as planking on to balsa frames. I intend to lay lightweight glass fibre cloth onto the hull exterior.

On two previous models, I have used Deluxe Materials eze-Kote, an acrylic resin, with the fibreglass, but this time I thought that I might use something a wee bit stronger. The same company's Aeropoxy is a 2-part epoxy resin.

I cannot find reviews for Aeropoxy. Are there any hull builders out there who have used this product and can give some feedback? (I'm feeling a little wary – I've already bought the stuff but don't want to risk all my effort when the time comes to apply it!)

Edited By Peter Crow on 11/09/2019 22:42:20
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11 September 2019 at 22:40 #4605
Peter Crow
Participant
@petercrow25030
11 September 2019 at 23:05 #83775
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
It looks like you'll be the first, Peter. I've always used Z-Poxy but I also have an unused pack of Aeropoxy in my cupboard, waiting for a favourable comment about it. All I can suggest is that you try what everyone recommends and yet few seem to manage to do i.e. try it on a piece of scrap material first. If it's of any help to you, I thin Z-Poxy out about 10% with rubbing alcohol (aka Isopropyl Alcohol). It's a lot easier to apply that way. Otherwise you might have a look at this article for my own technique with the stuff Finishing wood hulls

It works for me!

Dave M
12 September 2019 at 10:59 #83780
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
I used AeroCote (not Aeropoxy) on my SLEC Huntsman kit as it was one of the recommended options. It went on OK (a small amount of hardener to large amount of resin). However I did find it very hard when set and quite difficult to rub down, especially if there was the occasional wrinkle in the cloth. I did wonder afterwards if the instructions meant to say Aeropoxy which appears to be similar to Z-Poxy Dave mentions. Both are thin laminating resins.

I am using Eze Cote on the Swordsman kit I'm building and find it a lot easier to work with in terms of getting the cloth to lay flat and rub down plus of course the water clean up. I did initially have some reservations as to whether it might be too soft so I made up a test piece which included the primer and finishing paint coats. After several days for everything to fully cure I concluded that the result was perfectly adequate for normal model boating purposes.

As usual you pays your money etc.

I have heard that Z Pozy finishing resin is easier to rub down than Aerocote and most people seem OK with it but for the moment I'm happy with the Eze Cote.

Colin
12 September 2019 at 13:43 #83781
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
'Mea culpa' time, folks. For some reason I mistakenly used the name Aerokote in the Huntsman instructions when I really meant to say Aeropoxy. AeroKote is a two-pack fuel-proofer rather than a laminating resin. I shall point this out to SLEC and in the meantime I would advise any and all prospective builders not to use AeroKOTE for this purpose.

[Retires to sulk in workshop…. ]

DM
12 September 2019 at 14:39 #83783
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
I didn't like to mention it Dave – but I did make it work! It's an easy enough mistake to make though.

All credit to you for owning up – proves thare are still some honest people about…

Colin
12 September 2019 at 14:52 #83784
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
– proves thare are still some honest people about…

Mum always said I'd never make it in politics. I've told Ian at SLEC that he can either smack my legs or dock my pocket money. Meanwhile I hope Admiral Sir Colin Bishop will accept my humble apologies.

DM

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 12/09/2019 14:54:17
12 September 2019 at 18:13 #83792
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
I demand compensation…

Colin
12 September 2019 at 18:41 #83794
Tim Rowe
Participant
@timrowe83142
Hi Peter

Like Dave says, if you are trying something new practice with some scrap material first. It is always good to try out new materials and techniques but I do admit to being a bit of an epoxy fan. I also use it in combination with model aircraft tissue.

I had some problems when thinning down some epoxy on some structural work that didn't ever go off really hard. I had to bake it to finally get any decent strength. I think this was because I did thin the mix using about 10% alcohol which was a mistake and I now only ever go to 5%. It probably depends to some extent on the brand too.

I hope you are going to do a build blog. I am really interested in seeing model sailing yachts come to life.

Tim R
12 September 2019 at 19:08 #83797
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
Tim

The cheaper stuff has more water content which makes drying/setting time a bit of a lottery. That's why meths is definitely not recommended. IPA is hygropscopic which means that it will gradually absorb moisture from the air – even from the air in the space above it in the bottle – so best to buy it new every once in a while.

Don't drink the remains of the old stuff, though!! This stuff is much more to my taste.

Dave M
12 September 2019 at 22:29 #83799
Peter Crow
Participant
@petercrow25030
Is IPA really hygroscopic, Dave? I've drunk a few gallons of India Pale Ale over my lifetime and never noticed apart from feeling a little dehydrated the next morning! Funny that you should mention meths. The leaflet accompanying my Aeropoxy states: "Diluting with methylated spirit, methanol or isopropyl alcohol up to 10% will give an even more brushable resin, extend both the pot life and the cure time."

Talking of cure time, I am surprised to note from the labels on the bottles that the stuff is tack free in 8 hours and fully cured 24-36 hours. Seem to be quite lengthy timescales. In addition we are warned of serious eye irritation (something to do with the 3-aminopropyldimethylamine apparently: my 'O' level Chemistry from 1970 didn't cover this substance!), skin irritation, allergic skin reaction, causing genetic defects and toxicity to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Colin, I think I'm with you on the ease of use of Eze-kote! Dries in 20 minutes, doesn't entail the wearing of a Hazmat suit and, as you say, cleans up with water!

Tim, I might attempt a build log. I'm keeping a photographic record of the build. It's a question of getting the time to put it all together.

Thanks to all for your interest. It'll be a week or two before I'm ready to glass the hull but I'll get back to you with the results.
12 September 2019 at 23:02 #83800
Peter Crow
Participant
@petercrow25030
P.S.

Here's where I'm at with the build so far.
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