Tail Boom

Date: December 09,1998

Author: Ed DeRossi (edsrc@telenet.net)

Subject: Tail boom painting
I completely build the tail boom with the sliders before the tail boom gets painted.
This includes mounting the vertical and horizontal fins, fitting the completed tail
rotor assembly and making sure the idler pulleys pivot freely. After this is 
completed, remove the tail rotor and fins.Mask off the sliders before painting 
the tail boom. There is no reason to have paint on the sliders.

 
As far as powder coating the tail boom,
I personally don't think this is a good idea. This is only my opinion. I had panels 
powder coated on a race car once (red). After one season,this car was pink. I wasn't
happy. I'm not sure if white would fade and get chaulky but I'm not going to chance
it. If Dan is powdercoating and not having balance problems,then the weight 
difference is not a factor but powder coating is heavier. Protecting the inside of 
the tail boom is a requirement in some countries.(I think Canada for one) Rob would 
know the answer to this one. My thoughts here are that it is more important to 
protect between two layers of aluminum rather than the entire surface. I don't think
Cessna primes the inside of their wings and they last quite a while.

Ed DeRossi