Jet Exhaust

The metallic cast of a jet nozzle

The rear part of a jet engine is one of the few places on an aircraft where paint cannot be replaced by ordinary silver. The panels around the outlet heat up in service, changing tone from golden through purple to blue gray, and with every type of machine that transition looks a little different. It is precisely here that the group is aimed: it offers four metallic paints intended for an airbrush, from which the whole transition can be put together.

Box contents

In the box there are four bottles of thirty-two milliliters each. Aluminum forms the light base, magnesium brings in a cooler, slightly greenish tone, a pale burnt metal serves as the transitional layer and the darkest shade, after which the whole group is named, closes off the immediate surroundings of the mouth. The shades are mixed so that they can be overlaid one on another without graying.

Working the material

The line rests on an alcohol binder and a very fine metal powder, so it is sprayed unthinned at a low pressure of about one bar straight onto a smooth black base. The sheen arises from the particles evening out on a smooth surface, not from polishing, and a rough base therefore kills it. The layers are laid on thinly and can be masked with tape. The final protection belongs to the clear varnish of the same line, because ordinary varnish subdues the metallic look.

Care of the gun

Metal powder sinks to the bottom faster than the pigment of ordinary paint, so shake the bottle shortly before every filling and between individual passes as well. After spraying, rinse the cup with alcohol and pull the needle through until colored residue stops coming away. Metal settled in the nozzle is told by a spray that starts scattering to the sides.