Hey, can anyone tell me if nitrate dope paint has been successfully used as a color preserver? Its used in the aircraft industry, both model airplanes and full size. Its been around for years, there are two types. One is nitrate, the other is butyrate. You can put the butyrate over nitrate, but not nitrate over butyrate. Just wondered....

I would think it would be easy enough to just try it on some sample wraps?

When first I began building rods in 1959, the color preserver we used was a form of model airplane "dope". This material dries quite rapidly, but many bubbles are emitted and get caught in the rapidly drying liquid. Very often you would need to pop the bubble, sand it down and then add another coat. I was very happy when the new color preservers appeared. You can experiment with it on test wraps, but I would not use it on a rod until you have tested it. Good luck.

Mike Blomme

Years ago an older rod builder showed me his prized color preserver. It clearly had the smell of model airplane paint, or dope. I have not seen any other reference to this material in this use. Just got to thinking... I build and fly rc planes too, among other things. I have the paint...

The original Gudebrod color preserver was a nitrocellulose based product. I worked marginally well, and my wife threatened to shoot me due to the noxious odor.

I just tried the dopes on a piece of scrap, it ate the finish on the part coated with spar varnish... wrinkled and curled it. Looks like I wont be using that stuff! :)