Zinc Rot, What is it?

[JJ Skippy]

Looks like improper paint application. The outer paint. coat can crack without there being anything wrong with the zinc alloy used.


Unrelated, but same topic, many people say Magic 747s used to suffer from zinc rot, but it seems most issues were actually related to poor painting.

Disclaimer: I'm just killing time and don't really know what I'm talking about.

Would that also explain the paint bubbles too?

 

[Jazajia]

Would that also explain the paint bubbles too?

I think so. I have experienced paint bubbles on diecast fuselages after painting them for custom projects.

There are a lot of factors that can interfere with paint application. Paint properties, application technique, environmental conditions.

 

[Irish]

A friend of mine received a Gemini Jets Thai A340-500 (HS-TLB, GJTHA590, Sep 2005) and he observed paint cracking around the tail joint in the fuselage and horizontal stabilizers. There were also some paint bubbles scattered across the model (likely unrelated). Not sure if the cracks are zinc rot; he’s also wanting to know if the A346 is susceptible to it too.

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Looks similar to what one of mine suffered, I know Richard has a spreadsheet on all the ones susceptible to rot but doesn’t have all of them cause I don’t remember the GJ Delta 75th ann. on there. I would ask your friend to keep tabs on it and maybe see if it worsens over time.

 

[Phantom]

Paint bubbles can be the result of insufficient cleaning of the blanks before applying the base laquer. Especially when heated, the residue underneath the base may outgas resulting in bubbles.
I'd think the same effect can be prompted when the base coat is affected (softened/expanded) by excessive use of solvents (or their gases)

 

[LeoMuse747]

I've found these pics on an Ebay listing.

This one is not in Richard's list. But I wonder if this is really zinc rot or just paint cracks.

 

[Tropicalista]

i'm pretty sure that it's a zync rot.. i think that the last image it's so much clear

 

[Lightsnack87]

I've found these pics on an Ebay listing.

This one is not in Richard's list. But I wonder if this is really zinc rot or just paint cracks.

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This is zinc rot all day.

 

[TheEpicBirb]

I just bought an Emirates 777-200LR by gemini jets today, and a small portion of the wing broke off into my hand. this section was bending a bit when i was looking at it. I believe this is zinc rot.

Kinda sucks since i just bought it, it was an older model on an older 777 mould but still sucks to see. For now i super glued the wing piece back on

 

[TheEpicBirb]

I just bought an Emirates 777-200LR by gemini jets today, and a small portion of the wing broke off into my hand. this section was bending a bit when i was looking at it. I believe this is zinc rot.

Kinda sucks since i just bought it, it was an older model on an older 777 mould but still sucks to see. For now i super glued the wing piece back on

For anyone wondering, Reg is A6-EWD, item no. is GJUAE1090

 

[DaveSoda]

While the article highlighted at the start of this tread is some what accurate, it isn't a hard and fast rule. Many of the models in the list still are around in collections myself included. I think it would be better to say SOME of the models in the production run are affected while others arent.