SBR_RV

no matter how i do it it just wont go on properly. i have already wasted enough covering trying to cover the most simplest things like an aileron or a flat wing tip on my sledge but there always wrinkles there, or it doesnt shrink properly. Iam using pro-film and can some tell me how to do it properly eg. when to use a heat gun and when to use a covering iron.
the instructions that came with it are usless to me.

please, help me.

depfife

My Feedback: (14)

Not sure about pro-film, but here is an article with some covering tips.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...?article_id=67

Eric

Spastic

It's all in the small bits, cover them first, wingtips aileron tips inside corners...covering takes time and experience, have fun with it.

Gordo-ProBro

Dude, here's the deal. First, take a real deep breath.....we've all been there. Second, lower your expectations. I bet you're looking at some ARF saying "why doesn't my covering look like that?" Well, after you've covered a few hundred of the exact same plane with the exact same, pre cut covering in ideal conditions, it will.

Until then, follow the basics: start with the corners and edges, keep it pulled tight, use the iron for the edges and I like to shrink with the gun.

My final advice: Use the 6 foot rule. I like to have a nice looking plane but I'm not willing to get crazy. So as long as it looks good at 6' I'm pleased!!This plane gets lots of attention and believe me, it has tons of wrinkles, especially the flag.

ChuckAuger

My Feedback: (12)

That is the one bit of advice that has kept me sane. My planes look like hammered crap, but I have lowered my expectations and now I'm happy as a clam with the results of my covering jobs.

Still don't stop me from hatin' guys with pretty planes , but now at least I don't hate mine!

Gordo-ProBro

Hey, just annother thought. Since you are Down Under, you may need to stand on your head to get the right angle to the magnetic field, in relation to the equator, but only while it's winter.

sky_dancer

I agree with everyone else. You have to lower your expectations a bit. I'm kind of a perfectionist by nature and at first I wanted to rip off covering and start over when I had the slightest little problem. All that does is make you crazy and poor from spending too much money on covering. The attached pic is of one of my unfinished Burrito's. When I put the white "icicles" over the blue, I tried to do it with an iron and ended up with all kinds of bubbles between the two colors. I now know there is a better way to do it using windex but you can't even see those bubbles from two feet back! BTW, if you're learning 3d and regular aerobatics like me, the plane is going to get it's share of dings and dents anyway. I hear the C/L guys never waste much time painting their first trainer because they know they are going to crash it!
Have fun and don't be too critical of yourself.
Michael
ProBro # 614

SBR_RV

hmm, ARF, well i did look at my first arf and it was vmar, ene though the building looks cheap the covering was well done with great detail, but iam not sure they use hand on iron covering, anyway outlaw im only sixteen, i dont understand all that stuff properly yet lol. but i will tell you that i did cover my fin and it turned out good oh and dont worry i wasnt expecting a wrinkle free model.
thanks for you help.

Spacey

I like what Gordo said....very solid advice, after that I do not think I can add anything really. Do what I do, scrape up all the patience you have and have a go at it. As soon as you feel that bit of frustration building up, switch off the iron and everything and go for a walk (I do the getting a beer thing but then you're only 16 sorry) I did my first cover when I was 11 and the plane well....did not fly. Do not give up! The only way to learn is to keep at it. Now I am turning 22 and I have to admit I have had my fair share of covering, so much so that I can not count them anymore and well only now it is starting to look like I know what i'm doing.

SBR_RV

well, i have covered the tail feathers and control surfices and it all looks normal to me.
i have developed some techniques.

rcam

One other tip that others haven't mentioned is cover the bottom first, top last......... That keeps most of the lap joints on the bottom and out of view...

Randy

Mr3Putt

My Feedback: (2)

To Sky Dancer: Have not heard of the "Windex" method of eliminating bubbles under covering. Could you explain in detail?

Thanks

sky_dancer

Actually I'm not exactly sure how it works or if it will completely eliminate all bubbling but somewhere I saw a post about using windex to put a piece of covering on top of another and then using trim solvent (I think) to fasten it down. It's been awhile back now and I may have it all screwed up. Maybe someone else here knows the exact details. All I know for sure is that when I went to put the white down on that transparent blue with an iron I got major airbubbles trapped underneath. Of course, it was my first attempt at doing something like that so maybe that's why. Sorry I can't be of more help with the windex thing.
Michael
probro # 614

Update.... Ok I looked around a bit, just do a search here on windex and monokote and there is all kind of post covering the how to...
I have not tried it yet personally but I plan to on my next covering project.
Michael

SBR_RV

when iam covering the wing, do i iron on all the covering to the frame, then go over it with a heat gun, if so (iam pretty sure you do) how long would i leave the heat gun over it for.
i ask this because i tested it with a little bit of covering and once i went over with the heat gun all these little wrinkles appered over the wing ribs. could this be because i didnt completly iron the covering on the frame.
thanks.

Vref

My Feedback: (2)

here's my method (for a wing but it works on anything)...I start with a piece of covering that is just ( 1 inch or so) larger than surface to be covered. I just "tack" down all 4 corners on the leading edge and trailing edge and then pull the center of the leading edge and tack it down. Pull the center of the trailing edge and tack it down. Now continue on the rest of the leading and trailing edge, pull it taught and tack it down until the entire LE and TE are sealed. Now pull taught the tip and seal it and then the root and seal it. once all edges are sealed you can heat gun it just enough until the wrinkles are out.
Do the wing in 4 sections and ALWAYS remember the 6 foot rule.....If it looks good from 6 feet away that is good enough, any more than that and you will for sure drive yourself crazy.

Hope it helped and was just repeating a previous post.

CM

PAR

Just remember not to reheat the perimeter with the heat gun when shrinking the main area. Use a piece of cardboard as a deflector to protect the edges. If you get the edges hot while shrinking the rest it will allow them to move giving you more wrinkles than you started with.
Been there ...done that

SBR_RV

thanks, those tips should help.