AgCat1982

A question about iron on coverings. When you cover a wing, do you attach the covering to the ribs or not? Is there a general method or is just a individual choice?

Gollywock

Ag- It's explained a little bit here http://www.monokote.com/monoinst1.html -Jim

AgCat1982

Thanks Gollywock.

That is the instructions that comes with Monokote. It doesn't really say anything about whether or not you attach the ribs or let the covering "float" over them. I usually have a problem with wrinkles there that I can't remove.

Gollywock

Ag- Just allow the film to 'float' over the ribs, Attach it only to the outside peremeter . On a wing, an exception would be if had an undercamber. Then you would attach it to the bottom of the ribs to maintain the airfoil section. By attaching only to the outside peremeter, you can shrink the covering more evenly. Jim

AgCat1982

Thanks Jim. I was hoping you would say that! I have done several planes, but had problems, always, if I attached to the ribs.

the-plumber

I've always tack the covering around the perimeter, then iron all the way around the perimeter, then iron the internal structure (ribs, stringers, whatever), and _then_ use a heat gun on the open bay areas to shrink the covering between the structural bits.

Never ever had a wrinkle problem on any covered model.

I think the trick is to tack along one edge, then tack the opposite edge while pulling on the covering just a bit. I try to get the covering tacked to the perimeter without any wrinkles or 'waves' in the covering.

If there aren't any wrinkles when the covering is at the 'tacked-on' stage, there won't be any wrinkles when the job is done.

I always tack, then iron the perimeter, then iron the structure, then use a heat gun to shrink the covering in the open bay areas.