Covering
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2003
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Covering
Here goes,
I'm gonna strip the covering off an existing plane and re-do it. My problem is making it look good. I've seen some guys planes that look like they were done ot the factory. Mine looks like it was done at the junk yard. How in heck do you get the covering so smooth and straight and nice looking. I have a standard covering iron and heat gun but I wind up with a mess or at best a second rate job.
I'm gonna strip the covering off an existing plane and re-do it. My problem is making it look good. I've seen some guys planes that look like they were done ot the factory. Mine looks like it was done at the junk yard. How in heck do you get the covering so smooth and straight and nice looking. I have a standard covering iron and heat gun but I wind up with a mess or at best a second rate job.
#7
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Covering
Originally posted by DBCherry
Cover ten or twelve planes and you'll start to see some improvement.
In other words, after you've read how, practice, practice, practice.
Cover ten or twelve planes and you'll start to see some improvement.
In other words, after you've read how, practice, practice, practice.
Originally posted by rockhouse
Look in the back of Model Airplane News for Faye Stilley's book on covering planes. Very informative.
Joe
Look in the back of Model Airplane News for Faye Stilley's book on covering planes. Very informative.
Joe
Monokote is a good base color and is a bit tricky to do compound surfaces. It will bubble if you try to use it over itself. OTOH, Ultracote is good for a base or customizing and you could practically cover a golfball with it. If you have the need to cover something and then paint it, give Ozcover a look.
#8
My Feedback: (1)
Covering
A good surface preparation is also a key to success
fill all spot with filler, make a good smooth final sanding and vaacum clean your entire plane very carefully
when using ironing tool, use a soft cloth on it (I use a sock), this avoid to make marks on your covering film
fill all spot with filler, make a good smooth final sanding and vaacum clean your entire plane very carefully
when using ironing tool, use a soft cloth on it (I use a sock), this avoid to make marks on your covering film
#10
Covering
The Harry Higley books on coverying are useful. The key to smooth covering for me was to use the technique of initially tacking down one spot, then pulling tension on the covering and tacking it on the opposite side. Keep pulling and tacking around the perimeter of your wing, fuse, etc. so that it is nice and taught, then just seal it all to the rest of the surface.
One tip to hide seams is to cover the bottom first, and then the top. When you do the top, allow enough margin to wrap cleanly around the bottom and no one sees the seam!
One tip to hide seams is to cover the bottom first, and then the top. When you do the top, allow enough margin to wrap cleanly around the bottom and no one sees the seam!