Coverings other than silkspan

Stuka Stunt Main Forum · 12 of 12 known posts recovered

timme6 · Jun 19, 2001 01:40 PM

Has anyone tried the SIG Coverall or Dave Brown Skyloft coverings? I want something tougher than silkspan but don't want to go the monokote route. Years ago we used Acetate from the fabric store, but I've not been able to find it now. At least not the light weigth stuff we used to use. I'll be finishing with Brodak dope.

Any help or suggestions as to alternatives would be appreciated.
Thanks
Tim

kdheath · Jun 19, 2001 02:38 PM

#1 source

Not familiar with Skyloft, but I like Koverall. The major trouble with it is that it is heavier than most other coverings, esp silkspan. I find that it fills easily with dope and a little talc. It is very easy to apply and stretches nicely. It is strong!!! So, I dunno. I suspect that on larger ships with more power and better power/weight ratios and wing loadings you might not notice much of a difference, as long as you are judicious with the paint. Th smaller the ship, the greater the effect of things like covering material weight. I would not use Koverall on anything smaller than a 35 ship.
Kelvin

The Kiwi · Jun 19, 2001 04:54 PM

RE: The SIG Coverall thread elsewhere#2 source

Read this thread. All discussed, cussed, & etc.

(http://www.rcwatch.com/)

Well, that didn't work! Most of the message forums allow a user to create specific bookmarks for individual threads, and when I tried it just now at Flight Lines, all I got was the "general" URL above!

Let's see something else?

(http://www.flightlines.com/forum/Forum6/HTML/000659.html)

All right!

That is what I was looking for. It was being stored in the browser "History" file!

Kiwi

Steve Helmick · Jun 19, 2001 08:25 PM

RE: The SIG Coverall thread elsewhere#3 source

LAST EDITED ON Jun-19-01 AT 08:54 PM (EST)

LAST EDITED ON Jun-19-01 AT 08:35 PM (EST)

I have some Koverall (Ciwi, watch your spelling!), and just got some Skyloft. Koverall is woven, should look like Nylon when doped. Skyloft is nylon mat, and looks like Silkspan, but may be whiter when doped (guess). I think either will be great for sport models of average size, but my intention is to use the Koverall on the open frameworks (heat shrinks, so you can use a heat gun to remove warps). The Skyloft may be used instead of carbon mat under clear doped coverings or transparent films. The Koverall figures out to about .8 oz for a Banshee (basic wing sans flaps) without dope, which seems pretty reasonable to me, if SIG's weight specs are accurate. All these synthetics are claimed to take less dope to seal than paper equivalents, I suppose because the fibers are not absorbant individually. Continual patching will probably add more weight (not to mention dissatisfaction) than the upgrade to a tougher covering material at the git-go. Polyspan is neat stuff, and so is "AeroSpan" (I think), which is a dyed version, available from <www.faimodelsupply.com>. Being able to use a heat gun to remove warps is a major good thing for some of us. Our PAMPA Rep, Danny Dirt, is wild for Micafilm. It is extremely strong and weight compares well to Japanese Tissue. It does fall into the "film" catagory, and with no adhesive, there is a bit of a learning curve. Most guys use 3M 77 spray. Dan says to almost spray the stuff in the air and wave the wing through it, let dry, then iron on the Micafilm. He uses regular film on the wingtips, other areas and for trim. Steve

Just weighed the Skyloft at 17.5g/yard. The package is 3 yards for about $4 at Tower.

Flyin_Again · Jun 20, 2001 11:26 AM

#4 source

Tim,

I tried Skyloft last year using Brodak's dope. It took forever to seal! I've switched back to using 5mm silk from Thai Silk. I've had much better luck with it in both sealing and finishing.

I have to admit I'm from the old school and don't use any types of film coverings...

Just my 2 cents! Good luck!

Bill

timme6 · Jun 21, 2001 12:09 PM

#6 source

Bill,

Well I wish I had seen your reply before I ordered some Skyloft.
(I probably ordered it about an hour before your message was posted). I figured that the Akromaster I'm covering will need less than half a yard, which will mean about 1/3 to 1/2 ounce of weight. How much dope did it take to seal and cover well?
So far the plane seems light and I'd hate to bog it down with a half pound of paint.
The plane is a trainer for my kids and I'm sure it will take a beating, so silkspan just doesn't seem tough enough. I have a second Akromaster and a Jr Streak for them also, that I intend to have flying before summer is over. If this stuff doesn't work out well, I may end up using silk on the other ones.

Tim

Jim T. · Jun 20, 2001 11:06 PM

#5 source

I bought a couple of yards of nice orange nylon at a kite shop. Havn't tried it yet.

Jim

wyrflyr · Jun 21, 2001 12:42 PM

#7 source

Have you considered Ozcover. It is a clear film and can be painted. I have put it on a classic Coyote and the Brodak dope is staying on great where it is painted near the fuse. It has not started to loosen in the sun. I spoke with a flyer at the Brodak contest and he has a stunt ship done in Ozcover in Brodak silver and candy apple yellow. Just beautiful.
It flew real well to. Sorry, I cannot remember his name or the models name.
It requires a LOT less dope to finish since it is already smooth.
It is available from Saturn Hobbies in Florida.
Whoops, sorry, just went to his web page and he has ceased operation.
He said to contact [email protected] for more info.
Jerry

Steve Helmick · Jun 21, 2001 09:42 PM

RE: Coverings other than silkspan/OzCover#8 source

Sounds like Randy Ryan's "GLADIATOR", designed by Dennis Schauer. It has little rainbows painted on it? Our club president, Mike Potter, tried OzCover on one of his Navy Carrier models and hasn't used it since, if that means anything. He said the instructions said to paint it with about anything but dope/lacquer, and I don't think he liked the weight of whatever he did use. I may still have the URL for an outfit that sells various ripstop kite coverings. Some of the FAI FF guys use it on wings, and it is said to be tougher than MicaFilm and quite light. I'll see if I can find it and add it later. Steve

Warren · Jun 23, 2001 08:18 AM

RE: Coverings other than silkspan/OzCover#10 source

Here is what Randy's Gladiator looked like. It was absolutely spectacular. Randy is a very clever, skilled, and talented modeler. And very creative with the paint scheme.

[photo not recovered: 3b3495b570e742a6.jpg]

Randy was a great fellow to talk to. He was very willing to share his knowledge. Maybe, Tom Morris can 'con' him into doing an article for Stunt News.

Cheers,

Warren

Randy Ryan · Jun 23, 2001 09:57 PM

RE: Coverings other than silkspan/OzCover#11 source

LAST EDITED ON Jun-23-01 AT 10:00 PM (EST)

Hi Steve,

I see Warren just posted the picture of my airplane here too and it shows a great view of the wing root area. The wings are covered with Oz cover, the fuse and the rest silkspan. It's filled with Duplicolor Scratch Fill primer and finished in Brodak's dope. If you scrape the finish over the Oz cover you will scrape until plastic is coming up, the paint does not chip of flake off, it has become part of the covering just as over the silkspan. A little known fact about my airplane is the there are holes in the bottom of the wing caused by a rough landing and the wheel pants going through the Oz cover. Even there the paint stayed put. I think surface preparation is the key (as always) It was washed (not just wiped) with acetone, and scuffed with 00 steel wool. You'll also notice that the edges are feathered nicely. This too was accomplished with the Duplicolor before the dope was applied.

This is a BIG airplane at a 67" wing span, yet there is only 8 oz of finish on it. Knowing what I know now I could save at least an ounce, probably 2 if I were doing it again.

By the way, Oz cover comes in 3 weights, this is coverd with the lightest which is more then adequate.

Randy Ryan

EddyR · Jun 22, 2001 09:20 PM

#9 source

Tim I have used SKYLOFF and it worked real well. It took less
clear dope than silk but then you need to add color.Also it came out lighter than silk.It will not pull around curves,wingtips as silk does.
Ed Ruane