Model covering materials

Would it be possible for advice on a good covering material one that will accept trim colors, as in monocote or solarfilm type coverings I would prefer to use that kind of material on stunt models but at same time want to be able to put trim on them, also does anyone know there is a nylon covering material available from a hobby supplier that can be put on the the same way as the nylon used to be put on back in the 1960's where one pre-doped the airframe and then put the nylon on with dope then shrank it with water and then doped it to fill the nylon with 50/50 dope/thinner mix as I am building some vintage type combat models that we used to cover in that method .......I seem to have gotten bitten by a nostalgia bug and want to fly these models just for the sport of it.

Richard

!!!! Every day is a gift so use the gift wisely !!!!

UltraCote from Horizon Hobbies is very good covering material. It is a polyester, as opposed to true plastic (like MonoKote) film. It goes on easier, IMO, especially around corners. And I don't believe you'll find anyone to dispute the fact that it goes on over itself (as in trim colors) easier and better, with fewer bubbles and wrinkles, than any of the other iron-ons.

As with any other aspect of model craftmanship, using iron-on coverings is an art form. I've covered dozens of R/C airplanes, and still learn something every time I do it. Its all good, to varying degrees; but I feel you'll get better results sooner with UltraCote than with anything else.

I'm planning on building a full-fuselage C/L model in the future, but I'm leaning toward silk and dope.

Nostalgia can be a double-edged sword...

>UltraCote from Horizon Hobbies is very good covering
>material. It is a polyester, as opposed to true plastic
>(like MonoKote) film. It goes on easier, IMO, especially
>around corners. And I don't believe you'll find anyone to
>dispute the fact that it goes on over itself (as in trim
>colors) easier and better, with fewer bubbles and wrinkles,
>than any of the other iron-ons.

Just being pedantic. Monokote (and other films that use "mylar") IS made out of polyester. Which is also a type of plastic. I won't dispute the other statements, since I've never used Ultracote and can't compare it to Monokote (which I've used only once).

does anyone know there is a nylon
>covering material available from a hobby supplier that can
>be put on the the same way as the nylon used to be put on
>back in the 1960's where one pre-doped the airframe and then
>put the nylon on with dope then shrank it with water and
>then doped it to fill the nylon with 50/50 dope/thinner mix
>as I am building some vintage type combat models that we
>used to cover in that method .......I seem to have gotten
>bitten by a nostalgia bug and want to fly these models just
>for the sport of it.
>
> Richard

Richard, Nylon is not available from hobby shops anymore... I have
however, found it in several local fabric/sewing supplies stores.
It is listed as Nylon Chiffon....Good Luck with your searching.
Tony

I can't help much withthe iron ons, but are you familiar with polyspan? Tom Morris sells it in a "generic" form. Rather cheap, and similar to the old nylon. It, however shrinks with heat after it is applied with dope. Very tough material.
Bill <><

This is the stuff you want to use. Thai silk is on the web at

thaisilks.com

The 5MM goes for about $3.00 a yard, 36"wide. They take credit cards but I ordered by phone last time I ordered. I got 30 yards several yearts ago and still have some left.

While I was looking through my old sent files I ran across this and thought it might be of intrest to those considering Thai silk.
I settled on the 5MM #26A. I got samples of the 6mm, 8mm and an
organza.
Esaki=.002 thick .6 grams/sqft
5mm=.002 thick 2.1 grams/sqft
6mm=.0025 thick 2.5 grams/sqft
8mm=.003 thick 3.6 grams /sqft
10mm=.004 thick 4.6 grams /sqft
10mm organza=.004thick I did not have a weight (best guess 2-2.5 /sqft)
Polyester Chiffon=was 4 grams /sqft and I have covered several planes
with this but it takes a lot of dope to fill.

For those "youngsters" that did not live during the nylon covering era, it was VERY strong, shrank a LOT, and came in various colors. It was crasher-friendly...that is, when you crashed you did not have to pick up a bunch of pieces - just carry off your bag of crushed balsa.

Hi George,
I used "silver" nylon to cover a Veco kit Mustang. It WAS very "crash friendly"! LOL!!
I came home with two "nylon bags" one day, and a lot of fuselage parts.
Bill <><

>Hi George,
>I used "silver" nylon to cover a Veco kit Mustang. It WAS
>very "crash friendly"! LOL!!
>I came home with two "nylon bags" one day, and a lot of
>fuselage parts.
>Bill <><
>
>
>Dont worry about the mule going blind 'til you get the cart
>loaded!

When I was in the service I was given a scrapped parachute, complete with all the ripstop stitching. I made $38.75 every two weeks. I gotta tell you that stuff was golden to me. The planes might have been a little heavier but they survived Idaho's desert conditions, You know sagebrush and sand.Yes I even used nylon over the intakes of my motors and didn't lose any while I was stationed there.
Mostly combat jobs and generic stuff. You know young,broke and had to be cheap or free. Dennis

LAST EDITED ON Dec-07-03 AT 00:02 AM (CST)
 
>Esaki=.002 thick .6 grams/sqft
>5mm=.002 thick 2.1 grams/sqft

This really caught my eye. Is Esaki still available? I suppose that's why silk sold for model airplanes is so much more expensive than Habotai.

Incidentally, has everyone seen the new Honda Accrod ad? (thanks, Steve..)

http://myweb.cableone.net/gryphon/honda.html

When I was in the service I was given a scrapped parachute, complete with all the ripstop stitching. I made $38.75 every two weeks. I gotta tell you that stuff was golden to me.

Dennis

(Lots O' Snipping went on...)

Dennis,

What a guy! For years I have waited for a "Golden Parachute" story which made economic sense to me.

Thanks!

>When I was in the service I was given a scrapped parachute,
>complete with all the ripstop stitching. I made $38.75 every
>two weeks. I gotta tell you that stuff was golden to me.
>
>Dennis
>
>
>(Lots O' Snipping went on...)
>
>
>Dennis,
>
>What a guy! For years I have waited for a "Golden Parachute"
>story which made economic sense to me.
>
>Thanks!
>
>Dan

Dan, It figures that you would be the only guy to'get it'!

There is a colony of elderly Brits in British Columbia who have regular contests for these ancient models. You can probably smell the diesel exhaust from OKC when there's a northwest wind. I have taken the liberty of putting you on their mailing list.

LAST EDITED ON Dec-09-03 AT 00:01 AM (CST)
 
>There is a colony of elderly Brits in British Columbia who
>have regular contests for these ancient models. You can
>probably smell the diesel exhaust from OKC when there's a
>northwest wind. I have taken the liberty of putting you on
>their mailing list.

Way ta go, Howard! However, not all the Brits live in BC. We do allow some of them to live here. By the way, Bob Carver had an ear/ear grin on him at the last D-Bat in September. REALLY a lot of fun. IF you can get past the stink. Attached a pic of a bunch of the gang. Mel Lyne and Paul Dranfield are the Brits from BC. Paul Vallins is the Brit from Washington. This was from the BIG $$$ D-Bat Challenge in June. Steve http://www3.telus.net/dieselcombat/index.htm

I used to fly with Paul Vallins along with Pete Tribe,Dave Harrison and the others from (SLACK) otherwise known as Cosmo any chance of getting him in touch with me.

Thanks Howard I appreciate it would be good to see what others are doing nowadays

VERRRY interesting...

http://www.fatlion.com/sailplanes/weights.html