Aluminium Tape Covering
#1
Aluminium Tape Covering
Hi all,
I have just taken on a friends unfinished war bird project (An SC 120 4 stroke powered P51 Mustang built from plan).
In the main the body is almost finished leaving just the main wing and a few odds and ends to finalise.
The guy I got it from clearly had grand plans for build and had started to cover the fuselage in alloy tape. This is not a technique I have ever seen before and have only been able to find one video of it on you tube in which a guy covers a simple foam delta wing.
I would love to finish the model in this way as it looks fantastic. The friend had even started going over each panel of tape applying rivet detail with a narrow hexagonal copper tube he was pressing into the covering.
If anyone has ever covered a model in this way and has any tips and tricks to share I would love to hear from you. I'm interested in understanding how the structure under the tape should be prepared (Varnished / Just sanded ect)? Should the tape panels be overlapped and is adding rivet detail by pressing into the tape best way?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, many thanks
PS: I've only snapped one pic of the model so far (as i was collecting it and squeezing it into my car), ill add more as soon as possible.
I have just taken on a friends unfinished war bird project (An SC 120 4 stroke powered P51 Mustang built from plan).
In the main the body is almost finished leaving just the main wing and a few odds and ends to finalise.
The guy I got it from clearly had grand plans for build and had started to cover the fuselage in alloy tape. This is not a technique I have ever seen before and have only been able to find one video of it on you tube in which a guy covers a simple foam delta wing.
I would love to finish the model in this way as it looks fantastic. The friend had even started going over each panel of tape applying rivet detail with a narrow hexagonal copper tube he was pressing into the covering.
If anyone has ever covered a model in this way and has any tips and tricks to share I would love to hear from you. I'm interested in understanding how the structure under the tape should be prepared (Varnished / Just sanded ect)? Should the tape panels be overlapped and is adding rivet detail by pressing into the tape best way?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, many thanks
PS: I've only snapped one pic of the model so far (as i was collecting it and squeezing it into my car), ill add more as soon as possible.
#3
Years ago ( I think ) there was an article in the AMA magazine about covering like this , sorry I don't remember who or when . Try going to the scale forum, there used to be a guy ( Stan I think ) that was really up on this kind of thing . Good Luck . ENJOY !!! RED
#4
Thanks Tom / Red.
Ill certainly have a look at the scale forum.
The guy I took it on from showed me how he had been doing it but as it was the first time he had done it i was just wanted to see if there were any other techniques or watch outs to be aware of
Ill certainly have a look at the scale forum.
The guy I took it on from showed me how he had been doing it but as it was the first time he had done it i was just wanted to see if there were any other techniques or watch outs to be aware of
#5
The aluminum tape method isn't as common as using self adhesive foil. I, too, have seen an article on using it, but I can't remember where.
You Tube has vids on using the foil. Maybe the techniques would cross over.
You Tube has vids on using the foil. Maybe the techniques would cross over.
#7
I am in a similar situation, and I have used all sorts of foil including mommas kitchen foil which I bonded on with 3m 77 spray on adhesive , but I am not very happy with the results. I have not figured how to prevent wrinkles. I used tape to define the edges and cut the foil defined by the tape and it then matches the foil next to it. rubbing it down is where I run into trouble and I need practice.