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Neon Monocote? - 5/30/2002 9:49:08 PM   
RCdad29


 

Posts: 22
Joined: 4/5/2002
From: DE IMAA#687, AMA District IV, #197
Status: offline
I recently bought a couple rolls of neon Monocote for my first attempt at covering with it.

I was dissapointed to note a small sticker that you had to peel off where the roll was secured that basically indicated that the color would change in sunlight, exposure to fuel, or adheasives. It goes on to state that to avoid these problems you should select a different model of their Monocote products (e.g. - Not neon).

It doesn't seem that the traditional Monocote products come with a similar or strongly worded warning. This is a pretty big bummer as I'm trying to make this job turn out as best as possible being as it's my first time with it. I'm just learning to fly, so I'll probably be re-covering at least sections at some point , but I'd hoped not to have it mandated by atmospheric conditions, etc.

It also seems more sensitive to heat than traditional Monocote. It goes from not sticking to burnt in a flash. If you overheat it a little too much, the color cracks (separates) and is pretty ugly where it happens. I haven't had that happen with the regular stuff yet.

Anyone have any experience with this stuff? I'd especially be interested in any long term experience.

Thanks,
Kent.

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Neon Monocote? - 5/30/2002 9:58:31 PM   
turbojoe


 

Posts: 246
Joined: 4/19/2002
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Oh, great. And I just bought a roll of neon green because I thought it was gonna look cool. Didn't know about all the disclaimers on it.

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Neon Monocote? - 5/30/2002 10:18:27 PM   
stevezero



Posts: 813
Joined: 12/18/2001
From: Greensboro, NC, USA
Status: offline 		The other downside to the neons is that is weighs more than the traditional opaque monokote. Metallics and pearls also weigh slightly more as well. Transparent colors are the lightest. Not sure if weight is a factor for you, but it does add up on weight sensitive planes.

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Neon Monocote? - 5/30/2002 10:38:05 PM   
Edwin


 

Posts: 3440
Joined: 2/8/2002
From: Leander, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I did one of my old trainers in neon green and orange 3 or 4 yrs ago. They both faded pretty quick. Its pretty heavy and a little bit of a hassle to put on. Wont be using that stuff again.
Edwin

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Neon Monocote? - 5/30/2002 11:17:07 PM   
phughes


 

Posts: 103
Joined: 2/16/2002
From: Dover, DE, USA
Status: offline 		If it is a trainer, and your first covering job don't worry about the fading. It will fade a little but evenly, thus it should look the same all over. I think the reason they put the disclaimer on the rolls is that they want to set the right expectations for modelers. I have used both Ultracote, and Monocote neons and have been satisfied . . .their seams do not disapear as easily as the other solid colors, and they do react to CA, but all in all don't worry too much about it. Have fun with the airplane and if need be recover it evry three or four years.

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Neon Monocote? - 5/31/2002 1:36:57 AM   
Ron S



Posts: 1080
Joined: 12/12/2001
From: Fort Worth, TX, USA
Status: offline 		A long time ago, I had a Midwest Hots that was covered in zig-zag Black and Neon Pink. I thought it was pretty cool! Couldn't tell the top from the bottom, except the canopy!

Then, one day, I was spinning the heck out of the model, and I believe the switch or battery pack went out. It spun into some tall grass, and I couldn't find it.

Three days later, I finally found it. The model landed upright. All of the upper neon pink had turned into "Circus pink"! The top had basically faded to a pale shade from the summer sun. The lower shaded side was unfaded and still bright.

Moral of the story: Don't do spins with a neon pink model!? :

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Neon Monocote? - 5/31/2002 2:22:42 AM   
seafury_fb11



Posts: 236
Joined: 2/22/2002
From: Los Angeles
Status: offline 		It's not just monocoat. Anything "neon" will have the same problem. Even if you use a neon automotive paint, it will still fade in the sun. Neon looks cool but it's a maintenance nightmare.

As far as the monocoat goes, I used some neon pink on a Miss America P-51 I did a while back. It didn't want to stick as well as the regular monocoat. I had a really hard time trying to get it to stay on the wing fillets. Then after I flew the plane a few times and got all the oily residue on it - that was all she wrote. It didn't stay on well at all.

Russ.


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Neon colors - 5/31/2002 3:05:35 AM   
nchrome


 

Posts: 703
Joined: 3/27/2002
From: Galesburg, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Well fellas I guess I'm just a little different. I did my Gee Bee in black and neon orang. Had no trouble making it stick and took at least a year before it realy started to fade but still looked pretty good until the servo tray came loose monokote and balsa all over the place and that was just the wings the fuse realy didn't get hurt that bad for how it went in(full throttle and in a landing run). Co uldn't possibly taxi in to the pit area.

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Neon Monocote? - 5/31/2002 4:32:42 AM   
turbojoe


 

Posts: 246
Joined: 4/19/2002
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		I haven't opened mine yet so I think I'll just return it and get some more opaque. Neon costs almost half again as much so I'll put in a few bucks and get two rolls of opaque.

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neon - 5/31/2002 5:14:26 AM   
Johng



Posts: 1821
Joined: 1/24/2002
From: Deland, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I knew about the fade problem and still love the stuff. It's great for adding trim that really helps the eye see the orientation of the plane. A huge plus is the fact that it seems to stand out really well right when you need it, during overcast or at sunset. As everything else is fading to grey, that stuff keeps standing out.

I've seen the fade - took over a year of regular weekly flying to turn it a kind of pastel version of the same color. It's the kind of thing where if you are picky about your covering, you'd be redoing it from wear and tear anyway.

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John

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Oh crap! - 5/31/2002 5:44:39 AM   
RCdad29


 

Posts: 22
Joined: 4/5/2002
From: DE IMAA#687, AMA District IV, #197
Status: offline
Well ain't that just a kick in the pants!

The plane is an old Hobby Lobby Telemaster 66 that I'm restoring. and was a first kit building attempt by a friend of mine.

He drilled it a couple times, and broke the tail off at least once that I know of. Apparently it had also been through a basement flood at some point (sea plane? ). So, I'm really spending some time getting this thing back in the air. I got to thinking it's a bit of a Frankenstein monster, and then the name hit me "Telly Monster". You know, from Sesame Street? So the closest color match I can find is the Neon pink and Neon orange. Both of which at least some of you guys apparently have had trouble with .

Being as it's a telemaster, weight shouldn't be too big an issue. I should be able to keep fuel and exhaust off it pretty well, but it WILL be seeing a lot of sun...

I guess I should have done some more research before plunking down the (significant amount of) extra money for the neon. It is pretty thick stuff. The only disclaimer Tower Hobbies shows in their listing for it is that they can't accurately represent the actual color in print. Oh, well....

My brother-in-law has been in the hobby for decades, and swears by Tower Coat. I'll take his advise next go 'round for sure.

Thanks for the input,
Kent.

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Neon Monocote? - 5/31/2002 8:25:21 PM   
MinnFlyer



Posts: 19989
Joined: 4/22/2002
From: Willmar, MN, USA
Status: offline 		My wife just covered her new Tiger II in Neon Pink Ultracote. Too soon to tell about the fade, (although I HAVE seen it on MonoKote) but as far as applying it goes, it went on beautifully.

Another bad thing about MonoKote is: If you decide to re-do it later, good luck getting it off!

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Neon Monocote? - 5/31/2002 9:00:35 PM   
Crash_N_Burn



Posts: 535
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: d, AL,
Status: offline 		It's probably not accepted in the R/C community, but I have found that waxing my planes seems to keep the color of the covering much more stable.

I have an old Eagle II, about 10 years old, that I coated with neon green mono coat and then waxed with "BULLET" a synthetic, UV protectant wax, and it looks almost as good as it did when it was new.

I try and hit them all every season and I think it helps greatly, especially with the cleanup at the end of the flying day.

Anyone else ever try this?


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good idea - 5/31/2002 9:19:11 PM   
Johng



Posts: 1821
Joined: 1/24/2002
From: Deland, FL, USA
Status: offline 		That is a fine idea. With all the UV protectants out there for cars, everybody should ba able to find something that will help. I bet there's even something that sprays on that you can do as a post-cleanup ritual.

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John

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