samparfitt
Posts: 1591
Joined: 9/1/2002
From: West Chester, OH, USA
Status: offline
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Each plane is different on deciding when to attach items.
Wing tips are usually put on before glassing.
The surfaces between parts put on should be flush with each other.
If not, then a 'filler' and or/sanding should be done before glassing.
All surfaces should be very smooth before glassing to save a lot of work later to fill/sand those areas.
Belly pans, fairings, etc is up to each builder to either glass to the plane or use some means of securing the part (such as screws).
I'm using screws on the gear fairings (covers) so I can get the retracts out for later maintenance.
IE: the belly pan, I haven't thought that far ahead. I may screw it on or epoxy it on and smooth out the transition between the pan and wing and then glass it.
You can always primer early and then add more parts and primer just those areas as you build.
Breaking down a plane construction into parts makes it managable so the task doesn't seem too over whelming.
When to put chart tape on is another variable.
Normally, it's done near the end of the process, just before painting a model.
You spray primer around all the tape to get a raised area.
No need to re-prime the entire area because no one can see that small of a transition between the tape to the rest of the surface.
In my case, the glass is exposed, but I have wet sanded it to give it 'tooth' for the paint to hold to.
Even if I didn't sand, a 1/32" gap is too small for paint not to adhere.
In my case, I'll be wet sanding before pulling up the tape.
Again, you could also put the tape down just before painting: pull it up right after painting the primer to put the panel lines on and before putting the paint down.
Another variable, after the primer is down and the plane is ready to paint, put the tape down and let the paint create the panel lines.
Primer is normally needed before painting, though.
1. it's always amazing how many flaws are revealed in what you initially thought was a nice smooth surface
2. paint normally needs a primer to 'stick' well to the surface so it won't peal away later on.
There's also what you are building the plane for: just to have a nice looking model or go to the 'Masters'.
On most ARF's, many parts are just screwed on: I think this axium holds true just for ARF's.
Most people don't really see the ridge left between parts and the plane.
For ARF's, people know it's an ARF so they expect that level of detail.
When you start building, people look at it closer to check your work.
When building a plane that requires more work, you can go to the detail you are comfortable with.
If you want a 'show' model, you better have it looking like a real plane when you take a picture of it.
If you want to find your mistakes, take a picture of it.
A picture is so much more 'critical' of your model than if you just look at it from different angles.
With planes as with just about anything, the old adage holds: 'there's more than one way to skin a cat'.
< Message edited by samparfitt -- 1/13/2007 1:06:21 PM >
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G. Samuel Parfitt
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RE: Yellow P-40 build thread - 
