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buzzard bait -> RE: Silk (5/19/2008 1:49:57 AM)
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Harvey, dope usually has a plasticizer that keeps it from shrinking a lot, and also keeps it more flexible. Unfortunately, in model sizes the suppliers don't do a very good job of telling us what's what.
If you buy from the full scale places, like Wick's or Aircraft Spruce, they will specify "tautening" or "non-tautening" (plasticized) for clear nitrate, and probably clear butyrate too. Colored dopes are always plasticized.
Sig Nitrate is plasticized, and Brodak nitrate is too, even more than Sig's. In butyrate, Sig Lite-Kote is plasticized, but Superkote is not. The "Rejuvenator" that Brodak sells is butyrate with a lot of plasticizer.
I've never worried about flammability, with the models. I use about three or four coats of nitrate, followed by butyrate, for glow engines. For diesels I use only nitrate.
To do the Habotai China silk I started with tautening nitrate from Wicks, then followed with butyrate. I think that just using Sig Superkote would probably work too. You really need to get it tight while it is wet, and keep it wet while you stick it down around the edges.
For those using polyester - can you heat-shrink it? If so, I would give up silk and use polyester instead.
Jim
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