To make this Goldberg Cub look like a Flitfire I chose silver Ultracote. I prefer UC over other brands because I believe less of what’s underneath shows through. I understand that it’s a little heavier, but on the type and size models I build it doesn’t matter much in the end.

I was excited to find a cut pattern in the instruction booklet. But that euphoria quickly faded when I realized that, back in the day, rolls of iron-on covering were 27” wide. Today’s versions measure only 23.5” in width. I think this is called “shrinkflation.”


This cut pattern would have worked fine except that it's for 27"-wide covering. Today's versions are 23.5"

Regardless, I cleared the bench and set it up for covering.


Far end covered with a towel; this is where ironing will take place. Cutting mat at near end.

Even though I knew that the Goldberg pattern was useless overall, I did use it to cut pieces for the horizontal stabilizer and elevator and went to work. Covering these components took until mid-afternoon.


Here, I have Woodpecked and fine sanded the horizontal stabilizer. Then I wiped it with an alcohol-soaked paper towel.


Prior to ironing the covering on the stab.


Covering ironed on but not trimmed or tightened.


Here it is trimmed and tightened.


Both the stab and elevator have been covered, trimmed, and shrunk. I have also hinged them and installed the control horn. The assembly is ready to install.

Then, I decided to stop covering and to lay out and cut the remaining pieces. It took the remainder of the first roll for the fuselage bottom, top, and sides. It required a second entire roll for the wing pieces and about half of a third for everything else.


All covering cut to size; much of it rolled back up and labeled.


Having all the covering cut and at hand, I looked forward to getting back to ironing, stretching, heating, and tugging (and cussin').

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