Hi Andy,

I'm pretty good at covering with MonoKote and I think that I can give you a pointer or two.

These are just a couple of tricks to try:

Cut a thin strip of covering about 3/8" wide. iron it down to the leading edge of the dorsal fin. Do this a the inside curve of the fin and at any place there is an outside corner. It should overlap the inside and outside corner by at least an inch. Run a continuous piece in the area where the fin meets the fuse. (This should be folded so that half is on the fin and the other half is on the fuse) This will give a margin of error when cutting the covering.

I would next cut a piece of covering that is at least 2 inches longer than the fin is high and wide. (you can do with smaller overlaps once you get the hang of it.) Cut it to shape to follow the fin but allow for overlap on all but the bottom.

Start applying the covering by ironing down the piece at the base of the fin where it meets the fuse. Be careful to only tack it over the area where you just ironed on the strip (iron down the first 1/4 or so of covering). Do this along the entire length of the base of the fin. Next take the covering at the top of the fin and pull up making it tight and and the same time rolling it over the top edge. While keeping pressure on it (stretch it slightly) iron it down at the very top of the fin.

Next do the same thing to the trailing edge of the fin. You should not have it anchored on three sides.

Next go to the center of the flair in the fin and stretch the covering over the top and tack it on the leading edge.

The work your way up the fin to the top. You will wind up with little gathered areas at the front and back of the top of the fin.

Next go to t he long tapered area of the fin and stretch and tack it.

Now is when the fun starts, tale your heat gun and put a glove on your hand that you will use to hold the covering. Aim the heat gun along the fin (With the heat on high) and pull and stretch the covering over the the leading edge of the fin. Work you way up to the top of the fin and the down the trailing edge.

Next use the gun to shrink the center of the film on the fin. It should be nice and tight. Trim off the excess close to the strip you initially ironed on and smooth with an iron. at the out side corner areas cut a slit right at the apex of the corner and iron down each side individuall and overlap.

Be careful not to get too much heat on the fin at the base or you might cause it to stretch up.

That is how I do them and they will come out very nice. MonoKote is great because it stretches a lot.

Regards,

Andy