MinnFlyer,

I have a roll 3M 3/4" multitask tape I like to use to seal hinges. What do you think about the sheets of peel and stick covering sold at the LHS for patching? I bought one that matches the covering on a plane I'm currently working on. I'm thinking of using it to seal my ailerons and elevator.

Do you think sealing control surfaces can cause excessive stress on servos; either wearing them prematurely or causing battery drain? I had a trainer that was sealed with covering material. I could never seem to get the control surfaces to move as freely as I thought they should. The 3M tape seems to do OK though. But still a little stiff. I do deflect the surfaces as I apply the tape, to provide freedom of movement.

At an airshow last year, I saw a full scale Waco biplane with sealed hinges. I'm not sure what was used. But the tape was clear and appeared to be thicker than packing tape. It really surprised me.

(Oops! I just realised I dug this old thread up during a search. Thanks for any replies.)