MoniKote problems
 

Hi Gang,
OK,
I just spent the hour trying to get the covering on the Avistar looking better on the bottom of the wing.
I did manage to ge one bad spot out with an iron and so now instead of a large loose area I have a spot that looks like an area full of thin ripples.
No proplem as it's stuck to the wood.
My problem is the worst areas are under the leading edge.
I tried and then went with a hot blow dryer thinking it would shrink when it cooled.
I just can't get the skin tight.
I used to cover boats with shrink plastic but I guess MoniKote is a different material.
QUESTION!!!
Should I slit the covering along the front of the leading edge and put it tight and glue it down?
Holding the wing you can see the large bubbles jumping when I hold the wing in front of a big fan.
NOT GOOD!
My other wing I recovered with thin balsa sheet and it looks good but no shine.
Any other suggestions or should I buy the material and do it myself? :confused:

MoniKote problems
 

Monokote shriks well at about 300 degrees and up. Just watch that you don't get it above about 375 as you can melt a hole in it as it nears 400. A good heat gun is the way to shrink. For me, an iron is harder to get a nice flat shrink. I use the iron to tack the covering down all the way around, as tight as I can, then heat gun the rest. To really shrink tight, I reduce the intake area of my heat gun by about 25%. I just place a finger across one of the 4 holes in the back. It's important to keep the iron moving to avoid melting. Start about 3 inches away, the get closer if you must. KEEP THE GUN MOVING.

MoniKote problems
 

Hi Tail twister,
Well I don't think the gun I have will put out over 250*.
However the IRON worked on one part and although not smooth it did stick it to the wood where 90% of my covering problems are.
I tried the iron on the top setting but I can't get it to shrink or stick to the balsa.
I have a commercial gun where I can set the speed down and raise the temp.
I'll try that now.
This gun is used for BIG jobs like covering a boat up for the winter
Thanks for the post

MoniKote problems
 

Yup, use a real heat gun. I tried to use a hairdryer a while ago when I recovered one of my planes. It worked.... almost. Then I borrowed a heat gun and it was a HUGE difference. Don't be afraid to get real close. I was amazed at how much heat it could take. BUT, it will bite you very quick so watch it. You can see it tighten up.

Mike

MoniKote problems
 

OK Now the UP<G>I resorted to a regular iron but that still was not hot enough with the heat pad on it.
So I just used an old T shirt and that let enough heat go through and very slow, bit by bit I saw the wrinkles fade away.
All bubbles are gone and ditto for the very loose covering between the ribs.
The MoniKote is tight enough to play a song on now and the job would have come out better if I had the right tools.
Below is the one half of the wing that I thought would have to be recovered.
The leading edge from root to the tip was all loose and was fluttering when I put it in front of the fan.
PIC is the best I can do but look at the leading edge,
The MoniKote got sucked right into the balsa and I can see the grain of the wood.
Thanks for all the helpful tips and suggestions :)

MoniKote problems
 

Hi Hawker,YUP,
Your right and for the rest who like me never worked with MoniKote listen to these experts.
They been there and know what works and what won't.
Guess time to order the right tools.
This wing was so bad and came out so good I wish I had another one to do.
Not the best PIC but trust me it was bad and now it's *TIGHT*

MoniKote problems
 

Forgot to put the PIC here.
It's below.
Only showed the one half that was really,really bad.
Now it's super tight and no loose covering.
Mucho *BIG* thanks for the tips and suggestions :)

MoniKote problems
 

Very cool, glad to be of help.

By the way, Termagator is the Mono-guru in my book. You can usually catch him in the fun fly forum. Also Neo and Wgeffon are heros with Monokote. I'm just a Mono-wannabe.

Good luck with the plane.

MoniKote problems
 

Good advice, get a monokote heat gun and they wrinkles come right out. Carefull not to blow holes.