Which is a better material to use for sealing hinge gaps - clear monokote, clear ultracote, or dave brown's trimseal ? Which has better adhesion, ease of application, etc ? I highly appreciate inputs on this as I need to decide which to purchase for my avistar (monokote covered). Thx.............

I guess I am cheap. I go to Wally-World and buy a roll of clear package tape. I take a piece and trim the width to what I need, then stick it on. Been doing this for several years and haven't had a problem with this yet.

Also, by keping the roll in my tool box, I have a way to patch minor holes and tears in the covering when out at the field and quickly get back in the air. For this application we call it "100 mile/hour tape" around here - sounds more high tech than package tape.

I use what ever covering I used to cover the plane. I also keep some packing tape in the flight box. I have helped many first time fliers and I will not fly a plane that is not sealed. I have seen planes that I had an incredible time controlling become nice fliers after the surfaces where sealed. Packing tape works good but it will come loose if it has extended fuel exposure. I hope it helps.
CB

I use the packing tape or the same covering which I used on the airplane.

If you wanted to use a clear covering it will work. Just make sure to not try to tack a high temp. covering for the seal on a low temp. covering scheme on the airplane.

I wouldn't go buy a whole roll of covering just to seal gaps. I have even used Scotch tape.

I prefer clear ultracoat,but any of the above ideas will work.

I use Clear Ultracote lite!


Doug

Hi Stmper, I just saw an ad in Hobby Lobby for the new low-temp oracover (=ultracote). Is this the "ultracote lite" you are using ?? Thanks............

Scotch Tape. Holds well believe it or not to any Kote type covering, I had the same strips of tape on my Avistar's elevator for over 30 flights before the oil started to effect it's adhesion. So I just removed it, wiped the area down with some rubbing alcohol, waited for the section to get dry and stuck some new tape on.

Hey Rajul

I think it is the same covering. The regular Ultra cote has a paper backing and the lite stuff has a clear plastic backing. Since they just change the way they make the covering It's hard to know whats what.

If I am building the kit from scratch, I'll cover the gaps in the same color I am covering with (I use monokote, btw). But if I get a kit already built, or an ARF, I'll use clear monokote to seal the gaps. I keep a roll of clear monokote around for doing this and for covering graphics on the plane (I use my computer and inkjet pringer to make custom graphics for the plane). The clear monokote does a great job sealing the graphics (and the gaps too).

If you want it to blend, use whatever covering material that you are using. If you are thrifty! (cheap) get some packing tape and save yourself some money!

If your bird is not well built then you need to put sealing tape in those large holes that have been built in to the plane, but if its done right then you dont have to seal off those controls.. Think about that Folks

I have read in a couple of magazines that if the gap is more than 1/32" you should seal the gap,I seal all my planes including combat planes.
Each to there own,John.

My understanding has always been that sealing the gaps on the control surfaces increases the efficiency of the surface.

It really doesn't take that much more time to do. So, I always do it. There's no reason not to.

Sorry sideliner, all of my planes are EXTREMELY well built, but I still seal my hinge lines.

Thats OK MinnFlyer I know some other people that do that also but they are what I call CRASH builders. Some people do it just because they want to seal up the gap. But I am from the old school and I think that if you build it right the first time you dont have to worry about what the gap is and you have positive and solid control all the time. If you have a lot of flex and a gap you get flutter no matter what the plane..