I am starting my first kit this weekend. It's a house of basla texan. It has a 44" wing span. The kit does not look very difficult to build. My only question is can I fiberglass the fuse instead of monokote. Also I would like to sheet and glass the wing also. Will that make the plane to heavy? Or could I atleast get away with just glassing the fuse? I just don't like the monokote. I have a friend who will help me if I use it. I just don't like how it gets all wrinkled and have to iron it out. Any advice here would be great. You guys have given me some good tips in the past.
Thanks
Patrick

Unless you are very experienced with glassing, the planes usually come out heavier. Larger planes can come out a 1 lb. heavier and still fly ok. The Texan you are looking at is pretty small and I think it would come out way too heavy for the small size. Of course you learn by trying and who whos? Maybe it will work out all right.

I agree with Fast here. That plane is small and does not like acess weight. I would 'Cote it. Film is the best way on this plane. Good luck with it.

Mark Shuman

Your glass job probably will make he plane too heavy to fly well. It will need to be flown fast and land fast, not a good combination for learning. (Of course, I'm assuming a fairly low level of experience here.)

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
Dennis-

I agree with all the other replies, this plane would have way too high a wing loading to fly well if it were 'glassed. I don't like Monocoat either, but it's light and about the only thing out there that mimics a metal surface (I say Monocoat as a generic to all film covers) Fiberglassing is pretty ambitious for a first kit project unless you have experience with it in other areas. I'm not sure what the projected flying weight of that particular kit is, but fiberglass on a .60 size plane, or even a .40 size is possible. The additional weight would require it to be flown much faster to perform well, and its takeoff and landing speeds would be much greater, as well as its stall speed. I assume that if this is your second plane, you're fairly new to flying also; I'd have to say that you're going to find that this plane flies a lot different from a trainer, any way, without increasing its weight. Build it as light as possible. Good Luck

AGREE WITH THE REST. fiberglass too much for this little plane. you might try Ultra Cote or Ora Cover. while they are still films , they are easier to apply than monokote brand. gases generated during covering are much less resulting in a smoother easier to apply covering. anything smaller than .40 size ( & careful here too) glassed would probably turn out too heavy.

AGREE WITH THE REST. fiberglass too much for this little plane. you might try Ultra Cote or Ora Cover. while they are still films , they are easier to apply than monokote brand. gases generated during covering are much less resulting in a smoother easier to apply covering. anything smaller than .40 size ( & careful here too) glassed would probably turn out too heavy. if covering with film seems difficult ,Id recommend books by Faye Stilley on the subject.