Has anybody ever covered a plane without removing the ruder, elevator and ailerons? I have a Top Flight Trim Seal so I can get into tight spots. If so did it work?
Or am I just being lazy and to cheap too go get some new CA hinges. If so somebody kick me in the butt.
Figured I would re-do the crappy job on the Tower Trainer while my box is down.

Skynard,
Absolutely. I've recovered several planes without removing the surfaces. When it comes time to recover cut a strip about 1/2" wide, fold it in half, pull the control surface away from the gap you are going to seal, place the strip in the gap,and use your trim iron to seal it to both sides. Then seal the overhang onto the control surface and the stabilizer. Then cover over that with your main covering. Works just fine and seals your gaps at the same time.

GREAT!!! I'm glad I asked. Thanks for the method Ken!

Skynard,
you are definately welcome. Another benefit I forgot to mention is it strengthens your CA hinges too. It's basically adding monokote hinges over the CA hinges.

Glad I could help.

This is great stuff, i'm about to re-cover my Mentor and i was about to ask the same thing

Thanks RCKen

I have recovered two (2) ARFs without removing the control surfaces. Both of them have pin-type hinges similar to the Robart hinges. I cut trips about 3/4" wide at a length just longer than the distance between the hinges. I then notched the ends of the strip for the hinges, slipped the strips in the gap, and ironed them down. At the hinges, the strips had a slight overlap. When all of the gaps were covered with the strips, I completed the covering beginning with the primary covering layer overlapping the strips. Even with close inspection, it is difficult to tell that it is not done with a single piece.

Lightfoot- I use that method even on new planes with both hinge points and Klett type hinges. Its worked well for me.