I've been thinking of picking up a four star lately and I wanted to ask if anyone has purchased the ARF? It seems most of you guys choose the kit. Also, is it difficult to determine the orientation of the ARF plane in the air? It looks like the wing is red on top and red on the bottom.

Only reason I bought a 4 Star kit is the fact that they dont offer the 120 size in an ARF. If they had, I would have spent the extra money to buy it. I really dont have the room to build a kit, much less the time, but in order to get what I wanted, it was the only way. The main thing on ARF's is to check the glue joints good, to make sure they were all glued properly from the factory (the ones you can get to, anyway). Another reason alot of guys prefer the 4 Star in kit form is probably one of the most often modified planes out there, and it's way easier to modify things when you're building than it is to modify an ARF.

If you're worried about the orientation, you can pick up some white Monocote trim and apply it in a pattern (checkerboard, stripes, etc) to the bottom side of the wings, right on top of the red Monocote by using Trim Solvent.

If I have to add some Monocote, I want to order it at the same time as the plane. Is the idea behind trim solvent pretty much the same as the windex method? Would either work?

Anyone have tips for doing a checkerboard pattern?

anthof,
Yes, the windex method and trim solvent are similar in the fact that they activate the adhesive on the back of the monokote. I don't use trim solvent when doing the covering. I put on patterns and trim pieces by using the windex method, then after it has dried and set I go over the edges of the pattern with a trim iron (or a covering iron turned down a little) to seal down the edges. This has worked really well for me.

Here are some pictures of covering I've applied using the windex method and sealing the edges.

Hope this helps.

Ken

that's a sick-looking SSE you got there Ken...awesome job! [sm=thumbup.gif]

what exactly is the "windex" method?

Spraying the adhesive side of Monokote with windex "activates" the adhesive, but still allows you time to position and reposition the covering on top of existing Monokote. Then, after it dries, you can run over the covering with an iron for permanent adhesion.

BTW - I read somewhere that Windex only works with Monokote. I think it was in one of Minnflyer's posts...

So you would just cut out the individual squares and place them? It seems tedious, but that's the only way I can think of it.

Awesome planes Ken!!

Thanks for the compliment about the SSE. Using Windex is a method for laying down monokote over monokote without using heat. RCU member did an thread about doing the windex method that is the best I've seen to explain how to do it. Luckily, it is the same thread that explains how to do the flag scheme too. It looks a little overwhelming at first, but it's really pretty easy to do. Check it out at

[link]http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_603331/anchors_603331/mpage_1/key_flag/anchor/tm.htm#603331[/link]

Using windex only works on monokote, it won't work for ultracote. But if you want to do a covering job without bubbles in it you can't beat using windex. It's also nice because it give you a time to make sure your work it in place. The one down side is that it's going to take overnight for the pieces to dry out and be set in place. But in my mind that is a small price to pay.

Hope this helps

Ken

great idea...thanks!

Anthof,
If you want to save time you can but the Monokote checkerboard trim sheets. They are peel and stick I believe. You would have to buy a lot of them to cover the entire bottom of the wing but if using to make a checkerboard stripe or two. you could probably get away with four to six sheets.


Marty

anthof,
I have a little trick for the checkerboards. If you look at them closely (on the tail feathers of the Slow Poke) you'll notice that the white squares actually are connected together. This was done by cutting the checkerboard in white monokote and laying it over the red. I've attached a copy of the pattern for you. Resize the graphic so the squares are the size you want. Then print it out, and cut out the boxes that aren't connected. To transfer it to your monokote turn over the monokote and trace the pattern to the back of the monokote. Then cut it out on the monokote. Remove the backing and use the windex method to apply it.

Hope this helps

Ken

Just a quick comment. The Four Star line uses ultracote so using the windex method won't work without a little heat. I have the RED 4*60 and added 1 bay wide Yellow stripes to the wing bottom and a long yellow stripe from nose to tail. Some other stripes were also added to make it easier to determine the orientation. I used the windex method to place the stripes, then used a squeegee to take out all of the bubbles, then applied a little heat with a covering iron. This was my first time using the windex method with covering. If it did it over again, I would choose to use trim sheets that already have the adhesive on them. I will attach a picture of my 4* with the striping on the wing after I get home this afternoon from work.