I have a roll of Monokote, a NextStar Select, and a Monokote Iron. Every time I go to put it on the plain (repairs and what not) the monokote wrinkles up and gets like a hard plastic. What am I doing wrong! What do you do to get it to stick and become nice and smooth! Please help, thanks!

Let's start with the obvious...Are you peeling the backpaper off? If not, do so, it will adhere better. If you've done that then I think your iron is too hot. About 300 degrees or just above is where you want to be. Then don't leave the iron in one place too long. Keep it slowly moving.
Hope this helps.
Thanks
Barry

Make sure you're taking the backing film off. Don't laugh, I've seen whole planes covered with 'kote with the backing still on! Get a Coverite thermometer and set your gun to 325-350 for Monokote. Iron the edges down first, using moderate pressure, then lightly slide the iron across the center to shrink the 'kote tight. Get Harry Higley's book, There Are No Secrets. It gives some great tips and techniques on covering with plastic film. Making a covering job look good is about 95% practice, practice, practice.

Dr.1

RCU member and Moderator Minnflyer has written a pretty good how-to on covering. You can find it at [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=67]Covering How-to[/link]

Hope this helps

Ken

There are also 3 videos.

Go to this review:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=352

Scroll down to the "Covering" section for the videos

I have a question about the heat guns used in covering. Does the heat gun have to be one that is purchased at a hobby shop, or are they the same gun that is available, say at Home Depot in the paint section, used to strip paint? I've got one of those, I think it's 1200 watts or something like that. What's the difference?

Do not, repeat NOT, try to use a heat gun paint stripper for Monokote or any othe plastic covering material. There are quite a few irons on the market for applying model covering. I personally use Coverite irons both trim and regular. They have a heat control dial on the irons. You can also get a thermometer that sits on the iron and will tell you the exact heat. Read the directions on the covering roll and you will find a suggested heat for application. Some are high heat and others lower.

Lowlevl: I used a heat gun from WalMart purchased from their hobby section (Fabrics and such) for a long time with no problems.

Missed you yesterday!

Those directions that end up in the trash with the shrink wrap from Monokote provide excellent directions and tips for its application. I was bored one night on a midnight watch and read them and my covering improved tremendously.

Lowlevl, you CAN use a paint stripping type heat gun, but be very careful, they get VERY hot and can melt a hole in the covering.