I know this is an popular question asked on this forum. I did a search but didnt get the answer I wanted. I just got a some quick questions.

First: When doing flat surfaces(like fuse) can I just pull the covering tight and iron it on or will that cause bubbles, or do i strech it with a heat gun? What acually makes it stick, just the heat, or does it need to stretch also. I know that around corners you need it too stretch.

I've been flying for a couple years but finally had a minor crash(it was gunna happen eventually) so i tore off all the factory coverning and epoxied what i needed to and now i need to re-cover it...which ive never done before.

so... any help that anyone can give would be very much apprieciated...and i know some will probably get annoyed at this question because it's asked a lot...sorry

-Dustin

When covering sheeted surfaces, do this:

Iron the covering around the edges (about 1/8" - 1/4") pulling slightly but not stretching.
Use a heat gun to pull the wrinkles out and tighten the covering.
Do not iron the sheeted surface more than you can help. The wood grain will show through, and it will wrinkle easily.

Use enough covering so you can grab it and pull it around curves. Heat, pull, lay, heat, pull, lay.

Practice, practice, practice.

Dr.1

Avistarpilot,
Please don't be afraid to ask questions, that's the only way to learn.

RCU member MinnFlyer has done some great how-to articles and videos on covering. check them out as they will go a long way to getting you started.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=67]Minnflyer Covering how-to[/link]
[link=http:////67.18.81.100/rcuvideos/magazine/reviews/352/cov1.wmv]Minnflyer Covering video, part 1[/link]
[link=http://67.18.81.100/rcuvideos/magazine/reviews/352/cov2.wmv]Minnflyer Covering video. part 2[/link]
[link=http://67.18.81.100/rcuvideos/magazine/reviews/352/cov3.wmv]Minnflyer Covering video, part 3[/link]

Take a look at these and see if they help you out. If you still have questions then please by all means ask them here. I'll do the best that I can to get your questions answered.

Hope this helps

Ken

Too bad you're not a little closer or I'd invite you over this weekend and I'd give you a hand

I want to give you an Attaboy for going your first 2 years w/o a damaging crash. That is rare.

I'm curious now about whether other people iron over sheeting. I never used to, but I do it more and more now because it seems to look better longer. The wood grain shows through, but that doesn't detract from the appearance. I notice ARFs seem to be fully-ironed, too.