I just started my first covering job. I got a SSE for free from a guy and it had to be covered and I thought was a great deal now it comes time for covering and I am a little worried!

I have mono kote and what setting I should set it to on a Hangar 9 iron. I was also wondering if it would be better to use one big piece and cover the entire wing or cover one side at a tim??

Thanks

Please go to post 15 of the thread I link below. You will find links to exceptiona video tutorials on how to apply covering.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_55...tm.htm#5597420

Yea i watch those before. I started anyway and just cut a big piece to cover both sides. I can get one spot just right but then I try to get some rickles out on another spot and then they come back in the spot I got just right.

G'day Mate,
Did you get instructions with the Monocote?
If yes, then read them carefully, & follow the instructions, it should tell you temperatures & methods of covering.

I read them but me and my dad thought that is might be better to just do one big piece. THAT was a mistake. My dad gave up for a while then I started doing it . I got over half wing done. It was looking good; it was tight and not a rickle in site then I just held the heat gun on there for too long [&o]. I am sure you know the rest, it put to holes in it then I said what the heck I might as well get some practice on the rest of the wing. I was trying not to burn it and I did it again. (doesnt help its 12:15am central time)

Is the sock thing really important? I thought the guy at the lhs said put it on high, so i did and it burn the sock. (stupid newbe mistake) Do I need another sock?

Does any body have any tips for getting mono kote off? just pull it off?

Well going out of town so cant work on it, but I WILL do it different next time!!

Thanks for the comments

When you get back to it. Start will low heat and gradually work it up intill you get it hot enough to just get the monocoat to stick. Small gradual steps. Once you get the whole peice covered you can use the heat gun to remove the wrinkles. Be careful around edges of monocoat with the heat gun. Also watch for warping by over heating the covering. It takes practice and your first job will look like poo. But you will learn from it and get better as you do more. This hobby has a huge learning curve and these 60 some odd year old guys in hear will tell you they are learning something new every day.

EDIT// for removing monocoat I will use the heat gun and an exacto knife. The knife is to lift the monocoat at an edge while I heat it and pull it away from the wood, not to cut the monocoat as you risk damaging the wood.

RC-Plane,
Your experience sounds almost exactly like when I tried to cover for the first time. Covering is an art form in itself and takes lots of practice and finesse to get right. Just take oyur time and don't get too frustrated; once you figure it out you'll wonder what the big deal was.

Agree with Stang.

Lift it with the knife and apply a little heat to gently peel it off.

In recovering, start in the middle and work your way to the edges to get all the wrinkles and bubbles out.
Also use your heat gun to shrink the remaining bubbles.

i just got done with my first plane, and it was a kit so i had to cover it all, and i did the wing in two sections, but my wing has some dehiedral(SPELLING), i din't use a hot sock or a heat gun and my plane turned out with very few wrinkles, i have a top flight heat gun and i set it at 250 but then worked my way up to 275, and i even went to 300 but 300 didn't work as well as 275, 275 stuck it well and shrunk it very well also

Good Luck!!!!!!

Go to this link of RCKen's build, from page 25-on he shows detailed step-by-step covering techniques with photos. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_34...tm.htm#5396493

By-the-way, you cover the wing in four sections. Two separate pieces for the bottom (always do the bottoms first) and two separate pieces for the tops.

I can not apply monokote either, try Ultracote. Much easier to apply which lower temperature settings.

biggest mistake I see here is you practiced on your plane that you care about. as said here IT TAKES PRACTICE & some applied knowlege to use the materials . leave the fancy tricks,( like covering a wing in one piece) for the experienced. obtain some scrap monokote from others or the least popular color cheap from the hobby shop and practice on an old airframe or someones crashed model.the sock helps a great deal in keeping down scratches. there is a tendency to rush things , especially corners . you must think ahead , PULL TIGHTLY (USE GLOVE ) and allow the heat to do the work. other coverings ie, ultra cote , ora cover . do not melt as easily. there is a fine line between tight & melting as you found out. some times you may have to live with a few minor wrinkles than a ruined job. covering WILL NOT hide poor workmanship. also dont be afraid to patch . however when you do ,replace whole areas not small holes as it will be far less visible.