Looking at the cover of Model Aviation October 2007 and wonder how do they get covering like that. I am bascially a scratch builder and I can cover pretty good, but I can't compete with that . I would really like to see that done [8D].

In one word... Practice.

Those older guys have been covering since they were teenagers. You'll get there in no time.

By the way, you are looking at the COVER of MA. That's where the best of the best go. Don't try to compare yourself to that yet.

Sure would like to see that done.

I'm still wondering how big that plane is[>:]
or how those tabs work

It's a 40%.

Those are booster tabs and actually drive the ailerons or help drive them depending. It's an excellent way to only use a couple of aileron servos instead of a line of them along each wing. Driving the tab in the opposite direction you want the aileron to go moves the aileron in the direction you want it to do. Aero does the work for you. One servo to drive the tab. Amazing why it's not done by everyone. The idea that it isn't as accurate seems to be a joke looking at that airplane do what it can do, which is what every other one of 'em can do. He just does it with less equipment, weight, and expense. Go figure.

Actually you could do that just like they do. Go to a sign shop that does vinyl, which most of them do nowadays. And have 'em run you off some templates if they don't have machines that do Monokote. Give them the measurements and a plan. They do the hard part.

Then you clean off the dining room floor and take 30 or 40 rolls of Monokote and have at it.

Iron on ain't so hard. Have you ever seen one of the Control Line Precision Aerobatics models that have even more intricate designs? They're painted. And have to not only be gorgeous but light. And light really matters. Really. And the Goodyear Pylon racers of some years back looked as good. Actually often looked better on average because they actually didn't have the weight problem as bad.

But that big sucker does look good doesn't it. Iron on or not.

That plane is most likely a a 40-45%, wingspan of 120" plus. Also most of those sized planes carry
a 200cc engine. In other words it's HUGE.

You are precisely correct, and the larger the control surface, the more the boost tabs help. I use them on lots of my scale planes (disguised as trim tabs) since I can use a smaller servo to accomplish the same thing.

Bill, AMa 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

Seemfly, the way the tabs work, is they are hinged, much the same that you would hinge a full control surface. You utilize a control horn on the tab, and affix one end of the pushrod to the control horn. The other end of the pushrod is fastened to the trailing edge of the wing/H-stab/Vstab. When the control surface is moved, it causes the boost tab to move in the opposite direction, driving the control surface harder.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

There's a difference between "Hard" and "Complicated"

That covering job wouldn't be "harder" than any other - it would just TAKE a long time.

Personally, I like to find that happy-medium between "easy" and "good-looking"

thank you I understand now

I would say that covering job is actually a graphics kit custom made for that plane. The plane probably started out blue and white and then decals were applied. Just my .02

I think you are right ROBCAR

You can go to a local sign company that cuts vinyl graphics and give them a sheet of covering (along with the design you want) and they will cut it for you.

Are you sure it's not glassed, masked and painted?

Here is a D&L Designs 80" Edge that I built from a short kit. I found the Red Bull logo online (I asked Red Bull, but they said they couldn't give it to me). My wife has a computerized paper cutter. I used its software to trace the outline of the figure and letters. I cut out cardstock templates that I traced on to Monokote. I resized the bull and lettering for the different spots (easy to do in the computer). I used the TLAR method to size them based on photos from airliners.net.

I think it came out pretty good.

Kerry

You mean, like the guy went to a graphics place and got them to make the design up for him? Like to a sign shop?

I got $20 says it's not painted. Almost always, when someone nowadays has the skill to paint, they use a gun or airbrush, and will almost surely do some fade somewhere. And does anybody glass something that large nowadays? For that matter, any size?

As for how large the airplane is? If you got the magazine cover, open it and read the writeup. The magazine says it's a 40%.

Hey, about the graphics on the sucker.......... check this out http://www.riversiderc.com/page5/page40/page40.html Graphics look familiar? What does that tell ya'.

DaRock---How do you find all that stuff? I'm amazed.

Same way you get photos uploaded, Practice! Just pulling your chain!

I'm retired and love this stuff. Read a lot and have the magazine. Magazines always have a paragraph that describes the cover and that led to the article that gave more about the airplane. And best of all, I know Bill Hamby.

And think this forum stuff is great fun. Which it is, ain't it...........

Does anyone have a picture, or a sketch, of these power tabs showing how they work?

Ed, see the post by me above, and look at the photo on your copy of the mag. The end of the pushrod that attaches to the trailing edge of the wing or stabilizer does not move. As the control surface begind to move, it forces the boost tab to move opposite the movement of the control surface, forcing the control surface to move easier, and faster.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

Here ya go
http://www.geocities.com/roger_forgues/Boost-tabs.html

Here is a side view with everything neutral.