I have read many forums and tips on covering and have done some limited covering but not an entire plane.

For the fuselage, I want one color on the bottom half and another color on the top. This means getting a very straight, even line down the length of the fuse.
It is easy enough to get the edge on the "starting side" but since the fuse is not a square (there is a taper at the back and even a turtle box etc.), when the piece is wrapped over, it will not end straight or to the correct height. Short of cutting a template, how do you get the edge on the opposite side even? If I tack down and work it from one side to the other with extra scrap, it will be impossible to cut with a knife or scissors to get a straight cut. MAYBE I can hold the piece in place before tacking but slipping seems likely. For areas where you need to stretch, it would not work.

Only other choice would be a third color strip to cover over the seam.....

My question is: How do you get an even edge on both sides of the fuse? How to cut? How to fit?

Thanks.

The first alternative is to abandon the color scheme you are thinking about and just finish the plane and go fly it. Do not let your enjoyment in the hobby get hung up on any step that seems to be an obstacle. If you still want the two-toned scheme it will not be hard to make a template. Cut up some file folders, tape them to the length needed, and mark out the shape. Make as many trial templates as you need until things look right. Good luck.

And if you walk away from it you will never learn how to do something. Ken or Mike has A basic covering video on RCU that will be of great help to you and well worth watching. I thought it was in this forum but I didn't see it at the top here. Someone will jump in and tell you where. Don't ever give up on covering, it's one of the more creative parts to our hobby. The better you get the more creative you can be. There is another video well worth watching at the top of the tips forum. A bit advanced but when you see it done you will understand how easy some of the harder looking things can be. Abandon it??? ARFARFARFARF

If it were me, I would cover the fuse bottom in two pieces. The seam will be on the bottom, out of sight.

Here is the video and how-to that Gray Beard was referring to.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=67] Minnflyer Covering how-to [/link]

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=726] Minnflyer, Another Look at Covering[/link]

Ken

I second the two (or even three) piece suggestion. I try to keep the seams at the corners of the fuselage. They are easier to hide that way. Also make sure you work from Bottom to Top when possible, as seams that overlap top over bottom are less noticeable.

Another trick I've used is to use masking tape to tape a straight edge along where I want the final edge. Use three or four layers of masking tape so its raised and easier to see under the covering. Now put the covering on, with the overlap over the tape. After the covering is in place, use a sharp razor to carefully trim along the masking tape edge without cutting the underlying covering. Pull off the masking tape, and you have your final seam line.

Brad

I have hidden some demons with color matched striping tape.

I agree that the two or three piece method is the only way to go. Here's the way I get perfectly straight lines along a wing leading/trailing edge for a two color scheme. I cover the wing with different colors top and bottom. I get the leading/trailing edges "close", but perfect is impossible if the wing is multi-tapered or elliptical. After covering, I cut a 1/4" strip of either color from the material. You can use several pieces if it's not practical to cut a piece the length of each wing panel. Using masking tape to hold everything straight, I low heat the strip over the seam and the result is a perfectly straight edge the full length of the wing. I use the same method along tail to fuselage attach points and to clean up edges of color trim on the fuselage. I think this will work for your project.

Good luck,
Paul

I like to use 1/8" black (or any color for that matter) pin stripe to cover seams between colors. Something about black though that, to me, makes a nice contrast between the colors and really makes it stand out and look sharp.

Also, after pinstriping, I brush on a quick coat of clear dope or nail polish to seal it so fuel won't get underneath it.

I think the masking tape trick is what I was looking for. This gives an edge to cut against. Thanks

Super video took a lot of fear out of covering From one Grey Beard to another[:-]