How do you plan you covering design?
02-26-2009 | 04:16 PM
#1
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From: bellingham,
MA
How do you plan you covering design?
I'm drawing up my Tiger 60 outline to scale in Adobe Illustrator and I'm trying out some designs there.
In the past I just had a general Idea and made it up as I went along.
I was wondering how you decide/plan your colors and design????
steve
In the past I just had a general Idea and made it up as I went along.
I was wondering how you decide/plan your colors and design????
steve
02-26-2009 | 05:33 PM
#3
RE: How do you plan you covering design?
As far as comeing up with a scheme/pattern (if it's not scale) I surf through the forums a lot and look at what others have done and sometimes I'll search the web for General Aviation paint schemes. Even if I'm not building a scale model, I at least want it to look like a real airplane and not a toy.
02-26-2009 | 06:49 PM
#4
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RE: How do you plan you covering design?
Top flite has a poster with a bunch of color schemes: [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJA14&P=7]Trim Scheme Poster[/link]
I haven't used any of the schemes exactly, but it gives some good ideas. Also, I just do a quick outline of the plane on paper and use colored pencils to try out different ideas - quick and cheap.
I haven't used any of the schemes exactly, but it gives some good ideas. Also, I just do a quick outline of the plane on paper and use colored pencils to try out different ideas - quick and cheap.
02-26-2009 | 08:45 PM
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From: MCALISTERVILLE,
PA
RE: How do you plan you covering design?
I generally start with an ARF plane that I think is cool looking....and let that influence my design. Not exactly copy it usually,but make some changes. I just finished a plane last night that I did this on. I'll be posting pics tomarrow. This is the plane that inspired me.... I used different color and instead of using 3 scallops in most places,I only used 2. I think mine looks awesome and you'd never know I kinda stole the design. 
02-26-2009 | 09:05 PM
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From: Pittsfield,
MA
RE: How do you plan you covering design?
I have only built trainers, but I simply cover it with the base color. I picture the graphics roughly in my head and just plan it along as I go.
02-26-2009 | 09:12 PM
#8
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RE: How do you plan you covering design?
Hi. I was searching the web trying to find ideas on how to cover one of my planes and come accros this program Airplane Paint Scheme Software, A 15 day free trial program, if you buy it's only $14.95. I'm going to try it out. http://www.airplanecolor.com/index.html
02-26-2009 | 09:21 PM
#9
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RE: How do you plan you covering design?
I clip out photos from magazines and tack them up over my bench then look at the ones I like and use there patterns sort of. I more or less use the TLAB method but I do sort of have an idea of what I want. Nothing set in stone.
02-26-2009 | 09:57 PM
#10
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RE: How do you plan you covering design?
Yes, the ideas come from a myriad of places, but doing the final design in Illustrator or Photoshop is what I do too.
I've got some great shots of a Tiger design, but I'm away from my regular computers right now and won't be able to access them until March 11th when I get back from Florida.
I've got some great shots of a Tiger design, but I'm away from my regular computers right now and won't be able to access them until March 11th when I get back from Florida.
02-26-2009 | 10:19 PM
#11
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RE: How do you plan you covering design?
ORIGINAL: Popriv
I'm drawing up my Tiger 60 outline to scale in Adobe Illustrator and I'm trying out some designs there.
In the past I just had a general Idea and made it up as I went along.
I was wondering how you decide/plan your colors and design????
steve
I'm drawing up my Tiger 60 outline to scale in Adobe Illustrator and I'm trying out some designs there.
In the past I just had a general Idea and made it up as I went along.
I was wondering how you decide/plan your colors and design????
steve
The next time, I'll make a 3D of the wing and lay the pattern on it, then turn the surface to a sheet. Things shoud fit better then.
The photos show the Rhino layout, and the finished results of my wing design.
Don
PS, a word of caution, When I covered the ailerons, I put it a twist. Simple matter of heating the covering and straightening the twist. However, I should have done that prior to putting on the trim. I discovered the twist doing my final check prior to it first flight after the rebuild. That has been a couple months back now and I'm a bit reluctatnt to put the heat gun to the covering now in fear it's going to screw up the trim, especally the automotive pin stripe outlines. I'm going to have to do it, I wouldn't dare to try to fly it with the twis in the ailerons.
Don
02-27-2009 | 12:50 AM
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From: Oklahoma City,
OK
RE: How do you plan you covering design?
I draw up an outline of the plane in paint on my computer, save it then make different designs till I like one.
02-27-2009 | 01:11 AM
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From: Houston, TX
RE: How do you plan you covering design?
I use the paint program. I'll might make a hundred different variations. (the good ones were erased)
I also download pics from www.airliners.net of shcemes I like.
I also download pics from www.airliners.net of shcemes I like.
02-27-2009 | 09:33 AM
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From: bellingham,
MA
RE: How do you plan you covering design?
Cambgems thats a great design!
Must have been tough to execute?
how did you position the curvy strips? tack down with glass cleaner the iron into place?
It the black outline trim tape?
I work in a printshop prepress so I plan on outputting the Illustrator file to a full size paper sheet as a template and cutting it on a light table...
Minnflyer, I'd love to see your tiger pics!
Steve
Must have been tough to execute?
how did you position the curvy strips? tack down with glass cleaner the iron into place?
It the black outline trim tape?
I work in a printshop prepress so I plan on outputting the Illustrator file to a full size paper sheet as a template and cutting it on a light table...
Minnflyer, I'd love to see your tiger pics!
Steve
ORIGINAL: Campgems
Steve, I've got Adobe Illustrator but haven't got far with using it for designing patterns. On my llast build, a rebuild actually, I used Rhino 3d to lay out the pattern and then printed out the segments and cut the trim from thouse segments. What I had neglected to do was allow for the curvature of the wing, so the pattern didn't align as well as I hopped. I ended up importing the pattern into Illistrator to solid color the segments.
The next time, I'll make a 3D of the wing and lay the pattern on it, then turn the surface to a sheet. Things shoud fit better then.
The photos show the Rhino layout, and the finished results of my wing design.
Don
PS, a word of caution, When I covered the ailerons, I put it a twist. Simple matter of heating the covering and straightening the twist. However, I should have done that prior to putting on the trim. I discovered the twist doing my final check prior to it first flight after the rebuild. That has been a couple months back now and I'm a bit reluctatnt to put the heat gun to the covering now in fear it's going to screw up the trim, especally the automotive pin stripe outlines. I'm going to have to do it, I wouldn't dare to try to fly it with the twis in the ailerons.
Don
ORIGINAL: Popriv
I'm drawing up my Tiger 60 outline to scale in Adobe Illustrator and I'm trying out some designs there.
In the past I just had a general Idea and made it up as I went along.
I was wondering how you decide/plan your colors and design????
steve
I'm drawing up my Tiger 60 outline to scale in Adobe Illustrator and I'm trying out some designs there.
In the past I just had a general Idea and made it up as I went along.
I was wondering how you decide/plan your colors and design????
steve
The next time, I'll make a 3D of the wing and lay the pattern on it, then turn the surface to a sheet. Things shoud fit better then.
The photos show the Rhino layout, and the finished results of my wing design.
Don
PS, a word of caution, When I covered the ailerons, I put it a twist. Simple matter of heating the covering and straightening the twist. However, I should have done that prior to putting on the trim. I discovered the twist doing my final check prior to it first flight after the rebuild. That has been a couple months back now and I'm a bit reluctatnt to put the heat gun to the covering now in fear it's going to screw up the trim, especally the automotive pin stripe outlines. I'm going to have to do it, I wouldn't dare to try to fly it with the twis in the ailerons.
Don
02-27-2009 | 09:39 AM
#15
RE: How do you plan you covering design?
I print out a few 3-views and give them to my daughters. They usually overestimate my skill level, and I have to simplify what they come up with, but I try to make it similar.
Or else I just start covering with no real planning and see what I end up with.
Or else I just start covering with no real planning and see what I end up with.
02-27-2009 | 12:28 PM
#17
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RE: How do you plan you covering design?
Lots of good ideas about choosing a pattern. Once you have that, I suggest you choose a covering, and find out what the dimensions of the roll are.
I like to take some measurements of my pattern, and figure how to most efficiently cut the segments out of available space on the roll of covering. Saved myself a roll of Super Coverite when I was covering my BUSA ΒΌ-scale Cub. Had a somewhat lesser savings on my Lanier ΒΌ-scale Laser, when I was covering it in a yellow & black Caterpillar scheme.
Good luck,
Dave Olson
I like to take some measurements of my pattern, and figure how to most efficiently cut the segments out of available space on the roll of covering. Saved myself a roll of Super Coverite when I was covering my BUSA ΒΌ-scale Cub. Had a somewhat lesser savings on my Lanier ΒΌ-scale Laser, when I was covering it in a yellow & black Caterpillar scheme.
Good luck,
Dave Olson
03-01-2009 | 04:13 AM
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From: Houston, TX
RE: How do you plan you covering design?
Popriv,
A response at a more fundamental level. I go for maximum visibility and recognition of orientation. To do this ...
- Avoid white and most blue tints.
- Dark underside, especially wing, and light on top.
I lately have gravitated to yellow and black combinations with other trim colors to suite. Y&B is the most recognizable contrast to the human eye.
That is just me.
Bedford
A response at a more fundamental level. I go for maximum visibility and recognition of orientation. To do this ...
- Avoid white and most blue tints.
- Dark underside, especially wing, and light on top.
I lately have gravitated to yellow and black combinations with other trim colors to suite. Y&B is the most recognizable contrast to the human eye.
That is just me.
Bedford
