Covering Sequence
04-13-2010 | 08:50 PM
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From: Clear Lake,
SD
Covering Sequence
Hi all! I'm a total noob with R/C planes... In fact this is my first post here on RCU!
I'm building a Sig Kadet Mark II kit that I bought 12 years ago, started and never finished. Luckily most of the pieces made it and I'm having a blast finishing it with my 7 year old son.
I'll take a few pics if any ones interested in the progress too! I would say it's 80% complete...
Anyway the question I have is more of a sequencing one than an actual how to. I have read a bunch of how to's for covering planes but one thing seems to be missing... What sequence do I cover things? I understand that it's much easier to cover the wings before you put the ailerons onand the same goes for the rudder/elevator. Do I cover the fusalage first with the stabalizer and rudder off? If so how do I seal the joints were they meet? Do I put a small piece over the joints after they are on?
Thanks for all the help!
Dustin
I'm building a Sig Kadet Mark II kit that I bought 12 years ago, started and never finished. Luckily most of the pieces made it and I'm having a blast finishing it with my 7 year old son.
I'll take a few pics if any ones interested in the progress too! I would say it's 80% complete...
Anyway the question I have is more of a sequencing one than an actual how to. I have read a bunch of how to's for covering planes but one thing seems to be missing... What sequence do I cover things? I understand that it's much easier to cover the wings before you put the ailerons onand the same goes for the rudder/elevator. Do I cover the fusalage first with the stabalizer and rudder off? If so how do I seal the joints were they meet? Do I put a small piece over the joints after they are on?
Thanks for all the help!
Dustin
04-13-2010 | 09:19 PM
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RE: Covering Sequence
ORIGINAL: dustin_p
Hi all! I'm a total noob with R/C planes... In fact this is my first post here on RCU!
I'm building a Sig Kadet Mark II kit that I bought 12 years ago, started and never finished. Luckily most of the pieces made it and I'm having a blast finishing it with my 7 year old son.
I'll take a few pics if any ones interested in the progress too! I would say it's 80% complete...
Anyway the question I have is more of a sequencing one than an actual how to. I have read a bunch of how to's for covering planes but one thing seems to be missing... What sequence do I cover things? I understand that it's much easier to cover the wings before you put the ailerons on and the same goes for the rudder/elevator. Do I cover the fusalage first with the stabalizer and rudder off? If so how do I seal the joints were they meet? Do I put a small piece over the joints after they are on?
Thanks for all the help!
Dustin
Hi all! I'm a total noob with R/C planes... In fact this is my first post here on RCU!
I'm building a Sig Kadet Mark II kit that I bought 12 years ago, started and never finished. Luckily most of the pieces made it and I'm having a blast finishing it with my 7 year old son.
I'll take a few pics if any ones interested in the progress too! I would say it's 80% complete...
Anyway the question I have is more of a sequencing one than an actual how to. I have read a bunch of how to's for covering planes but one thing seems to be missing... What sequence do I cover things? I understand that it's much easier to cover the wings before you put the ailerons on and the same goes for the rudder/elevator. Do I cover the fusalage first with the stabalizer and rudder off? If so how do I seal the joints were they meet? Do I put a small piece over the joints after they are on?
Thanks for all the help!
Dustin
Do not forget to add a 3" - 4" wide strip of a contrasting color to the underside of the main wing running chord wise (leading edge to trailing edge) on one side. This will help in providing orientation (is the plane right side up or upside down and is it coming toward you or away from you).
Hope this is of some help.
04-13-2010 | 09:23 PM
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From: Nottingham,
PA
RE: Covering Sequence
Checkl out this link here on RC universe http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=726
Minnflyer's videos at this link, really helped me with my first covering job. My old trainer. I can't wait to get home and finish it. I'm away on business. It is easier to cover the control surfaces without them attached, but for my trainer I left them on. I just cut half inch strips of monokot and did all the edges pror to laying down the large sheets. it is really starting to look good. Good luck and just take your time and be sure to have lots of razor blades for cutting off the excess, the monokot dulls the blades quickly. hope this helps
Minnflyer's videos at this link, really helped me with my first covering job. My old trainer. I can't wait to get home and finish it. I'm away on business. It is easier to cover the control surfaces without them attached, but for my trainer I left them on. I just cut half inch strips of monokot and did all the edges pror to laying down the large sheets. it is really starting to look good. Good luck and just take your time and be sure to have lots of razor blades for cutting off the excess, the monokot dulls the blades quickly. hope this helps
04-13-2010 | 09:24 PM
#4
RE: Covering Sequence
Dustin,
i always start with the bottom side of any part first, then the top of the wing, stab, elevator and ailerons. the fuse goes bottom, sides and then top.
if you already have the rudder and stab glued in place i use 1/4" strips in the corners and then cover. this minimizes the chance of running short in the corners, and you also can precut the covering to lay up in the corners so you aren't trying to trim on the surface.
i can post some pics of a GP Patriot i just finished in a day or two. i usually paint all my models, but once one gets the technique down to work with iron on covering (and i prefer Ultracote) it comes out very nice, and save a lot of weight.
one thing you should take a look at is Minnflyer's work that is posted right here,
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4385133/tm.htm
i always start with the bottom side of any part first, then the top of the wing, stab, elevator and ailerons. the fuse goes bottom, sides and then top.
if you already have the rudder and stab glued in place i use 1/4" strips in the corners and then cover. this minimizes the chance of running short in the corners, and you also can precut the covering to lay up in the corners so you aren't trying to trim on the surface.
i can post some pics of a GP Patriot i just finished in a day or two. i usually paint all my models, but once one gets the technique down to work with iron on covering (and i prefer Ultracote) it comes out very nice, and save a lot of weight.
one thing you should take a look at is Minnflyer's work that is posted right here,
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4385133/tm.htm
04-13-2010 | 10:23 PM
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RE: Covering Sequence
I'm the "Mike" they are referring to (Thanks for the kudos guys)
I prefer to attach the fin and stab first and then cover. As the others have said, do the joints first (Like where the stab meets the fuse) with narrow strips so the big strips don't have to overlap.
The basic rule is: Start at the rear-bottom and work toward the front-top.
I have done an article on the basics of covering that will show you a few of the basics - [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=67]Click Here[/link]
And I have the covering videos which show lots of good stuff - [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=726]Covering Videos[/link]
I prefer to attach the fin and stab first and then cover. As the others have said, do the joints first (Like where the stab meets the fuse) with narrow strips so the big strips don't have to overlap.
The basic rule is: Start at the rear-bottom and work toward the front-top.
I have done an article on the basics of covering that will show you a few of the basics - [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=67]Click Here[/link]
And I have the covering videos which show lots of good stuff - [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=726]Covering Videos[/link]
04-14-2010 | 06:38 AM
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From: Garland, TX
RE: Covering Sequence
I'd like to see some pictures of your project. I think most of us like seeing them.
This is a link to the manual for a Great Planes trainer kit
http://manuals.hobbico.com/gpm/gpma0...anual-v1_2.pdf
Pages 41 and 42 discuss covering. They use the "junction strip" method mentioned by campy for the area where the fin and stabilizer meet the fuselage.
From page 42 - recommended covering sequence
Tail Surfaces
1. Tail Junction Strips as described above
2. Stab bottoms
3. Stab tops*
4. Fin left side, then right side
5. Elevator bottom, then top
6. Rudder left side, then right side
Wing
1. Ends of ailerons
2. Bottoms, then tops of ailerons
3. TE of wing (the hinge line)
4. Wing tips
5. Bottom of left, then right wing panel (overlap the covering 1/4" at the center)
6. Top of left, then right wing panel (overlap the covering 1/4" at the center)
Fuselage
1. Fuse bottom
2. Fuse sides
3. Fuse top
4. Windshield
5. Fuel tank compartment hatch
This is a link to the manual for a Great Planes trainer kit
http://manuals.hobbico.com/gpm/gpma0...anual-v1_2.pdf
Pages 41 and 42 discuss covering. They use the "junction strip" method mentioned by campy for the area where the fin and stabilizer meet the fuselage.
From page 42 - recommended covering sequence
Tail Surfaces
1. Tail Junction Strips as described above
2. Stab bottoms
3. Stab tops*
4. Fin left side, then right side
5. Elevator bottom, then top
6. Rudder left side, then right side
Wing
1. Ends of ailerons
2. Bottoms, then tops of ailerons
3. TE of wing (the hinge line)
4. Wing tips
5. Bottom of left, then right wing panel (overlap the covering 1/4" at the center)
6. Top of left, then right wing panel (overlap the covering 1/4" at the center)
Fuselage
1. Fuse bottom
2. Fuse sides
3. Fuse top
4. Windshield
5. Fuel tank compartment hatch
04-14-2010 | 08:02 AM
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From: Clear Lake,
SD
RE: Covering Sequence
</p><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: larger"><span style="font-family: Arial">Wow! Thanks guys for all the links and useful knowledge! I watched all those videos last night and I now think I’ve got more that enough info to get my plane covered! I’ll try and get some decent pictures tonight.</span></span></div>
04-19-2010 | 10:46 AM
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From: Clear Lake,
SD
RE: Covering Sequence
Well I just got my covering... I decided to use Ultracote from Hanger 9. What do you guys usually do for the designs over the base covering. In my case I will be using yellow for the base and blue for the accents. I have read some posts saying you can't bond ultracote to ultracote... This makes no sense to my, if it's true then how in the world would any seams stay together?
Or is a better option to use vinyl? I have a buddy that has a large vinyl cutting machine. I could have him cut out any design I wanted.
Thanks!
Dustin
Or is a better option to use vinyl? I have a buddy that has a large vinyl cutting machine. I could have him cut out any design I wanted.
Thanks!
Dustin
04-19-2010 | 11:15 AM
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From: Nutley,
NJ
RE: Covering Sequence
Once I really learned how to use Ultracote....things became so much better. Make sure not to over heat when initially applying. The iron needs to be at about 200 degrees. I picked up a great tip on here since I dont have an iron thermometer. Once your iron is hot, drop a little water on the bare iron, the water should take just about 3 seconds or so to boil off. If the water sits for a few seconds then eveaporates....you're good! If it evaporated instantly, its too hot. Once you have all of the seams ironed down and everything as staight as you could get by pulling, then raise temp just a tad and go back to shrink everything.
Another tip.... Keep a wet rag close by. I find myself having to raise and lower the temp here an there when working....If ive got the iron on a little higher for one thing and need to move on to the next, I then lower temp, set iron against rag and it cools it down quickly.
Another tip.... Keep a wet rag close by. I find myself having to raise and lower the temp here an there when working....If ive got the iron on a little higher for one thing and need to move on to the next, I then lower temp, set iron against rag and it cools it down quickly.
04-19-2010 | 11:20 AM
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RE: Covering Sequence
Ultracote bonds to itself very well. How complicated are your graphics? It might be easier to use vinyl if you're really going nuts. If you just plan a few stripes, stars, etc; use the Ultra.
It takes some experimentation to get the temperature right but you can iron UC over UC with no bubbles if you go slowly and start at a low temperature. Some people punch holes in the base layer before ironing on the trim.
It takes some experimentation to get the temperature right but you can iron UC over UC with no bubbles if you go slowly and start at a low temperature. Some people punch holes in the base layer before ironing on the trim.
