Covering solid fuselage
 

I really enjoyed reading the LT-40 build thread that RCKen did and plan on following that on my next build. The only problem is the thread died out before he covered the mostly solid fuselage. One of these days I plan on watching the covering videos here, but right now I can't watch them on my iPad.

What I would like to know is if there are any tips/tricks to covering the fuselage.

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

The great RCUsoftware to upload pics ain't working as advertised (as usual) ...

start with pic 9 - 12 then 1 - 8

pic 9 - the film - yea, Ultracote
pic 10 - 1/4" tack strips are cut for the inside corners
pic 11 - my cutting surface - works great - the film doesn't slide when being cut
pic 12 - tack strips are folded in half creating a hard corner for a clean inside fit
pic 1/4 - same for other inside corners (oops - a couple of wing pics got in)
pic 5/8 - tack strips ironed around the stab / fin

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

Hi!
It's much easier to cover the fuselage,stabiliser and fin Before you glue them to the fuselage of an ordinary trainer plane!!!!

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

I have heard pros/cons for both methods. I am not at that point that I need to decide.

I really wish Ken had finished his build thread.

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

pic 1 - stab after the tack strips have been added
pic 2 - STARTWITHTHEBOTTOM - stab bottom covered starting by sealing at the fuse then pulling to the tip. Ultracote shrinks nicely over the tip - no cuts needes
pic 3 - the stab trailing edge
pic 4 - the stab leading edge
pic 5 - shrinking the wrinkles - notice the marbled / smooth difference? marbled before shrinking - smooth and shinyyny after shrinking
pic 6 - finished stab bottom
pic 7 - repeat on top
pic 8 - finished bottom of stab
pic 9 - fin covering red-n-white - rather than covering in white then adding red trim a panel with 1/4" overlap was made on glass
pic 10 - fin side finished again starting at fuse then pull-n-stretch to the tip making sure that the seam is NOTdistorted
pic 11 - back side of finished panel
pic 12 - oops - a red tack strip added to make sure there is no white stripe shows

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

basic approach - front film overlaps rear film so that the exhaust & air doesn't hit the leading edge of a seam - it will pull up otherwise

pic 1 - rough cut film for the rear fuse bottom
pic 2 - Harry Higley trim cutter cuts 1/8" margins beautifully
pic 3 - bottom red sealed and shrunk - the HHtrim tool makes a nice 1/8" piece that is sealed over the sides of the fuse
pic 4 - before cutting
pic 5 - after cutting - note the pencil lines - this is where the red / white seam will be
pic 6 - focus - the forward bottom white piece overlaps the red by 1/4"
pic 7 - my technique for opening up holes thru film - heat "T" pin glowing red then insert into hole and follow the edge
pic 8 - the landing gear holes are cleared
pic 9/10/11 - freezer paper used to cut templates
pic 12 - skipped a few steps - the side has been finished - note - the windshield area has yet to be covered

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

pic 1 - the side film is pull-n-stretched into the engine bay (yea, Iused Finishing Resin to fuel proof the compartment before covering)
pic 2 - fuse side covering stretched into hatch bay details
pic 3 - wing saddle detail - the film was cut to relieve stress when pull-n-stretched over the wing saddle. NOTE: This should get a 1/2" wide strip running the full length before the sides were done - learning new stuff all the time
pic 4 - finished side
pic 5 - bottom of stab / fuse intersection details - the tack strip shows through - might have been better to have used a red tack strip - this seam would have been much better
pic 6 - top side details before covering
pic 7 - more details
pic 8 - repeating myself
pic 9 - this time started with a tack strip
pic 10 - nothing perfect
pic 11/12 - added a small tack strip where the windshield meets the hatch opening

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

pic 1/2 - tack strip details around top of cowl cheeks
pic 3 - added red tack strip to make for a nice seam (as compared to the other side)
pic 4 - oh yea, charging port / switch hole is needed
pic 5 - template was used to cut side piece
pic 6 - and taped in place
pic 7 - white template too
pic 8 - time to make a side panel - white overlaps red - sharpie marks for the overlap line
pic 9 - more of the same
pic 10 - 2 straight edges used to hold both pieces down so that when a flat trim iron is run over the seam that the seam remains flat
pic 11 - after the seam has been sealed with a trim iron / then with a hot standard iron
pic 12 - cooling off - will easily pull up from the glass when cool

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

pic 1 - the side panel positioned over fuse
pic 2 - taped in place to get the seams close
pic 3 - repeat
pic 4 - the side has been applied - you can see where the red/white seams meet at the bottom - Higley cutter used to mke nice 1/8" overlaps to the bottom
pic 5 - the right side (in photo)was 2nd - cleaner than the left side - learn from each attempt
pic 6 - left side (in photo)was 2nd - cleaner than right
pic 7 - the fuse top where the seam will be
pic 8 - this amount of wrinkles can be eliminated by stretching but I wasn't pleased with this result
pic 9 - white after shrinking - nice, high gloss
pic 10 - remember the wrinkles?
pic 11 - Icut out black Ultracote using the gray decals as templates
pic 12 - fuse completed

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

pic 1 - before yellow and black trim
pic 2/3 - after trim applied
pic 4/6 - oh yea - this was the plan before covering started

HTHyou in your covering project ...

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

Seamus,
 Thanks for stepping up and helping out.

I am sorry that the build thread wasn't finished. I learned a few lessons in how to write a build thread with that one, that one was a learning experience in how to wrong one.

Sorry for the problems

Ken

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

Ken has been harassed whenever possible for NOTfinishing his thread.

Yea, it's easier to cover the stab and fin before assembling. Ilike to pre-assemble EVERYTHING before covering. Install the engine, servos, fuel tank, everthing. Set all of the servo throws with the radio. Lateral balance the plane so that you can add lead to the light wing tip before covering. If you need to reengineer anything NOPROBLEM - no covering to get in the way.

pic 1/4 - pre-assembly pictures - everything is ready to fly except -doh - for the covering - the plane has been tech'd by local experts to make sure that everything looks good. 2nd pair of experienced eyes are critical. If something needs to be reengineered - no problem.

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

Oh yea - bad things happen when you don't load test your battery before a flight. My LT6.0 v battery pack failed while doing wide banked circles - the voltage dropped below 4 v. Plane spiraled in under power. A lot of reengineering required ...

Get to do a rebuild &cover thread - whopeeee ...

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

Thanks, this will help a lot!

RE: Covering solid fuselage
 

I don't think I saw it mentioned but pick up a woodpecker... worth it's weight ingold!!
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...RCH=woodpecker