RE: Covering visibility help
 

Thought I'd give the good doctor's ideas a tumble. For the demo plane I'm going to use a Bridi Killer Chaos since Ihave one sitting on the bench waiting for it's covering. There are some terms in the "Color theory" link that I admit not being familiar with but I'm going to be. Any and all comments appreciated.

Once a theme is finalized I will rehydrate my Chaos build thread with the covering.

RE: Covering visibility help
 

Here's a scheme that is a knock off of the good Dr.'s basic suggestion. Colors are Ultracote bright yellow, white and pearl purple. I have a Hanger 9 ShowTime 50 and kit 4Star60 that uses the pearl purple, white and yellow. In addition there is a bit of true red trim added to the scheme.

This scheme lends itself to making panels of covering with 1/4 overlaps where the colors meet. I would probably do the wing tips with small yellow pieces just in case I screw up the stretching of the film over the shaped balsa tips.

Btw - I saw a Killer Chaos Bridi cousin at the field recently. The builder found a metal flake or pearl paint that matched the purple pearl and painted the inside of the canopy. Nice touch. The CDwould just HAVE to take your word for it that there's a pilot and dash board under the paint. Right? Uh, right? http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...evil_smile.gif

RE: Covering visibility help
 

The same basic structure with some asthetic adjustments. Yea, it will be more difficult to cut the curves.

Add a little more up close interest with some red trim ...

RE: Covering visibility help
 

Seamus...how do you cut your curves? What are you using for templates?

RE: Covering visibility help
 

I use freezer paper to create templates. Rather than cutting around the edge of a template (been there, tried that - failed) I use a thin Sharpie and make a dotted line around the edge of the template onto the exposed surface of the film. I tried a continuous line but found that my cutting wandered on either side of the line - results were unacceptable. Good lighting is important to see where you're cutting.

Oh yea, Ihave a couple of sets of really big French curves. I sometimes use these when I flinch and screw up cutting a curve leaving a "notch". I lay a clear plastic "curve"that matches the intended line, hold it firmly, and carefully pull a blade along the edge with the blade tilted slightly "away"from the curve to avoid cutting into the plastic on the top edge.

When I cut I use a new razor blade and free hand the cut without lifting the tip of the blade. Yea, I stop sometimes to reposition my body during a cut but don't lift the blade. A friend at a LHS (AirScharnel) sometimes consigns the building of a kit. She uses a fabric cutting wheel to do the same. I would like to try that technique. Some use X-acto #11 blades. The three approaches require three different cutting strokes.

What do I cut on? Depends. I have a 24 x 36 cutting mat (Hobbico). The surface provides some "stick-tion" that helps prevent the film from creeping during the cut. If the piece is bigger then I use a 48 x 12 mirror and I will use blue painter's tape to locate the film.

I haven't tried cutting multiple layers yet - but a design like yours (a tear with shadow area) might benefit from taping the shadow material on top of the tear base and cutting the both simultaneously to ensure a perfect butt joint.

HTH

RE: Covering visibility help
 

I have a Goldberg Hot Stik I plan on recovering in the near future (a tree grabbed it last winter). Here are two ideas I have been tossing around.

RE: Covering visibility help
 

Hey Charlie - nice stuff. I really like the red white & blue stars-n-bars theme.

RE: Covering visibility help
 

What the heck - it's only time. Bottom - dark base of blue with vertical feathers in white. LEin yellow. Top - light base of white with horizontal lines in blue and red. LEin yellow. Fin &rudder - base white with blue & red with LEin yellow.

Our club is having a 2-day pattern event at the field. Got a chance to look at some "trendy" ARFcovering schemes.

If your pics are annoying HUGE so are mine. They have the same physical characteristics as all of the previous pics posted by me. Ain't technology fun. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...humbs_down.gif Yo, RCAdmin - now that your back from holiday - wot's up wid dat?

RE: Covering visibility help
 

I like!

RE: Covering visibility help
 

For those that need more color on the bottom ...

RE: Covering visibility help
 

What program do you use to make your planes with so that you can try different colors patterns
wattmeter[:o]

RE: Covering visibility help
 

I use Microsoft's Visio. Others like MinnFlyer use Photoshop.

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Here is the revised version. I did make on mistake though! The blue shadow trim pieces show up under the green. I didnt realize this until I laid it all down and ironed it out. At this point its gonna have to stay like this as Ive spent too much time on this plane, and have yet to fly it.

I will definitely be flying it like i stole it. I cant wait!

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Will order the graphics at some point. The tail surfaces will also get the same treatment.

RE: Covering visibility help
 

very nice ro ...