Hello Again Folks:
Another question for some of you who have done it. I have read several posts saying the way to get really smooth cuts from Monokote is to cut it on a pane of glass. However, I have not read what kind of blade or cutter is used to do this. Wouldn't a sharp Exacto blade cut the glass also? Anyone know? Thanks
Max

If you want to be meticulous and the strips are used for decorative trimming....yes. Otherwise its not a big deal if you use scissors because we trim the excess on the wing and the fuselage anyway.

A sheet of glass under what you're cutting is probably teh best surface you can cut on! that is, when it's flat delicate / accurate cuts you're after.

will a typical X-Acto type knife cut the glass? no. the paper and film will dull the knife tip, but the glass is pretty tough.

The knife blade may scratch the glass though, so I would hold the covering against a window to cut it.
Dennis-

Hey cherry, HOLD THE COVERING AGAINST A WINDOW? what in the heck are you talking about? What so you scratch your window?

No he's right. He forgot to mention to iront he covering to the windeo, then cut teh shape desired. Leave remaining coverin up on window as either 'art' a stained glass effect (with transparent covering only) or and excuse to get the windows 'professional cleaned!!!!


No, Seriously, for some intrecate details, one does (at low temp) iron the covering to the glass. It will stick, but not shrink. You can then overlay another color on top, and iron it in place. In doing so, you can essectially build a sheet of covering (usually with a patter), to apply over open bays, such as wings, a starbust patern over the open bays. Just cover as normal, with the custom made-up sheet! (It'll take some practice, and you should be fairly competent with covering.. knowing how much to stretch, to seal teh edges, etc...)

that's how I got teh 'organic' trim on my stick's wings..yellow first, trimed all wavy, then add the red. Again, a wavy line to match the yellow, and finally the blue, in the same fashion.. So, this was one sheet I added to the wing, covered in the usual way..

Yeah, but your plane looks kinda funny ..... actually, just downright wierd ....

Seriously, I wish I had knownhow to do it on the glass so that I could have told my wife to do it that way when she put together the flag on my UltraSport 40+ It came out just fine, but was a lot of work. On the glass, would have been easier.

gus

P.S. I like building, my wife likes covering .... perfect combination.

After you have ironed a pattern on to the glass and are applying it to the plane, do you do anything to keep the pieces together? I mean, wouldn't the edges come apart when heat is applied to the covering? Do you add trim solvent while the 'cote is still on the glass?

Thanks for the input folks. I am not sure exactly how much of these posts are serious and how many are tongue in cheek, but I did go to the garage and find a pane of glass from a discarded storm door. It's still in its frame but I figured it would work for experimenting. The cut edges done on the glass are much cleaner and truer than on anything else I have tried. However, I have only done it with the backing still on (Monokote). I get the impression from a couple of the posts here that some of you are removing the backing and ironing it to the glass before you cut, or was that tongue in cheek. Is the glue still good after ironing it to the glass and then removing it? []
Max

Yeah, I guess I forgot to mention, that when you apply color / shape #2 (#3, #4...), you do overlap it (1/8" - 1/4" or larger depending) and iron it in place, low heat. When ironing it to the airframe, take care not to stretch it from a seam, and an apply even tension. also, be careful with the heat gun, as the heat can quickly 'shrink' both halves, and cause the glue to soffen and pull apart. a little 'trim solven't before the final strinking wouldn't be a bad idea!

Gus:
Isn't the idea to get a plane that is very unique?!
If the plane is called 'Ugly stick' why not make teh pklane fit the name!! hahah!!!
The other idea was to have mother earth repel such an ugly thing.. but mother earth, reached up and embraced it's beauty one day..