I just wanted to take a few minutes to say that I think I love Monokote. I love the gluing and the building up of planes, but have never liked covering. I have built several of the tissue and dope peanut planes and hated the covering. The last plane I did I needed light weight and went with the Coverlite with Balsarite adhesive. Hated that too. It was just a big pain for me to put the adhesive on, wait 20 minutes for it to dry and then put on one side and add more adhesive before you can do the other side. And it doesn't shrink all that much so my fuselage does not look good.

I am building an old Cessna that will hang in the garage and tried Monkote on it. This stuff is so easy to use. I do not think I am good at covering, but this turned out real well. I completed a wing and it looks real good. It was so nice and easy I went ahead and finshed the tail feathers and then did the tail feathers on another plane! The overlaps look good and you really cannot see the seams unless you look hard. The big problem is that it was going so well I completed half another wing and realized that I wasn't ready to do that one yet. oops.

Glad to hear that. I'm going to start scratch building this winter. Is there a web site that you know of that has a "how to" on covering? Or do you know of any good how to books? Did you teach yourself how to cover?
Thanks,
Joe

If you like Monokote; then give Ultracote a try on your next project.

Ultracote goes around corners much easier than Monokote. It doesn't have a Super Shiny finish, like Monokote. But, it's fine in my book.

I used to use Monokote exclusively. But one day I bought an ARF that had Ultracote on it. The ARF needed a few patches eventually, so I bought the Ultracote.

I haven't used Monokote since. Nothing wrong with Monokote. It works just like it's supposed to. I just like the properties of Ultracote better.

I've covered 3 kits now with Ultracote. They all look great.

I found monokote tips,,, where else but the monokote web site. Took me a while but I figured it out Anyway, for those of you interested here's the link:
[link=http://www.monokote.com/monoinst1.html]monokote how to[/link]
Found one for ultracoat too:
[link=http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/articles/1115.asp?pg=0]ultra coat how to[/link]
Joe

Hey dustoff, those tips also came with the rolls of Monokote that I bought. I pretty much read them and started covering. I looked around for a book or something a little more on the internet before I started, since I was rather apprehensive about it but never bought one. This link has some books that I thought about getting. [link=http://www.rcstore.com/rs/general/listproducts.asp?catid=8&catego=BO]RCstore[/link] I taught myself by just trying it. I figured if I messed up too bad I could cut it off and do it again.

I have heard of ultracote and will have to give it a try sometime. I guess you paint it when you are done if you want a shiny look?

I have a P51 that I want to start working on sometime, but I think I will glass that one and paint it instead. I want it to be perfect, but since I haven't even started, it will be quite some time before its ready to cover.

I get along well with monokote as well. Before I restarted the hobby I read these two books:

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXZ877&P=M]Covering R/C Airplanes[/link]
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXZ866&P=0]Covering R/C Aircraft Vol II[/link]

Both were very helpful. Also someone recommended this tape:

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHZ84&P=7]Top Flite MonoKote Covering Video[/link]

but I haven't bought it yet. Next order on tower I'll add it. I also found some good links on the web unfortunately I can't seem to find them right now...

Scott.

Thanks for the links guys. After reading those directions it doesn't seem "too" difficult. Although I will buy at least one or 2 books/videos. Can't hurt any. My first scratch project is going to be Das Ugly Stick. A guy who's been doing this for a long time recomended it to me. He even sent me the plans. Very nice guy!
Joe
I went ahead and ordered the 2 books, and an iron set