Jerseymac

This is my first RC plane and my first attempt in over 30 years to use Monokote. I used to cover C/L planes back in the late '60s with that stuff.
I have seen many very nice designs and color schemes on the SE but I really don't want to copy what someone else has done.
I was thinking that, if I could get some good pictures of the plane, looking at if from a couple of angles, I could use Paint Shop Pro to wipe out the color scheme and design my own including stripes, flames, whatever...
Problem is I can't seem to find a good set of large JPG pictures that show the SE from the side, top, bottom and at an angle.
Does anyone have a JPG of the SE with no color scheme? Just an outline of the plane?
Probably not....But, does anyone have a set of good large pics of the plane viewed from various angles?
If not, how do you go about coming up with some of the great designs I have seen?
Also, how in the world do you do complicated trim?
Do you make up a template of some sort or just wing it?
Thanks

kregan

I have been working on covering my SE for the last few days, and for the life
of me I don't see how some of the builders here can do such a nice job.

I have no problem with the main wings, but the body and all the little curves
are beyond me, I have done the turtle deck twice and I am still not happy
with it. Once the plane is finished I may rip it off and do it a third time.

Are you doing the turtle deck in one piece? or two.... my first 2 attempts
I used one piece, but it will not tighten up, it is sagging about 2!QUOT! in
front of the rudder... If I had it to do again I would rather sheet the turtle
deck.

This covering just may drive me to ARF's, I like to build, and enjoy being
able to modify things during construction, but covering is a major pain for
me!!

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

This isn't perfect, but it's better than nothing

Jerseymac

Thanks MinnFlyer

Its certainly something I can start with.

Do you know if its drawn to scale?
I know that one wing was larger than the other. I fixed that.

Thanks again

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Not exactly to scale. I could only find a few pics of SE's and none were a good top or profile view, so I just guessed at a few of the dimentions, but as I said, it's something to get you started.

leftnut

My Feedback: (1)

I sheeted the rear deck on mine
But that shouldn't be a problem if you don't or it'll still be the same problem
when trying to cover.

The stabilazers not glued yet.
I cover the sides first.
I usually cover the flairing seperately.
Then I do the rear deck in one piece. I make a stencile from newspaper or wax
paper, by wraping the paper over the deck and pulling it was tight as possiable
especailly near the rear.
Then cut a piece of film from that stencil. This way the film is as tight as possiable
before shrinking. Plus the over lap line is straighter and don't look so bad.

If you're using monokote sometimes it is best to use the iron to shrink the film,
becuase of the higher heat required. But once you on it aint go to sage at the
field.

After I come up with a sceheme to my liking. if it's not straigth lines, if I go
into flames and what not. I use a sharpie and draw right on the base coat
that's been shrunk on the plane already. Nitro fuel will remove the ink.
I laid a piece of wax paper over the drawing on the plane or wing and trace
the out lines. I use that wax paper as a stencil (flip for opposite side of wing)

I cut my film on a piece of glass. It dosen't dull the blade and the it glides better.
I tape the film to the glass and tape the stencil over the film then trace or cut.
I also build my wing on glass. It's the flatest, level piece of of working surface
I have. I just tack the ends of the spar or the tabs of the ribs to the glass. They
need to be cut anyways.
The plan is taped under the glass.
My wings has been straighter than ever this way
The glass can be scrap clean with a razor blade.

I use soap and water to apply the secheme. It allows me to slide it around
and posistion it where I want it.
It looks better and minimize the bubbles.
I use a credit card or sum'in to sqeezgie out the soap/water.
Sometimes you might need to go over the schemee and apply heat to seal it.
or get it to shrink around curves.
I usually go with monokote as a base coat
Lower temp film for sechemes. This way the base film doen't sage or shrink
when I'm working on the trim secheme.

kregan

Well I went ahead and tore off the monokote on the turtle deck...
I did it a third time and it turned out much better, I did it in 2 long
strips with the seam at the top. I can hardly see the seam since it is
a deep blue color.

The plane is completly covered and I am working on the pin stripes.

Next will come the American flag on the underside... found the tutorial
on here and just have to try it!