A challenge to say the least.

With everything assembled and in place, the Dazzler is proving to be the most challenging cover job I have had to date, and getting used to the reaction to heat with this pearl colored monocoat is something extra to have to deal with. Im not sure if I like my color choices, and the fact that I am NOT very creative artistically, nor do I have the kind of patients it takes to lay out and cut a wild display of colors and designs, though I am tryin to go slow and at least come up with a simple yet pleasing layout with the choices I desided on for this plane.
Now how do I get this iron in the little nucks and cranies?? Dang!!
I have to go buy another, smaller sealing iron........The wife is going to kill me yet!!

I'm not that familiar with Dazzler, but is there a way you could have covered it before assembling the wing and stab to the fuse? I'm building a profile right now, and asked around (on the Fun Fly forum) and most folks seemed to think it was easier to cover first, then assemble, which is what I'm doing. I haven't got to the gluing part yet, but I can tell you the covering was a lot easier than I imagine it would be with the plane together.

I am sorta in the same boat. I'm recovering a Graupner Super Air ARF because I felt I wanted to be different and not have to recover the tail feathers every 3 flights because of the way they covered the elevator. Its going to be difficult to get a wrinkle free covering.

They are fun to try and hold without crushing, breaking, some part as you pull and tug on the monacote. Trying to get the iron into the corners and to ge teh covering to go around compound corners is just so much fun.

I have said that different colors react to heat in a different way. Red does not streach as much as White does. Dark blue is stiffer then Sky blue. So I know what you are saying about teh Pear White. Metalics are also different from the solid colors.

I just covered my Curare and the tail is built right along with teh fuse so it is 1 LARGE piece to swing around and try not to knock stuff off teh bench, break, dent, or other wise damage while working on it.

Just take it slow and easy and you will get it done.

Dru.

I have done the tail feathers, and am almost done with the wing. Bottom of the fusealage is done, keeping what I am thinking to be the hardest part for last..........fuselage sides and top. I am thinking of cutting to size a couple pieces and thenholding the model on its wingtip and having someone trace the wing shape, cut out the wing hole a touch on the small side then slide it over the wing up to the fuselage side.....hope this line of thinking works cause I am begining to panic the closer I get to that stage of the job.

On those kits where the wing is glued permanently inside the fuselage, you can usually do as pinball said - cover first, assemble second.

After the wing and fuselage are covered, slide the wing in place and line it up well. Then use a permanent fine point marker (Sharpie) to mark the fuselage side on the wing.

Cut about 1/16 inside that line to guarantee that no bare wood will show. Slide the wing back in and glue it in place.

Well if I ever build another one, I will remember that, but it to late for this one. :stupid:
I should have thought that part thru and done it that way, stupid me. Should have it finished up today and I will get some new batteries in the camera and shoot a couple photos of it to post on here if anyone is interested in seeing them. Then its a waiting game for the radio flight pack and engine. Not like I am in any hurry or anything, cause I am still getting trainer time to get myself back to where I was many years ago, but at least between the 3 planes I will be well covered for a few years without any down time between skill levels.

You do know about ironing a joiner piece in the corners and then covering up to join with this piece?

I first learned to do this when I started keeping my planes long enough to need to re-cover them.

I'm affraid I have ALOT to learn about both building and covering.

Jim,
I dont think I am aware of what your saying, although I'm sure if I sit and think about it for a moment, it would make sense.

Little tricks to make thing either go smooth, or look good is so far, something I am trying to figure out as I go, since there isn't anybody I can call for pointers at a givin moment.
At this point the plane is covered, although I need to go pick up a "trim" sealing iron to smooth the tight spots the regular iron couldnt get to. Also I need to install the tail wheel assy., and main gear. Then I will try and get a few photos, for everyone to critique.

Hi 'ecajberry'

If you haven't Monokote Manual , do so.

Check out step 9 page 2 for what I was referring to.... Also works well for wing fillets/seams etc. where the wing is already attached.

Jim
Thats what I thought you were refering to.
Yes I know about that thanks....although silly me, I wasn't thinking and have to do it bass ackwards to clean up the loose ends so to speak....hahahaahahaha
One of these days I will get it all together..........but I think the next project is going to be the ARF.....this is my 3rd kit in about 7 weeks and its burnout time right now.

Hey ecajberry,

I can sympathize with your plight here. I had a Dazzler too some time ago and covering it was somewhat tedious. Try covering a Great Planes Patriot and you'll really find it a pain in the a_ _.

I would like to recommend that you get the Faye Stilley manual on covering. I just purchased it before covering my Super Aeromaster recently. Even with the fair amount of covering experience I have, I found it to be very helpful. It covers all aspects from surface preparation to intricate covering schemes.

What I did with my Dazzler was get some butcher paper which is fairly heavy, to make templates of the fuse sides and then used them to cut out the covering. This way you can either have someone hold the paper against the wingtip and draw out opening you will have to cut or you can stand the plane on the wingtip and draw it yourself. Be sure to cut the piece long enough to go from nose to tail.

Also cut small strips to iron in the small gaps between the wing and fuse and the tail and the fuse. This will make it much easier and will help avoid wrinkles in these areas.

Take your time and try to enjoy yourself. After all, that's what we are in this hobby right? Good luck and don't hesitate to ask questions.

Jeff

Where do you get the Faye Stilley manual that you referred too. I could sure use something like that.
Thanks

Chris

Hey Chris,

Hope you're having a good one. I ordered mine from an ad I saw in Model Airplane News magazine. I think it was about $14.95. Well worth the cost.

And ecajberry, as a follow up to my original reply, yes, I do think you DEFINITELY do need to invest in a small trim iron. I don't know how I could do without one. There are just so many places that the big iron just won't work nearly as well. Don't worry about the wife issue. It is a very minimal cost anyway.

Jeff

I built mine and then covered. What I do where the tail makes a 90 degree bend to the fuse and rudder and also where the wing meets the fuse, I cut a 1 inch strip, and folded it in half so I had a crease at 1/2 inch. Then I lay a little bead of thin CA in the corner and lay in the piece. Then iron it on carefully so the ca doesn't come out. On the wing you have to use short pieces. I then cut the wing covering to come right up to the fuse, and the fuse covering to come right to the wing. When you iron those on, you don't have much of a line, but there is no bare wood and no patches. The initial 1 inch covering can't be seen accept the outline, and noone sees it unless you point it out. It works great. You only end up with a seam in the very corner that way.

I am currently going through the final edit stages of an article for RCU on how to cut the covering for a fuselage where the wing is already glued in place, and will probably help you out along with the many fine suggestions already offered so far in this thread.

The article deals primarily with how to get an accurate cut-out for where the wing meets the fuselage. I happened to use a profile plane as the subject for my article, but the technique would work for planes like the Dazzler too. I'll try to remember to post here when the article does "hit the presses", so to speak.

Finally wrung out all the typos in the article. Hope it is useful.


RCU Magazine Link