temp for shrinking
 

I am looking at my first kit build and am wondering about covering. Do the coverings have a rec min and max temps for them. Am looking to use Ultracote and monocote for trim. Will this work and how sensitive are they to temp setting.

Jim

RE: temp for shrinking
 

Yes, the coverings all have different temperatures that should be used. I don't know what Ultracoat is, but Monokote is 275°. Now that temperature is only a guide. How you want the material to behave will change that temp a little bit. So do a little experimenting with it before you start applying it to the plane.

One side note on covering. The colors can vary a little bit from lot to lot. So whenever I build a plane I will save the unused covering material and label it for the plane that it was applied to. That way if I have to do any repairs on the plane later I know the repair covering will match the original.

Hope this helps

Ken

RE: temp for shrinking
 

Don't remember about Monokote, but Ultracote has that info on the piece of paper that is rolled inside the shrink wrap with the covering.

BobbyG

RE: temp for shrinking
 

Thanks for fast reply. I will practice before i actually start to cover. But then, covering is probably a few week away. I first have to decide what kit i want to build...

Jim

RE: temp for shrinking
 

That is one great tip.

RE: temp for shrinking
 

On balsa or solid surfaces, practice on temps until the adhesive melts enough to adhere to the surface after you rub with a rag behind the iron [mandatory]. In monocote, this usually happens when the color changes a bit when it heats. If adhesive is not melted, the covering will wrinkle eventually especially when getting in and out of an air conditioned environment to a warm ambient field temp.

To prevent the covering getting brittle on open bays, buld up heat just until the covering tightens. Works for all coverings. Just start on low and keep dialing up until your covering tightens. Once you start getting to know your coverings, you can take notes.

Good luck friend. I first started using heat reactive plastic in 1966/67 - wet monokote - and am still learning! The above is not gospel - then again I understand that the Gospels are neither.