Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

Hi. I'm thinking of covering a P39 kit so it has an aluminum/metallic type body.

Here's an example: http://fighter-collection.com/newsimg/img/p39q_03.jpg

It's a small kit requiring only a .25 sized engine.

What's the best way to get this look? Should I paint or is there a MonoKote type product available? Or actual aluminum/metal type sheeting? I'd like it to be nice and shiny.

I'd also like to include rivets, if possible. Any tricks on how to reproduce rivets?

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

[link=http://www.flitemetal.com/]Flight Metal[/link]


Ken

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

Monokote comes in aluminum http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXHV23&P=ML

So does ultracote http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HANU881

There is also a chrome http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HANU886

I remember seeing a profile covered in the chrome and it looked good.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

Thanks RCKen/Gringo.

The Flight Metal looks great. Anyone ever use this stuff?

According to the website, I guess I'll have to sheet every thing, including the wings. Or perhaps used the UltraCote on the wings and the Flight Metal on the fuselage.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

My bet is you would need to stick to the same stuff. I bet the ultracote and flitemetal wont match.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

Also after sheeting everything and then putting on a coat of epoxy resin I think a .25 plane is going to get a little heavy.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

I've not used the Flight Metal ... a bit too rich for my budget. I have used chrome Monokote, and it looks good, but a bit too perfectly shiny, to be honest.

My thoughts lately, and I haven't tried it yet, is to use the chrome Monokote and then buff it with steel wool or Scotch-Brite to make it look more like aluminum. If that works well, you could mask off panel sections and buff it in different directions or with different grades to get just enough of a differnet look to the panels to make it look really realistic.

I've also had great luck with Rustoleum spray paint over Ultra-Cote, and one of the next projects on my to-do list is a Top Flite F4U Corsair. So, what I'm thinking on that one, is to cover it with chrome Monokote, do the panel buffing idea, then paint it with navy blue rustoleum. That way, if any paint chips (and I might just cause a few chips on purpose) it'll look like bare metal under the paint! Although, perhaps it should have a different color primer underneath, as well ...

Haven't tried it yet, but I don't see why it shouldn't work very well.

Photos, 1st is Guillows P-51 with chrome Monokote, 2nd is RV-4 with Rustoleum paint over white Ultra-Cote

Phil

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

I was wondering about that. They also suggest wrapping everything in "6/10ths ounce fiber glass cloth" for best results. That seems to be quite a bit of extra weight.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

For the rivets look I suggest you read this Ercoupe build by CubNut

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_38...ircoupe/tm.htm

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

One problem with planes covered entirely in chrome MonoKote is they are notoriously difficult to see. They reflect the sky and blend in perfectly.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

foose- very few P-39's actually flew in bare aluminum finish as this is extremely susceptable to corrosion. It also reflects sunlight and makes them easy to spot by the enemy from above.

I'd suggest a much more typical military pattern. The one in the pic provided is bare because it is still in restoration and pre-paint. It will end up painted.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

The reason for glassing before Flite Metal, or any aluminium covering is you need a good hard surface to attach it to, and when installed, it shows every detail or flaw on the surface it's attached to. You need a good smooth base to start.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

I purchased a P39 book and one of the later color schemes had an aluminum finish. This is a small kit and my first warbird, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to try some new things. I'll post a picture tomorrow.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

Here's the color scheme I thought about trying. I think the Flite-Metal should work. I'll start a build thread.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

My dad, who flew P-38's in WW-II, said the originals didn't fly that well. But that had a lot to do with the mid-mounted engine which you won't have. Originals were very underpowered and spin prone.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

That's not a P-39.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

True, "Old Fart" in practice.

The picture is a Kingcobra. It's in the same P-39 book. They are pretty close (see image). But I'm mainly interested in the aluminum/metal finish. I'm sure there must have been a P-39 with an aluminum finish out there at some time.

RE: Best way for aluminum/metallic type covering?
 

One thing to consider before you cover your plane is the visibility of it. Chrome colors have a tendency to disappear when airborne. They reflect the color of the sky and become extremely difficult to see. Trust me here. We had a guy come to the field with a plane covering in chrome monokote. It looked really cool on the ground, but the minute he took off it was next to impossible to see. With the help of 4 sets of eyes he got it back down, and took it home that night and striped the covering off of it!!

Ken