WHICH FABRIC COVERING????
 

I have decided to use a fabric covering on my Kadet Mark II, which will be powered with a GMS2000 .32

I would like some opinions on the following products:

Superfabric http://www.hobby-lobby.com/superfabric.htm
Coverite 21st Century Fabric http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXB199&P=0
Solartex http://www.balsastore.com/store/prod..._5_Meter_rolls

RE: WHICH FABRIC COVERING????
 

I have used solartex on a robinhood 80 eith good results.needs to be sealed otherwise it will be stained by the oil residue.it is fuel proof.

RE: WHICH FABRIC COVERING????
 

So all fabric needs to be sealed?

RE: WHICH FABRIC COVERING????
 

Coverite is sealed

RE: WHICH FABRIC COVERING????
 

Another addition to the choices I am considering is Koverall, any raves on this product?

RE: WHICH FABRIC COVERING????
 

Koverall is a polyester heat shrinkable fabric much like used on full scale airplanes but much lighter weight. I am in the process of covering a 1/4 scale cub with this material. Brings back the memories of old when we covered with silk and dope. Koverall has no adhesive on the back and is bare fabric. You must attatch it some way either by using a product Sig sells called Stixit that you brush on then using a covering iron stick the fabric in place much like Solartex or any adhesive backed covering. You can use dope or in my case I am using a latex (no smell) sealer/glue that is heat positionable to attatch the fabric. You must sand smooth the framework and coat it with sealer to keep the wood from warping if you use a latex or if you use dope to seal the frame with you need to seal and sand before the attatchment of fabric. After the fabric is attatched then the process of heat shrinking the fabric and filling the weave begins. Painting is last and if your using latex then a clear seal coat to protect the paint. Overall a lot of extra work but well worth it. This fabric will go around contours like nothing else will. Hope others respond as a lot of modlers are using this method and if your not in a hurry, none better. One last thing, wrinkles are a thing of the past with Koverall.:D

RE: WHICH FABRIC COVERING????
 

Solartex or 21st Century fabric are the ones i have used and am familiar with. They are both good. Solartex is somewhat easier to apply but 21st Century has a higher sheen to provide a more paint finish appearance. Solartex should be sealed with clear, 21st Century does not need any sealer. If you decide on 21st Century, i would suggest that you apply a coat of Balsarite on the air frame first. After covering the Balsarite will help eliminate sags. I do not find that needed with Solartex. I have heard good reports on Koverall but have no first hand experience with it.

RE: WHICH FABRIC COVERING????
 

So the steps with Koverall are as follows:
1) sand smooth the framework
2) coat with sealer
3) lightly sand
4) coat with adhesive, I think I will use Sig Stix-it
5) lightly sand again
6) iron on the Koverall
7) I am using butyrate colored dope so that should take care of the filling in of the weave as well.

Question: After step 7 should I coat the final painting with non-tautening clear dope to control any future stretching?

RE: WHICH FABRIC COVERING????
 

after #6, you put several coats of nitrate dope on to shrink everything tight and fill the weave. If you want no weave showing, use talcum powder as a filler for a couple of coats. Then you put your color on with butyrate, then finish with clear butyrate for shine. For a really glossy finish you use clear cut about 3 or 4:1 with thinner and use LOTS of coats.

Mark

RE: WHICH FABRIC COVERING????
 

Check out Ceconite (just Google it) for a source of polyester fabric as good or better than any of the afore mentioned ones. Use the lightest grade. You do have to use a seperate adhesive and you do have to paint (dope) it but it makes a beautiful finish. Plus, it is much more economical and comes in just about any length you want and is (if I remember correctly) five foot wide. It does shrink a lot so you need to either (or both) have strong structure and control the heat when shrinking it. The lightest weight is about 3/4 oz. square yard.