I miss my old heat gun?
04-13-2005, 02:45 AM
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I miss my old heat gun?
I'm getting ready to cover my Top flite DC-3. My Hobbyco heat gun seems weak. It will shrink somewhat but I have to practically put the air flow on minimum and have the gun 1/2" from the Monocoat to get those last wrinkles. When I was a kid "around 1985" I had a gun that had 2 heat settings "low heat and high heat". The high heat setting ment buisness and would burn a hole in the covering very fast. I liked that gun because it was very effective but it's gone now and I suspect they don't make a "high heat" gun due to people getting burned. What do you guys suggest? Thanks. Deltatech
p.s. Are there any special handling techniques or problems with Monocoat Chrome color covering?
p.s. Are there any special handling techniques or problems with Monocoat Chrome color covering?
04-13-2005, 10:17 AM
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RE: I miss my old heat gun?
ORIGINAL: Campy
Do not run your antenna inside the fuselage. The chrome (in most cases) radically reduces the range.
Do not run your antenna inside the fuselage. The chrome (in most cases) radically reduces the range.
04-13-2005, 10:43 AM
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RE: I miss my old heat gun?
I have a black-n-decker paid 30 dollars for it and does a great job. And it does kiwi for my boots lol. (SHINES GOOD)
PS you are ok with the chrome. The entire bottom side of my 1/4 edge is chrome and radio interference is none existant
PS you are ok with the chrome. The entire bottom side of my 1/4 edge is chrome and radio interference is none existant
04-13-2005, 10:57 AM
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RE: I miss my old heat gun?
I have seen 3 planes that the have had the fuselage completely covered with chrome monocote. Two of the planes had the antenna inside the fuselage and failed range tests, however, as soon as the antenna was run outside the fuselage there was no problem.
I can not say for certain it was the chrome monokote, but I strongly suspect it. In any case make sure you do a range check before flying.
I can not say for certain it was the chrome monokote, but I strongly suspect it. In any case make sure you do a range check before flying.
04-13-2005, 05:46 PM
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RE: I miss my old heat gun?
Thanks for all of the replies! I am planing on running the antenna from the fuse to the top of the vert stab "scale HF antenna location" so I'm sure I will have a good signal-thanks for the thought on this matter.
Hi JAKA! You have replied to my posts before and I appreciate your ideas. My firts question about Oracover is where can I get it in the U.S. Tower dosen't have it and when I do a search on the web I get everything you could want but coverting for A/C models. Also I plan on doing my DC-3 in Delta Air Lines restored DC-3 livery and want the shiny chrome finish so can I use flite metal or duct tape and get it to match the appearence of the Oracover/monocoat?
Lastly. The Black and Decker heat gun sounds like a good idea and will be readily available so I think that is the way to go. Thanks for the advice Jon Heim.
Hi JAKA! You have replied to my posts before and I appreciate your ideas. My firts question about Oracover is where can I get it in the U.S. Tower dosen't have it and when I do a search on the web I get everything you could want but coverting for A/C models. Also I plan on doing my DC-3 in Delta Air Lines restored DC-3 livery and want the shiny chrome finish so can I use flite metal or duct tape and get it to match the appearence of the Oracover/monocoat?
Lastly. The Black and Decker heat gun sounds like a good idea and will be readily available so I think that is the way to go. Thanks for the advice Jon Heim.
04-13-2005, 06:14 PM
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RE: I miss my old heat gun?
Oracover is sold in the US under different names - Ultracote is one of them. You can get it from Horizon and most LHS's.
Your experience with Monokote is similar to what quite a few people have commented on - the formula seems to have changed and now the shrinkability (is there such a word?) is not nearly what it used to be.
I got my current heat gun from Harbor Freight for $9.99, the sucker will melt through the covering in no time if you are not carefull.
Safe Flying!
Your experience with Monokote is similar to what quite a few people have commented on - the formula seems to have changed and now the shrinkability (is there such a word?) is not nearly what it used to be.
I got my current heat gun from Harbor Freight for $9.99, the sucker will melt through the covering in no time if you are not carefull.
Safe Flying!
04-14-2005, 10:03 AM
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RE: I miss my old heat gun?
Hi!
As has been said earlier..Oracover is sold under many different names in the USA. Ultracote is one. As for shiny chrome surfaces. No aircraft, polished or not , will ever look like Monokote or Oracover chrome. You have to sand the chrome surface slighly to achive to right look..even if you want a true polished aluminum look.
Using the chrome plastic films as they are are only going to make the model look like a "Plastic" toy.
Here is the DC-3 I'm modeling my model after.
Regards!
Jan K
Sweden
As has been said earlier..Oracover is sold under many different names in the USA. Ultracote is one. As for shiny chrome surfaces. No aircraft, polished or not , will ever look like Monokote or Oracover chrome. You have to sand the chrome surface slighly to achive to right look..even if you want a true polished aluminum look.
Using the chrome plastic films as they are are only going to make the model look like a "Plastic" toy.
Here is the DC-3 I'm modeling my model after.
Regards!
Jan K
Sweden
04-14-2005, 10:17 AM
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RE: I miss my old heat gun?
Most home improvement store e.g. Lowes, Home Depot etc will have a selection of heat guns to choose from. Just be careful as they are very hot on the high settings so they can be used to remove paint and other coatings and will melt Monocote. Just use the lower settings and you should be ok.
