Hi All ..
Recently I heard about a PAINTABLE COVERING called "LiteFab" It is supose to be distributed by Nelson Hobbies. I sent an email to the guy and he agreed to send a sample test piece. That was quite awhile ago and still no response. My question is this .... Has anyone actually used this covering and what did you think of it? Also does anyone know what other firm is selling this product. I suspect it is an overseas product. I can't believe this Nelson guy is the only dealer in the states.

I used Nelson colored Light Fab on my BUSA Fokker Dr 1. It went on easily, pretty much like Solartex or the old style Coverite I have used. I have had a couple seams loosen up. I can't compare this to the other fabrics because I have always painted them. I wish I had top coated it with clear because the weave does collect dirt and grime. The little wing between the wheels takes a lot of abuse from the 2-cycle glow exhaust, but it is still on there. Plane is three or four years old.[img][/img]

Thanks for the input. Your plane looks great with the prefinished covering. Personally, I like to paint my finishes and I was really wondering about the LiteFab that was meant to be painted. I take it that you haven't used that product? Perhaps someone else might have given it a try. How about it ya'll ... anyome using or have used LiteFab with a paint finish???

I have one in the works now with the Lite-Fab and Jerry's paint. The fabric is from England, so I suspect it is -Tex in ancestry. Went on very easy. The seams are a bit thick, if you will. I put no clear base coat on it-just color as Jerry advises. After four brushed color coats and wet sanding, it is slick as a button and ready for trim color. The paint seems expensive, but four coats on a 54" span wing used about 3 ounces of paint. I plan to brush the trim, probably add some vinyl sticky numbers and spray the clear for gloss. So far, I'm very pleased. It's unique, but now that I'm figuring it out, I think it will be very good.

I have used Nelson's and with good results. However a test of SR Batteries (also Tex style covering) I actually like it some better. Another plus with SR is you can buy it by the foot, so you can buy only what you need.
http://srbatteries.com/hrdcovr.htm

I never heard of the SR batteries covering. Are you painting over it? If so wnat paints have you tried?

I sprayed a test of latex over the SR. The goal was to find a covering that I like better than Nelson's and give the latex a try which I had never done before. Both worked out very well. By the way, I used Stits clear to go over the entire test panel and that worked out perfect as well. It was fuel to 10% in 24 hours.

I just finished a Slow Poke 40 with Lite Fab. I wasn't looking for anything very sophisticated and I didnt have ANY experience with any coverings. I thought it went on VERY easy......although I had to use higher temperatures than the directions called for. I painted mine with Rustoleum...cream with blue trim. Came out pretty good for a novice builder.

I've used Nelson Lite-fab on all my open frame 1/4 scale stuff
for years and I will use nothing else.

Almost all of my planes are painted with latex house paint.
Between the covering, (Nelson) and the paint,(latex) I have a
system that I'm quite pleased with.


Regards
Roby

Do you shoot the latex color directly on the LiteFab or does it need any kind of priming?

I do shoot a VERY lite coat of latex primer. Some may
say that it's not needed but I find that I get much better
adhesion when I do so.

Make sure you use exterior paint and thin with distilled water.
Avoid using the color yellow if possible.

Very important.....make sure the paint is dry, (no oder) before
changing colors etc or before is sees gas or glo fuel.


Regards
Roby

OK .... I'll bite ... what is the big deal with the color yellow and latex paint??

For some reason the color yellow doesn't cover
very well. It seems to be somewhat transparent.
I found this to be true with the dopes as well.

To get a good yellow you need to put down a coat
of white first. Even then , you end up using more yellow
than you would with ANY other color. Trust me on this.


Regards
Roby

I have used the Nelson's Lite-Fab on several models wad was very satisfied with the results. I had purchased the product for my Hobby Shop and sold quite a bit of it! It does come from England but I have not been able to locate the source. I would purchase more if it were available as I should my last three rolls last week.
BigBird

Anyone located a source for this product are something simular ??

THANKS !!

It's Solartex.

Where did you get this information? The only coverings that were the same as Solartex (as far as I have been informed) were Colortex and Worldtex. Now Ceconite is a very similar material but with no adhesive.

Sorry. I can't reveal where the info came from. I wouldn't blame anybody for not believing me.

This info came from a very reliable source. That's about all I can say.

I was told several years ago, before the Nelson business sold , that it is/was Solartex.

That makes at least two of us.