wja

I recently watched Dave Platt’s video series on building and fiberglassing. In his videos he suggests that the fabric covered control surfaces are more realistically simulated by building solid control surfaces, taping off the areas that would represent ribs and then spraying couple off layers of primer. Once dry, the tape is peeled off and the raised areas are lightly blended with slight sanding. Upon completion, the effect is supposedly more convincing in appearance than the traditional built up-fabric covered, method. I’m wondering whether anyone has tried Dave’s method and if so whether they indeed found it to be convincing alternative to the built up method?
Waldemar

t_burley

My Feedback: (59)

here is what I did on my PCM 109. balsa over foam.
I cleaned off an area ~ 1/4" wide, layed down a thin "Z" pattern
of glue, ironed on some coverite, primed, and sanded it down.

wja

Todd, thanks for sharing that idea! I must say the control surfaces on your 109 look great. I just might have to borrow your idea on one of my projects!
Waldemar

t_burley

My Feedback: (59)

Waldemar

not a problem, and your welcome. when I got my surfaces done, I had decided I wanted to
do a "fabric/stitched" look? but didnt know how I was going to do it. I came up with the
solution above. than, after posting that, i found out it was very similar to PLatt's method?
[8D]

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

I plan to use a similiar method. I will glue thin velum to the surface and something for the thread bump. If you look at real planes its very hard to see any of the fabric weave. If you scale this down 4 or 5 times it would be smooth. What would still show is the stitching with cover like what is shown above.

Likes very nice!

Carl