Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

I will post here, pictures of my 1/5 scale Topflite P-47 during the "process,"of covering it panel per panel exclusively with an increasingly popular true aluminum product. I have found patience,techniques and learned skills are the order of the day. This will document my first "all Flite Metal" covered War bird and certainly not the last. I know WE have a lot of techniques to create that natural aluminum skin..In the last several years I have found (one) answer to the process pictures and text will follow.

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Best of luck with it Richard, gee I'm glad I opted to go with the camo scheme of "Hairless Joe"

cheers
Peter

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Ram,
You got way more patience than I do. Its looking real nice and I'll be watching this one. Mine is in its early stages and will be done up in the 56th fighter group camo scheme. Dont have a specific plane yet, leaning towards Gabreski's. I know, I know, been done to death. But I like it. And no one in the Austin area has done one that I can remember.
Edwin

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Richard have you seen our SEAMLESS PLATING yet?

Heres more info
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/Meta...1870990/tm.htm

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Here is the left fuselage fairing covered in Flite Metal ,having been burnished with tools supplied with the "starter kit" more on this later and I will post the next step shortly.

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Good luck with your Thunderbolt and just remember no ones done your selected scheme "perfect"and that is now between you and David Platt..Has he EVER given us a Thunderbolt..

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

I took a sequence of shots doing the forward 'left wing fairing.Here I trim the Flite Metal to the desired shape and burnish it more on that to follow.

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

I took a sequence of shots doing the forward 'left wing fairing.Here I trim the Flite Metal to the desired shape and burnish it more on that to follow.

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Seems I still have much to learn down loading images. Lets do it again-

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Here the fairing has been trimmed,burnished and ready for the next fairing panel to be added. You work from the rear forward and we want an "overlapped fairing so the next step using a bit of glazing compound I feather the joint before working forward . Any excess Dynatron spot putty is easily removed with a bit of *acetone.

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

And again:D

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

:eek:Welllllll here they are so lets wait a few and then "feather" the leading edge of this wing fairing panel and proceed to the next ..REMEMBER like the full scale 47 we want to achieve the look of an overlapped panel.

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Now its ready to sand #800 sanded wet works fine here

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

AND one more for now.[8D]

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

good work Richard, but like the other post says - waaay too much patience!! Give me camo!

cheers
Peter

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Here is the PROCESS applying the Flite Metal to the "worst compound curve I have dealt with. Attached are some shots of all the 'fun.':eek:

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

One or two more..

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Some inspiration for you. This is FM as well. The directional scuffing with a ScotchBright pad of each individual panel really makes the results real. Takes off the sheen and seperates the panels visually. Sorry about all the dust!

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Is flite metal fuel proof to glow fuel?

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Yes to both- in the event a seam is exposed CAREFULLY wick some thin CA and your fine

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Craig,
Super job!! I look forward to using the 'Scoth brite,'on the individual panels..Please show and tell us more about your rivet details Etc.!

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

The rivet detail was easy yet time consuming. After you get all of the panel shapes in the right spot and scuff all the panels (thats the harder dirty part) you look closely at your reference for type of rivets (size, type). I found a metal mechanical pencil with the lead retracted made a perfect tool for small round rivets. I also used a series of brass tubes in various sizes for different types/sizes of rivets. I would place a strip of masking tape along the intended rivet line. The tape had markings for the spacing of the rivets, then I would simply apply light presses with the tube and make a dent. If the rivet spacing did not match the panel, you need to improvise the spacing. Ta Da...a rivets! If you mess one up or make it to deep, you can simply burnish it out. The post burnishing is good for softening the impressions and making a decent flush rivet as well. The softness is a good thing for this, yet a bad thing for hanger rash. It can be dented and scratched fairly easy. The repair is a simple re burnishing. Always use a slip sheet when burnishing.

The ScotchBrite process you do before the rivets, but only after all the FM is ALL down. It makes a big mess like graphite and it will hinder the adhesion if it gets under your FM. Keep your engine clear of the metal dust as well!. Tape off the intended panel and lightly brush a grain in one direction. Remove the tape and do the next panel, changing direction for optimal reflection/differentiation of the panels as the light hits them.

Then its on to painting and weathering with stains and worn paint (showing the FM underneath). I still need to do this part and a little goes a long way, so do not over do it.

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Here is the specific aircraft reference for my final bird.
"Torrid Tessa"

RE: Covering A Topflite 'JUG' with Flite Metal step by step
 

Kregg,
Your workmanship is evident and shows for all the "reality,"of Flite Metal,"W/regard to authenticity!