Hi,
I have A Great Plains 60 Super Skybolt, With Os 1.08. I would like to cover it with a Mt. Dew scheme do you have any ideas on how to accomplish this task. Have you ever seen anyone with this scheme. Another Question is it possible to remove monocote from a plane or is it not worth the trouble. This plane was one of the first planes I covered when I got into the hobby.It did not turn out great from the start, but it did the job for the past 3 years. I would really like to replace it. Does anyone have any tricks on the best way to remove the old monocote.

I've re-monokoted planes before, and had little trouble just peeling the old monokote off. If little shreds of it stick, take a piece of scrap monokote and iron it on over the shreds, then peel it back up, and it should bring the leftovers with it.
as for the mt dew scheme, unless you have a lot of stickers handy, I hope youre good at cutting out monokote just find coating in the right colors (take a dew can to the shop) and make a classy looking 2 tone scheme wit it, then plaster the plane with mountain dew logos and youll be set

Thanks for your input Badsplice,I'm a little nervous about pulling the covering off, Because I've heard that the clear will peel off leaving the color on the plane and that would be the hard part to remove.

If that happens, take your heat gun and hold it over the color. Then use a #11 blade or other sharp tool to scrape it off. It comes off VERY easily. Also, if you heat the monokote as you peel it back, you will have it come off easier and in bigger chuncks.

After all of the monokote is off, I would resand the airframe. Start with 150 grit and work your way to 400 grit. When you peel off the monokote, some wood fibers will come up with it. The difference between a good covering job and a great one is sandpaper.

As for a Mt Dew scheme, anything is possible. I would do the stripes and solids in monokote (OK, i would use Ultrakote, but that is personal preference) and then get with a graphics guy like Dennis Kirby (Kirby's Kustom Graphics) to do the lettering.

Good Luck and be sure to post pics!

Hi Bobby,

Once you have a smooth surface with all the old monocoat and adhesive removed following the great tips in this thread, I have found it really helps if you spray the entire frame to be covered in cheap hair spray, leave it for about one hour then start to recover. I know it sounds wierd but the adhesion of the monocoat (or whatever) is really improved. Just use the cheapest "home brand" hairspray from the local supermarket. P.S. It helps if you get your wife to buy it for you then you don't have to explain why you smell like cheap hairspray

Cheers,

Colin

I have found, by mistake, that if the covering leaves the color and glue behind, wipe down the balsa with brake cleaner and a clean rag. The brake cleaner will pull the glue and color off in no time. You can also use the brake cleaner to stick monacote down without heat. I have found it makes a good trim solvent.

Dru.

Thanks for all the great info. I think I'll take it out tonight and get a picture of it to post before I start the stripping process. [sm=drowning.gif]Just hope I don't get in over my head

I'm trying to post the photo's. This is my first time hope it works if it does don't laugh it was only my second covering job. I'm not sure what I was thinking with the colors.[img][/img]

If that's your first then you did good but the colors may disappear on you so keep a good eye on the plane and remember your inputs. I would have continued the checks onto the ailerons though as it would look a bit better. I am doing an ultimate right now and plan on the checked bottom of the wings and yes I am into self torture!!![&o]

Just for kicks do a searh for termagator on rc universe and follow the 3-d american flag thread
you'll like what you see and learn alot.

egor

I already did that's what made me want to recover mine. That flag is great. I sent him a PM requesting some advice,but he never rasponded back.

I ran into the problem of small bits of covering being left behind after I pulled the clear off, just use clear packing tape used for closing-up boxes. If anything is really stuck down, a quick swipe with laquer thinner remves the rest with no problems.

Will the thinner hert the balsa or weaken the CA

Thank's for everyones help. I have my skybolt stripped down sanded and ready to be recovered. It only took about 2 hour last night and about 6 hours today, 8 hours total. That's not bad since I had to remove everything first engine, push rods,ailrons,elevator,ect. Plus sanding. Maybe it will be ready by next week.

Well I finally have the plane recovered. I ran in to a little trouble with the fuel soaked balsa under the fuel tank. Thank goodness for K2R worked great. I not sure what I have done without RC Universe and all of you. I still have to get some Mt. Dew stickers and hook up the push rods.
Here's how it's looking so far...

Looks awesome! Great job! I have a plane or two that I'll be stripping down and recovering sometime this winter. I love to cover, and am getting rather good at it for only a few planes under my belt. Nothing beats a cold winter day better than a heat gun, iron, and a few rolls of Monokote!

Here's the finished product. I think it turned out great. I'm very pleased with it...

Nice work. It makes me thirsty just looking at it.

Ace.

Very nice work on the Skybolt! It is great to see more people that realize that old doesn't mean throw it away. I'll bet the with the new covering job that the plane even flies better... don't tell me these planes don't have a soul... they know who loves them.... Have fun... I'm a Skybolt buff too...


Deadstik....[8D]

Ace,

I love your Dew plane. It's funny that you chose a soda theme. My friend, Chuck and I each just finished Goldberg Ultimate Biplanes and his was Pepsi, mine is Coke. I say his "was" because he augered it into the field on the third flight, the silly hot-dogger. (You can see them on the 'Goldberg Ultimate Biplane Finished!!!' thread) Anyways, kudos on a cool idea that turned out very nicely! I especially like the metallic green.

Take care,

I went back and added some stripes..