removing monocote
 

I have a Corsair that needs the monocote removed and replaced. How do I go about the removal of it?? First time at a prodject like this.

RE: removing monocote
 

Depending on the type of covering it can be quite simple,

Get out your covering iron and heat it up, make a hole in the covering and use the iron to warm the covering around it. Gently pull the covering off of the AC warming the covering as you go.

The idea being, the glue is heat activated - warming it up loosens it for both shrinking and removal.

However; depending on the type of covering, you can have bits & pieces of colouring left behind, and/or small pieces of covering that will have to be removed carefully.

PLUS; it's quite likely the plane will now be 'sticky' (this will happen no matter how you remove the covering)- a residue from the glue, no problems it just makes the new covering job a little 'different.'

Good Luck!!

RE: removing monocote
 

I use a heat gun and lot`s of patience, the covering iron works also, set it to max temp.
tedious job but it will look so much better when youre done

RE: removing monocote
 

nightstalker77, those are better methods than the one I just used the other day to strip a Golgberg Tiger 2. I just pulled off the Monokote by hand and it was a bit of work and sanding but will be well worth it.

I am going to recover with - and I highly recommend to you - Worldtex from Horizon Hobby. It is a semi-gloss, iron-on fabric. All I can say is I will never, ever use plastic film again on any other model after having used this stuff. It is that good. You can apply it to any possible compoung curve without a single wrinkle or bubble. It does great over sheeted surfaces (forget about having to use Windex!), and it goes on so smooth and even that it honestly looks like painted silk. Seams blend in to the point that they are almost invisible. Oh, and it shrinks much tighter than Monokote and stays shrunk. And, the dark blue color would look FANTASTIC on a Corsair.

I know there are people who are far more skilled with plastic film than I am, and who prefer a high gloss surface, but for the same cost you will not find an easier or more enjoyable iron-on covering to work with.

Here's a pic of my Sr. Falcon wing tip covered with Worltex. I love this stuff (almost as much as silk and dope):

RE: removing monocote
 

I have found that Ultracoat comes off with no or little heat. Monocoat isnt always that easy, alot of heat will separate the clear top layer from the color and the color is hard to get off, acetone helps though. Low heat on Monocoat will help get it off without separating the color from the clear.

RE: removing monocote
 

If you can get Ultracote off with no heat, then it probably wasn't put on that well in the first place. My "mistakes" always take some heat to remove...

RE: removing monocote
 

The heat gun works best but sometimes fingers can get a little hot too. Ultracoat is somewhat easier then Monocoat as the color is in the plastic not in the adhesive. Too much heat will cause more of the adhesive to seperate and stay on the framing. Experience will help. The adhesive residue of either can be cleaned up easily with acetone from the hardware store, use real good ventilation, preferably outside not inside. Removing the glue this way makes touch up sanding much easier. Don't forget that acetone will eventuall disolve CA glue so don't just keep on pouring on the acetone, put it on a rag and use that until it evaporates. Also be careful around any plastic parts with the acetone, you might want to mask them off. It's a little bit of a pain but not less than covering it to begin with, my opinion.

RE: removing monocote
 

Nightstalker,
I am in the process of recovering my CG Eagle II.
What I have learned from this process is:
You may be able to cover a plane with just an iron, but your not going to uncover it without a heat gun!
It's a slow tedious process and will require sandpaper and acetone.
Also, don't even think about recovering it with a transparent color.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

RE: removing monocote
 

Welcome to reality,
nothing comes easy with monocote
just finished recovering a CG Extra 300 and an Enforcer and an old Phoenix covering was over 30 years old on that puppy
it would break and tear at the slightest pull ( brittle it was )
used Ultracote this time

good luck with the new life on your bird

Happy holydays to ALL

Jean