Cool thanks for doing this video I might try this on one of my projects, seen others use this covering you make it look easy to work with. Thanks for sharing
Great video! I was searching for product ideas to skin a scratch built Predator drone I'm working on and your video convinced me that this is the product to run with. The ease of application and the end result sealed the deal! I'll definitely be using hinges on my control surfaces though as I heard these laminates may get brittle over the years but other then that the finish is incredible! I'm hot wire cutting my own wings and plan to retask some fiberglass arrow shafts I have laying around for my wing spars. 3 shafts in the central fixed wing section then dropping to 2 shafts (all 5 over lapping 3" at the union) where the removable wings join followed by 1 shaft centered out nearly to the wing tips. I was thinking about skinning it with carbon fiber but after seeing this I think I will save some money and go with this. I'm going big with an 8 foot wingspan for a nice stable camera platform for some serious FPV soaring fun. This will be my first plan with an Ardupilot system complete with GPS. The price for the electronics is amazing these days, the entire system with GPS, OSD, telemetry and power readings was only $79 bucks delivered! Back when I first started flying a cheesy 1 axis Gyro cost more then that! lol Thanks for the great information and video...
Very helpful video. I can definitely see the benefits of laminating. Thanks for taking the time to share your technique. And I learned a new phrase, "relief cut".
Great video Dick, I bought this from Aloft last week after watching your video and plan on laminating the wings, vertical and horizontal stabilizer on my Volantex Firstar 2000 mm FPV plane... Aloft should give you a discount for the business you have brought them through your videos... Thanks so much my friend..
+Solar Flarin Thank you soooo much for watching and if I can be of any other service just let me know. Experiment with the heat on that kind of foam first! Have fun
+Watt Waster Worked perfectly. Dicks video was the best tutorial for the process. The relief cuts are very effective when encountering curves and the foam is well protected and strengthened with the lamination.
The point of laminating is that it works similar to a bike helmet. The foam alone is fragile, as is the covering, but together they work quite well. I'd say in my experience that you gain 50% over the foams original strength
...very good and i use the stuff on all my diy scratch-built epp stuff...add lot of strenght and resistance...for epp exactly 150˚ Celsius...thank you for the demonstration...
It's book laminating film for school books. We used it for balsa sail planes back in the mid 90's. You could get a ton of it for cheap. You can also paint the inside "side" with a light coat of spray paint. Really lightened those old planes.
Not necessary to sand just make sure it is clean. Make sure you do the nose well. As a trainer plane the nose and motor are first to go. That is a great plane
make sure you follow the instruction for initializing the radio to the stabilizer and check that the controls are moving the right way when you move the plane .. This will assure many successful flights. @@Wings_of_foam
about 8 years ago I watched this video and now I'm wondering if this system would work on the outside of a wood-framed shadow box I'm building for my granddaughter? I want to protect the inside of the shadow box from the weather with your iron-on system, will this stick to a wood frame? January 26/ 2024 8:42 hours.
It should work, I have covered balsa wood airplanes with the same technique. Just practice on something before you jump into it. Thanks a big bunch for watching. DG
Great work Dick I have only just seen this video today! I fly the assassins from Crash Test Hobby - these are made similarly. Laminating film does a fantastic job in strengthening and making the foam more durable. Yes it take time but it is very rewarding .... I resurrected a HK Teksumo with this stuff!
Just wanted to say thanks, looking at coating my foam and balsa planes. Not to worry about looks, as long as it is functional and helps with those unplanned landings😀 or pesky trees that come out of nowhere.
No it is not necessary however for some planes that not have landing gear or may have re occurring damage it is very important. The weight is negligible and is spread over the entire plane. 1.3 mil thickness if very thin. It is a lot of fun to do and much easier to use than a monocote type covering. Thanks a big bunch for watching!!!
Best if you paint the foam first. I use a rattle can paint and let it dry well. Then laminate, then you will have a strong and beautiful plane. This is a new Fun Cub that was painted and laminated: ruclips.net/video/gamYsq8mH5U/видео.html
Some folks are worried that the foam bubbles are expanding, seems like you'd want more adhesion so the laminate doesn't come off--plus now you have a paintable surface.
Can i make one suggestion ... what ever covering you are applying be it tissue, silk, film etc always cover the bottom first then the top surface same with fuss bottom , sides , top.
I want to build my P-40 Warhawk into just a model. I have laminating film but I was wondering, if I laminate the foam to give it more strength, can I prime over the film with plastic primer and then do my paint, then clear coat it, will this work or will the paint just chip off ?
Absolutely. If you want to paint before you laminate that is probably the best. However, if you paint after lamination then scuff with a very fine sand paper, scratch pad or steel wool, clean with alcohol then use a simple rattle can fast dry to paint.
Thanks Dick. I was also wondering if putting two layers of lamination would work, then the paint. I was wondering if it would stick to the previous layer and should I scuff up the first layer for better adhesion ? Thanks
can this product be used on balsa wood planes instead of tissue , what's the weight per squre inch compared to tissue, can you give stats per size 1.7,3,5,10mil
f marz Absolutely plus makes the plane much stronger. Using less heat will produces fewer bumps. Different kinds of foam show fewer bumps. Paint before you laminate.
Hi, Mr. Dick. Great video! What do you think to use a 3 mil (75 micra) film to laminate a MTD, that is a "heavy" plane, but with much power too? Thanks. See you.
Luis I laminated my MTD completely with the 1.7 except for the bottom of the fuselage. On the bottom only for abrasion protection when landing. The 1,7 is plenty for the rest of the plane and yeilds a very smooth finish. You will love the MTD, it is one of my favs!! Thanks a bunch for watching.
I would not do it that way, as the surface bubbles up (doesn't look nice imho) - much too hot with the iron to keep a smooth surface. I recommend the adhesive Oracal 751C film which max. requires a hairdryer for carved surfaces - it's like car wrapping...!
I would use the 1.7 because it is easier to form around round pieces. It also overlaps better without seeing the seams. I personally would try to do the fuselage in one long piece equal halves. Starting in the center and working my way to each end. You could probably do the wings top and bottoms with one piece for each top and bottom. This will be a big project and lot’s of fun. I now get my laminating film from Amazon. Thanks a big bunch for watching!!! Keep in touch
Hi Dick good day, i ordered the film already, but i am wondering will the foam cells bloat with the heat. the planes foam surfaces are very smooth now. how hot is hot enough for the iron. thanks
davidsai Experiment with the heat settings on the iron Find what works best for you. Some foams don’t puff. Check out my “My Twin Dream “ video. That foam is as smooth as plastic.
Hello there! I've been using laminating film for quite some time now however the film de-laminates after some time. Do you have an idea how to better glue the film to the foam so that it stays there glued well? Thank you!
I'm looking at laminating, but unsure of how much laminate I need to purchase.. How much does it usually take? I know different sizes will require different amounts
QUESTION: I'm just getting into RC aircraft, and I'm starting with a HK Bixler 2, and after I master that one, I plan to step up to a HK Phoenix 2000 and use it as an ALES [learning] platform. Would you recommend this thin film for their EPO wings, or should I use the next thicker sized film? Second, I've read that a lot of Bixler flyers put Scotch Extreme tape on the leading edges of the wings, and clear packing tape over much of the wing chord. Could this film be applied over over these type of tape to give the wing a more finished look? Thanks
Good idea, sometimes I do that. If I have a very long wing I will pre-stress the bottom of the wing then laminate it. That prevents excessive upward flex of the wing. Top of bottom first? Just laminate and have fun!! Thanks a big bunch for watching.
Stoneblueairlines has a nice video on this as well. Uses a slightly different method. Instead of starting in the middle and working your way out continuously, start in the middle and leave gaps. Then go back and shrink the gaps. It might be a better method for avoiding having the material bunch up on you when covering larger or curved surfaces. Whatever works. I bought a whole bunch of 3 mil glossy on Amazon real cheap. Gonna get crazy
+Dick Gibson it was eBay actually. Laminator_warehouse is the seller, out of Texas. Think I purchased 2 12"x200' glossy 3 mil for $30.00. Not sure exactly because the exact item I purchased doesn't show up in my purchase history, think it's been deleted. He's got a variety of laminates for sale. I think 3 mil is a nice thickness. Light enough to be pliable, yet only need to overlap once on the leading edges to get adequate protection. There is more expensive UV tolerant laminate out there. I wonder if it's worth the expense. I've got the new radian and carbon z cub foamies I'm going to laminate.
No just clear. You can lightly scuff and paint or I usually paint the plane first then laminate it. This gives you a very durable finish and makes the model way way stronger! Thanks a bunch for watching!!!
One of the few videos on this subject that clearly explains how to handle the hinged surfaces. Thank you!
Iron was way too hot. The foam slready expanded
Thanks, Uncle Deek, for this video. I'm just starting to work with foam and appreciate your sharing your knowledge.
Great video, thank you! I just picked up many tips watching you work!
Cool thanks for doing this video I might try this on one of my projects, seen others use this covering you make it look easy to work with. Thanks for sharing
Great video! I was searching for product ideas to skin a scratch built Predator drone I'm working on and your video convinced me that this is the product to run with. The ease of application and the end result sealed the deal! I'll definitely be using hinges on my control surfaces though as I heard these laminates may get brittle over the years but other then that the finish is incredible! I'm hot wire cutting my own wings and plan to retask some fiberglass arrow shafts I have laying around for my wing spars. 3 shafts in the central fixed wing section then dropping to 2 shafts (all 5 over lapping 3" at the union) where the removable wings join followed by 1 shaft centered out nearly to the wing tips. I was thinking about skinning it with carbon fiber but after seeing this I think I will save some money and go with this. I'm going big with an 8 foot wingspan for a nice stable camera platform for some serious FPV soaring fun. This will be my first plan with an Ardupilot system complete with GPS. The price for the electronics is amazing these days, the entire system with GPS, OSD, telemetry and power readings was only $79 bucks delivered! Back when I first started flying a cheesy 1 axis Gyro cost more then that! lol Thanks for the great information and video...
Excellent video, very useful and good camera work as well. Makes a pleasant change for RUclips!
tropicalparsoon Lana my wife is very grateful for your very kind comments, Thanks a big bunch
Very helpful video. I can definitely see the benefits of laminating. Thanks for taking the time to share your technique. And I learned a new phrase, "relief cut".
Whats that? Extra weight.
Thank you sir! I never noticed this or your fx61 video before. Helped me a lot now I have a full day with tinkering with my wing :)
Nice and clean :)
Very cool job! Love the monocote iron :)
Thanks for sharing and happy weekend to Lana and you :)
Great video Dick, I bought this from Aloft last week after watching your video and plan on laminating the wings, vertical and horizontal stabilizer on my Volantex Firstar 2000 mm FPV plane... Aloft should give you a discount for the business you have brought them through your videos... Thanks so much my friend..
+Solar Flarin Thank you soooo much for watching and if I can be of any other service just let me know.
Experiment with the heat on that kind of foam first!
Have fun
***** Will do ... Thanks again !
you deserve a lot more subs
Thanks for posting the video. I bought this same film based on your video and will be doing my first try at laminating this next week.
+Watt Waster Worked perfectly. Dicks video was the best tutorial for the process. The relief cuts are very effective when encountering curves and the foam is well protected and strengthened with the lamination.
Lovely. Thank you for the education. Have a great day
That was really well done! Looks great!
Thanks a big bunch
Im going to try this tomorrow and just found your tutorial, thanks very helpful
The point of laminating is that it works similar to a bike helmet. The foam alone is fragile, as is the covering, but together they work quite well. I'd say in my experience that you gain 50% over the foams original strength
Great video! I would turn the temperature down to just above medium on EPO. High is good for EPP though.
Informative and well done ... thanks for taking the time to show this.
My pleasure.
I am the ambassador of laminating.
Thanks a bunch for watching.
...very good and i use the stuff on all my diy scratch-built epp stuff...add lot of strenght and resistance...for epp exactly 150˚ Celsius...thank you for the demonstration...
Very Nice! Well Done ! Thank you for your time and all the tips!
You have that iron way to hot, the bubbles show lack of knowledge.
Hi, grandpa, nice video coverage and cool, usful presentation. Enjoyed lot.....
It's book laminating film for school books. We used it for balsa sail planes back in the mid 90's. You could get a ton of it for cheap. You can also paint the inside "side" with a light coat of spray paint. Really lightened those old planes.
Very true!
Thanks a bunch for watching!!
Yes I used it on many planes. It is lighter and tougher than the model airplane coverings. It does not shrink as much, but that is not a problem.
Great video
Great idea and ecplanation, thank you !
Congratulations, nice video, I did not know that it was possible with foam and heat....
Big uncle Deek... what a legend! Love your vids fella!
I'm getting the Apprentice STS 1.5 meters.
Would it be best to sand the plane first for a smooth finish?
Not necessary to sand just make sure it is clean.
Make sure you do the nose well.
As a trainer plane the nose and motor are first to go.
That is a great plane
Thank you very much.
Yeah, I think I made the right choice.
My first 3 planes were a Xk A800 with a cheap chinese transmitter :D@@DickGibson
make sure you follow the instruction for initializing the radio to the stabilizer and check that the controls are moving the right way when you move the plane .. This will assure many successful flights. @@Wings_of_foam
Yes, good point.
Cheers.@@DickGibson
about 8 years ago I watched this video and now I'm wondering if this system would work on the outside of a wood-framed shadow box I'm building for my granddaughter? I want to protect the inside of the shadow box from the weather with your iron-on system, will this stick to a wood frame? January 26/ 2024 8:42 hours.
It should work, I have covered balsa wood airplanes with the same technique.
Just practice on something before you jump into it.
Thanks a big bunch for watching.
DG
Great work Dick I have only just seen this video today! I fly the assassins from Crash Test Hobby - these are made similarly. Laminating film does a fantastic job in strengthening and making the foam more durable. Yes it take time but it is very rewarding .... I resurrected a HK Teksumo with this stuff!
Have you watched my series of videos on the POP Wing
Very nice video, thank you for your expertise...
Nice tips, this is so informative 👍
Just wanted to say thanks, looking at coating my foam and balsa planes. Not to worry about looks, as long as it is functional and helps with those unplanned landings😀 or pesky trees that come out of nowhere.
I hate those freaking trees being right in my way, it's kinda funny in fpv but it sucks for the plane
An excellent demonstration sir, thank you.
Thanks a big bunch for watching!!
He should have covered the underside first
You are probably right but for the demo this worked.
Thanks a bunch for watching
Wish I could like this video more than once.
Best intro I’ve ever seen haha!!
Just what I was looking for. Awesome shirt. Thanks for the vid.
thanks, but where were you two nights ago lol. thank you for your time and skill. UNCLE DEEK ROCKS!!!!!
As fast as this old man can go??
Your loyal servant
Uncle Deek
Nice job.. How to skin a foam wing and make it look so easy ;-)
Thank You very much. Nice video. Now where to find the film.
Awesome intro speech!
Uncle Dick you're so amazing i have to subscribe. think i'll repair my phoenix glider using your method. - no substitute for experience. thank you.
That was really helpful, thanks.
starkid255 Thanks a big bunch for watching
How about a fuselage or something curved? I see plenty of videos on flat (ish) surfaces.
Great job! 😎👍
Nice video man 👌
Sorry, but I see bigger gaps between grains of material after laminating. This is effect of "heat treatment" of material. Is it nice ?
where can I get one of those irons or something similar and once you laminate it can you paint over it?
How thick laminate film do you use on the belly of belly landing foam planes like a Skipper or power glider, bixler etc
Is it neccesary to skin an all foam airplane ? Some skins are fairly heavy. Is reduction in drag penalty worth it ?
No it is not necessary however for some planes that not have landing gear or may have re occurring damage it is very important.
The weight is negligible and is spread over the entire plane. 1.3 mil thickness if very thin. It is a lot of fun to do and much easier to use than a monocote type covering.
Thanks a big bunch for watching!!!
I asked for this video and you supplied thanks :-)
Yeahbut. Now you have smooth bubbly foam. Agreed good for more strength, but what does it look painted?
Best if you paint the foam first.
I use a rattle can paint and let it dry well.
Then laminate, then you will have a strong and beautiful plane.
This is a new Fun Cub that was painted and laminated:
ruclips.net/video/gamYsq8mH5U/видео.html
Thanks for that Deek,great tutorial.
Hey man thanks for watching
Great job....suscribed to your channel
looks like the same as monocote covering method, good tip
thanks
Spray with Acrylic water based varnish. Far better results and much quicker.
Some folks are worried that the foam bubbles are expanding, seems like you'd want more adhesion so the laminate doesn't come off--plus now you have a paintable surface.
Can i make one suggestion ... what ever covering you are applying be it tissue, silk, film etc always cover the bottom first then the top surface same with fuss bottom , sides , top.
What?
I don’t think so you always close on the bottom. Like a cap on a bottle
Lid on a bowl is probably a better analogy
Makes sense...You avoid having a seam on or near the leading edge of the airfoil facing the relative wind.
@@bigdog1476 Your lid and bottle cap analogy seems more fitting to what this poster recommended.
Awesome video! Remember that if your on a budget for strength you can always simply use clear packing tape!
Yes, I use to do that but packing tape does not last long, it is heavy and it is UV reactive.
Once you try laminating a plane you will be hooked.
Can you use a heat gun to take out the wrinkle?
Yes you can
If you do the same with your main wings you will significant change the aerodynamic of the wings because of the created foam bubbles.
I have covered many foam airplanes completely and the results were fabulous. All the planes flew better and are much more durable.
Great video! Thanks for the tip! Has anyone tried this in balsa ribbed wings instead of monokote/oracover to get a lightweight covering?
Hi, after laminating an Elapor wing, do you feel that the wing has become a bit stiffer in terms of deflection?
Yes it makes everything you laminate stronger.
@@DickGibson thanks Dick... from Old Germany!
do you know Horst Zeller?
Great side, love it
Thanks a bunch for watching
I want to build my P-40 Warhawk into just a model. I have laminating film but I was wondering, if I laminate the foam to give it more strength, can I prime over the film with plastic primer and then do my paint, then clear coat it, will this work or will the paint just chip off ?
Absolutely. If you want to paint before you laminate that is probably the best.
However, if you paint after lamination then scuff with a very fine sand paper, scratch pad or steel wool, clean with alcohol then use a simple rattle can fast dry to paint.
Thanks Dick. I was also wondering if putting two layers of lamination would work, then the paint. I was wondering if it would stick to the previous layer and should I scuff up the first layer for better adhesion ? Thanks
thank you sir, much appreciated
Classic monokote trick is to do the bottom first that way the top overlaps the bottom you don't see the seams
can this product be used on balsa wood planes instead of tissue , what's the weight per squre inch compared to tissue, can you give stats per size 1.7,3,5,10mil
Muy buen trabajo, Exclente, gracias por compatirlo.- Como busco ese material en tiendas?
Check the link above for Aloft Hobbies
How do i cover foam plane that is powered by an engine on it?
I would imagine that this reduces surface tension tremendously, making the airplane more slippery thru the air....
f marz
Absolutely plus makes the plane much stronger.
Using less heat will produces fewer bumps.
Different kinds of foam show fewer bumps.
Paint before you laminate.
Sueño con ser como tú que Dios te bendiga siempre que hermosa labor
Fo information, I use 75 micron (3mil) on my bigger planes and the weight increase is in the region of 30%.
Any issues with warpage of the wing?
Can you use this on balsa wings ? Solar film is just too Expensive !
Yes absolutely you can cover a balsa wing.
The laminating film I use is very inexpensive if you purchase it in larger quantities.
is this the same type of stuff as the Hobbyking covering film?
where do you buy the film at?
Amazon has it in bulk.
Aloft Hobbies has it in small lots.
nice video, how to smoothen the foam dots? Did you put a spray paint on the laminate?
Awesome... thanks for the demonstration. Merry Christmas and happy new year. Thumbs up.
Where can I get the film and the iron?
www.alofthobbies.com/new-stuff-laminating-films.html
www.horizonhobby.com/e-flite-brand/e-flite-brand/sealing-iron-han101
Hello Mr. Gibson, what do you estimate the additional weight of the laminate added to your Fun Cub?
2 or 3 grams at the most.
awesome. .. slow and steady
real people do real things
large up yourself
Hi, Mr. Dick. Great video! What do you think to use a 3 mil (75 micra) film to laminate a MTD, that is a "heavy" plane, but with much power too? Thanks. See you.
Luis I laminated my MTD completely with the 1.7 except for the bottom of the fuselage. On the bottom only for abrasion protection when landing. The 1,7 is plenty for the rest of the plane and yeilds a very smooth finish.
You will love the MTD, it is one of my favs!!
Thanks a bunch for watching.
I would not do it that way, as the surface bubbles up (doesn't look nice imho) - much too hot with the iron to keep a smooth surface.
I recommend the adhesive Oracal 751C film which max. requires a hairdryer for carved surfaces - it's like car wrapping...!
hello, i just a got freewings al37 737 max, and would like to cover it with laminating film, wich film would you use, 1.7 3 or 5 mil size thnaks
I would use the 1.7 because it is easier to form around round pieces.
It also overlaps better without seeing the seams.
I personally would try to do the fuselage in one long piece equal halves. Starting in the center and working my way to each end.
You could probably do the wings top and bottoms with one piece for each top and bottom.
This will be a big project and lot’s of fun.
I now get my laminating film from Amazon.
Thanks a big bunch for watching!!!
Keep in touch
Dick Gibson will do, follow my channel for updates on the build. Will let you know what I finally do looking at several options. Gracias from Colombia
Hi Dick good day, i ordered the film already, but i am wondering will the foam cells bloat with the heat. the planes foam surfaces are very smooth now. how hot is hot enough for the iron. thanks
davidsai
Experiment with the heat settings on the iron
Find what works best for you.
Some foams don’t puff.
Check out my “My Twin Dream “ video.
That foam is as smooth as plastic.
@@DickGibson film allready at the miami offcie should get to colombia next week.
muchas gracias ..........!
Hello there! I've been using laminating film for quite some time now however the film de-laminates after some time. Do you have an idea how to better glue the film to the foam so that it stays there glued well? Thank you!
I'm looking at laminating, but unsure of how much laminate I need to purchase.. How much does it usually take? I know different sizes will require different amounts
Hi.
will have the contact of an international distributor of EPP sheets ????
is this good for EPP foam ?
QUESTION: I'm just getting into RC aircraft, and I'm starting with a HK Bixler 2, and after I master that one, I plan to step up to a HK Phoenix 2000 and use it as an ALES [learning] platform. Would you recommend this thin film for their EPO wings, or should I use the next thicker sized film?
Second, I've read that a lot of Bixler flyers put Scotch Extreme tape on the leading edges of the wings, and clear packing tape over much of the wing chord. Could this film be applied over over these type of tape to give the wing a more finished look?
Thanks
I think you had the temperature a bit too high but still very informative video
I would do the bottom first then the top but I suppose it doesn't really matter.
Good idea, sometimes I do that.
If I have a very long wing I will pre-stress the bottom of the wing then laminate it.
That prevents excessive upward flex of the wing.
Top of bottom first? Just laminate and have fun!!
Thanks a big bunch for watching.
Stoneblueairlines has a nice video on this as well. Uses a slightly different method. Instead of starting in the middle and working your way out continuously, start in the middle and leave gaps. Then go back and shrink the gaps. It might be a better method for avoiding having the material bunch up on you when covering larger or curved surfaces. Whatever works. I bought a whole bunch of 3 mil glossy on Amazon real cheap. Gonna get crazy
+Jacob Keller Thanks a big bunch for watching and have fun!
What is the link for the Amazon laminating film please?
+Dick Gibson it was eBay actually. Laminator_warehouse is the seller, out of Texas. Think I purchased 2 12"x200' glossy 3 mil for $30.00. Not sure exactly because the exact item I purchased doesn't show up in my purchase history, think it's been deleted. He's got a variety of laminates for sale. I think 3 mil is a nice thickness. Light enough to be pliable, yet only need to overlap once on the leading edges to get adequate protection. There is more expensive UV tolerant laminate out there. I wonder if it's worth the expense. I've got the new radian and carbon z cub foamies I'm going to laminate.
Does this stuff come in colors?
No just clear.
You can lightly scuff and paint or I usually paint the plane first then laminate it.
This gives you a very durable finish and makes the model way way stronger!
Thanks a bunch for watching!!!
Muito bom 👏👏👏
A little strange. But informative.
New is often strange but this is a fantastic product!
Thanks a big bunch for watching!!
i bet it makes it quite a bit stronger
great jobs thanks
apa nama covernya????