Like painting, it's all about surface prep!! By spraying on hairspray on the balsa, it firms up the grain so that a 400grit or 600grit sandpaper can cut the grain off better... Makes for a velvety smooth balsa surface that gives a much better final product after the Monokoting is complete. Cheers. Trevor
I used an adhesive promoter on the edges back in the 70's. It allowed you to tack the film on without applying any heat. ie, you could semi permanent fix the edges with finger pressure only. You were able to stretch out any wrinkles and then you would permanently fix the edges with the Iron. Then shrink with the heat gun. It was a much easier process. Don't know if the adhesive promoter is available now.
The key is to wipe it to all down with a tack cloth after. I do the following prep... 150grit, 220grit, 300grit, 400grit, hairspray, 600grit, tackcloth, cover. If using Ultracote, 300grit is likely the last step beaded since it's more thick than Monokote and doesn't show the grain as much No issues with the adhesive or longevity!! Cheers
I have a question. I thought your suppose to cover the bottom of the wing first?...nobody mentions this in any video. I read on the rc group's always cover bottom first..
as with any multi color covering job the layers eventually start lifting... i talk to a fellow flyer from my club and he uses a tiny bead of thin ca along the seam between the two layers of covering and has never had to re-seal the covering. because the oils from the nitro coat the airframe the adhesive on the covering wont adhere very well if at all... the ca bead keeps the covering sealed permantly. because the ca doesnt soak into the covering it wont dry so hit the seem with the iron to "flash cure" the ca. no more lifting covering.
Wait, what? Hairspray? Do you spray it after the final finish sanding? What does it do for you? EDIT: Also, I've done a few other monokote jobs but my P-51D Top Flite model will be my first one that is covered with balsa sheeting. The way I learned to cover is you tacked the leading and trailing edges and did not tack any of the spars. But looks like sheeted wings should be ironed all the way.
And how do you make them stick? I can understand it if the wing is fully covered with wood, but say for a trainer or a 3D model with gaps in the wing, how is it done?
Another question I have for you concerns the covering of wings with mixed colors that can create patters on the plane. How it is done? Do you have a video for something like that? Any web page describing the process? Thanks in advance.
No major tricks... Just make up patterns and then cut out your colors. Leave a 1/8" to 1/4" overlap and ensure the overlaps are oriented so the wind can't lift them up!
Does monokote stick OK to the resulting surface? It is a mix of balsa wood and hairspray resilduals. How does it affect the glue of the monokote? What about life/duration of the result?
Like painting, it's all about surface prep!! By spraying on hairspray on the balsa, it firms up the grain so that a 400grit or 600grit sandpaper can cut the grain off better... Makes for a velvety smooth balsa surface that gives a much better final product after the Monokoting is complete. Cheers. Trevor
I used an adhesive promoter on the edges back in the 70's. It allowed you to tack the film on without applying any heat. ie, you could semi permanent fix the edges with finger pressure only. You were able to stretch out any wrinkles and then you would permanently fix the edges with the Iron. Then shrink with the heat gun. It was a much easier process. Don't know if the adhesive promoter is available now.
I've just rewatched your video again ... Im in or of you're patience etc etc so im commenting again ,,, friggin Awesome Job Man !!! 😎😉
The key is to wipe it to all down with a tack cloth after. I do the following prep... 150grit, 220grit, 300grit, 400grit, hairspray, 600grit, tackcloth, cover. If using Ultracote, 300grit is likely the last step beaded since it's more thick than Monokote and doesn't show the grain as much
No issues with the adhesive or longevity!!
Cheers
WHAT is the hairspray step? Why?
The monokote I use comes as a roll and will NEVER lay flat like this. It curls with an unstoppable strength.
Superb control and technique!!!
Very nice job Man !!! 😉😎
I have a question. I thought your suppose to cover the bottom of the wing first?...nobody mentions this in any video. I read on the rc group's always cover bottom first..
as with any multi color covering job the layers eventually start lifting... i talk to a fellow flyer from my club and he uses a tiny bead of thin ca along the seam between the two layers of covering and has never had to re-seal the covering. because the oils from the nitro coat the airframe the adhesive on the covering wont adhere very well if at all... the ca bead keeps the covering sealed permantly. because the ca doesnt soak into the covering it wont dry so hit the seem with the iron to "flash cure" the ca. no more lifting covering.
It was good just really long. Took a full five minutes to begin the iron touching anything to start to bond the monokote.
Great looking wing sir.........
Wait, what? Hairspray? Do you spray it after the final finish sanding? What does it do for you?
EDIT: Also, I've done a few other monokote jobs but my P-51D Top Flite model will be my first one that is covered with balsa sheeting. The way I learned to cover is you tacked the leading and trailing edges and did not tack any of the spars. But looks like sheeted wings should be ironed all the way.
And how do you make them stick? I can understand it if the wing is fully covered with wood, but say for a trainer or a 3D model with gaps in the wing, how is it done?
w0w, amazing work with that wing, congratulations
great work!!!!! congrats
A quanti gradi imposti il Ferro?
What is the trick with the hairspray? How do you use it and why?
plate name and the name of the material you use, where you buy it, if you tubieras any internet page to buy
Another question I have for you concerns the covering of wings with mixed colors that can create patters on the plane. How it is done? Do you have a video for something like that? Any web page describing the process? Thanks in advance.
Are you Canadian?
So I worked owt from your video you're from Canada ay? great video thanks for your tips hopefully mine will look as neat.
Hello. Did you use monokote woodpecker to avoid bubbles?
No major tricks... Just make up patterns and then cut out your colors. Leave a 1/8" to 1/4" overlap and ensure the overlaps are oriented so the wind can't lift them up!
what about compound curves
Does monokote stick OK to the resulting surface? It is a mix of balsa wood and hairspray resilduals. How does it affect the glue of the monokote? What about life/duration of the result?
Just wanted to know,is monokote the same thing used to cover gifts and will the plane get as much stiffness as monokote if i cover it with gift raps
And also where can i buy it(i don't want to buy it online)
John Deere
Yep... Just balsa!!
It's just balsa sheeting.
That is the ugliest green ever mixed. Thankfully it's been discontinued....Looks ghastly when pared with Monokote orange too.