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Building Tips and technical articles. => 1/2 A building. => Topic started by: John Tomlin on August 02, 2011, 10:17:49 AM
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Was wondering if anyone uses polyspan for covering 1/2 A or is it too heavy. Pretty sure silk would be and silk span is just too easily damaged. Last 1/2 A I used Dave Brown's Sky Loft. First and last for that. Took about 8 coats to seal and then it wasn't the best, I just stopped. Holes / fibers are huge. Really didn't affect the weight per say, just too much work. 1/2 A's are suppose to be built quick. (Profiles anyway) Plastic coverings are a pain with all the little nooks and crannies and if you paint the fuse, you have some match line that usually looks just like that. Would prefer to paint the whole thing. BTW, have never used polyspan but from what I have read, seems pretty straight foward and strong.
Thanks,
John
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Polyspan works just fine. Do a search on how to apply it, as there are some cautions to be observed. Look in the building and finishing forums above. Also, search for the thread on my Baby Nobler; it is polyspan covered.
For the lightest covering, I like Coverlite, a fuelproof covering you get from Hobby People.
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Silk is not too heavy! Cover first with the free flight guys very thin mylar. I use thinned down impact adhesive on the balsa, then cover and iron on. Place silk on top and a light coat of dope (thinned at least 50-50%). Then fuelproof to taste. This mylar/ silk/ dope finish is lighter than doped silk (you don't need lots of coats of dope to make the silk airtight, the mylar does that for you!).
Regards,
Andrew.
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Thanks guys. I have a friend that flies free flight and has some polyspan. Going to get some from him and give it a try.
John
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I still use silkspan.
George
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Econocote has worked for me. Polyspan/silk even monocote. Tissue and silkspan will work and expect to fix the holes and tears. SLC thats for me !! Great stuff to work with. Just used some and like it fine. Lite/ fuel proof/ paintable whats not to like?? #^ f~ x: f~ j1
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I have heard that tissue over mylar works, also, but I haven't tried it.
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I am currently covering a Baby Clow wing with Polyspan. I am going to photo the process for a Half-A-Flyer article. y1
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I used Ultracote Lite Transparent (Hanger 9) on this Baby Ringmaster and it came out fine. Easy to control the shrink and tough stuff.
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John, surely a two thumbs up model you got there. Ken
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Thanks Kenneth,
The Baby Ringmaster was built from a Pat King kit (patdk@aol.com) and can be built either as an electric or as a glow powered model. I thought that the transparent film would make a nice looking plane.
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That little Ringmaster does look great. Have been considering getting one with the hope the grand kids might start flying again. I can pit the planes with little problems, it the flying that get me anymore. H^^
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I have no idea about the availability of "Solarfilm" products over your side of the pond http://www.solarfilm.co.uk/ but one of the products they do is called "Litespan", It's a lightweight synthetic fibre tissue , fully fuel proof and only around 30gsm, I've used it on models up to Ringmaster size, It's certainly very lightweight and extremely puncture proof. They also do another product called "Airspan" which is a few gsm lighter but is not fuel proof so needs a light coat of fuel proofer to seal it. I'm sure there are comparable products from other manufacturers but having some experiences with "Litespan" I can recommend it. It has no adhesive so use Balasloc or similar to apply.
TTFN
John.
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Over here in the "colonies" Lightspan is sold as Coverlite by Hobby People. And it is wonderful stuff! Tough, lightweight, fuelproof, and seems not to degrade with age! ;D