First let me explain I am not an expert on this stuff but I will try to get you started in the right direction.
This film has more than one use. Besides using as a covering material it can also beused as a see-thru protector of your plans. Lay out your plans and lay a sheet of Doculam over it and start building!

Advantages of Doculam:

Low cost per Sq ft.
 
Light weight! about one third of opaque iron on coverings
Simply irons on like the other major coverings
You can paint it on either side
Use crayons on the underside for decorating it if you want
Use sharpies as well
It is fuelproof
For flat scale finishes paint it on the outside
I believe you can use a printer to print graphics on the adhesive side. This has been tried with limited success so far.

Here are some of sources:
http://www.laminatorwarehouse.com/laminating_film.shtml

http://www.schooloutfitters.com/catalog/product_info/cPath/CAT154_CAT161/pfam_id/PFAM949/products_id/PRO130

http://www.usi-laminate.com/store/wpbec_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?Level1=6&Level2=30

Now for some links to other theads with lots of info to share:

http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2859

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274520

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4561567/anchors_4585155/mpage_1/key_doculam/anchor/tm.htm#4585155

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4577137/anchors_4580388/mpage_1/key_doculam/anchor/tm.htm#4580388


Here is a link to a covering comparison chart:
http://lee.org/flying/tips/

Robert

Dave, thank you for sharing us with this information. This is the first mention I have heard from anyone that they thought Doculam might be an inferior covering material. especially on open bays or frames.
What mil is the Doculam you were having trouble with?

Here are a cople of pics of planes covered with Doculam.

Robert

I have no doubt what you say is true, but please keep in mind that this thread was started begause someone was as Ray ( minnesotamodeler ) Asked what Doculam was and wanted to know more about it and I felt that because there was so much to tell about it  that it would really sidtrack the "Re: CAUTION Flying 1/4A models" thread. So I started a new thread in reply.

I have never once said that Doculam ( or any other laminate brand covering is better ( in every way) than  Phil's SLC covering material. I have never used SLC myself and should try it, but probably  not for 1/4 A models. I would think that SLC would be much heavier ( grams per sq meter) than 1.5 mil Doculam.

Quote by dave siegler: "A little more expensive but much stronger than doculam."

Just out of curiosity how much is this SLC grams per sq meter? and what mil is it? what is the cost per sq meter?

1.5 mil Doculam if $24.00 per 27" wide by 500' long roll:
162,000 square inches. this would equal13,500 square feet convert to sqare meters equals 1254.15 square meters
take 24 dollars and divide by 1254.15 square meters equals $.019136466 per square meter or just over 19 cents per square meter!

I will accept that Doculam 1.0 or 1.5 mil  is no good for combat and for F2d on your word. I have no experience in that are.
Nor am I an expert in  all covering materials. Not even an expert on Doculam itself. I am merely quoting the info I have found.

Personally I have never covered the first control line plane with Doculam. I am new here on these forums. Been into R/C myself but want to come back to my roots a bit.

I was the one who first asked the question about using Doculam on the Queen bee in the "CAUTION Flying 1/4A models" thread.

I do not mean to step on anyone toes.

Robert

 

now, that is one beautiful airplane.  Wonderful job, in constructing as well as covering.  I am in awe.

Robert, I appreciate the information you have provided us.  I intend to try some doculam on my "sport" 1/2A designs as well as the 1/4As we are currently tinkering with.  Sounds like it would be perfect for those applications. Thank you for sharing.

Dave, I also appreciate your observations on its limitations.  I remember early problems with Monocote when it first came out--we covered a 100 mph open-span combat plane with it, and the covering stretched so much during flight it began "buzzing" in the flight stream!  Obviously it was later improved and strengthened to the point that today, specialized plastic films can be successfully used in high-stress applications.  I'm not surprised that "general use" films would still exhibit that characteristic.  Not a problem in the light applications that spawned this thread, but good to know where to draw the line in its use.  Thank you both.

--Ray (I feel responsible since my question started this whole thing) Stone
Minnesotamodeler

All these films are made from similar density plastics.  Polyester resin(Mylar(tm)) doesn't vary much.  A 1.5 mil film will weigh twice as much as a .75 mil film.  The differences between films comes in the processing(how much it is stretched during cooling, and how evenly it is stretched).  Some films have a pronounced machine direction like paper and will contract much more that way than at 90 deg. to it.  Other differences occur in the plastic formulation.  The exact grade of resin can make one film tougher and more tear resistant, or it can be clearer, or have a smoother finish.

I did extensive testing to select the SLC film for a balance of toughness, easy application, and the ability to stretch around corners, along with a tough, fuel-proof adhesive and cost.  It is .75 mil film, and yields 22,800 sq.in. per lb.  You can calculate the weight of the covering nearly to the gram on a plane.  I can't buy it in truckloads like Doculam, so the price will always be a bit higher.