I assembled an ARF Smoothie in March to fly in Old Time at VSC this year.  I used all the tricks I knew to keep the covering in place.  All the trim pieces were outlined with clear nail polish, the area around the engine was fuel-proofed with finish epoxy which lapped over the covering, and all the leading edges were covered with clear film.  I tacked everything down with an iron any time it looked like it was coming loose. 

It held up pretty well at first and flew really well.  On a flight a couple of months ago, the covering on the inboard side of the vertical tail came loose.  The trim stayed in place on the white and the clear film over the leading edge kept it from completely departing the airplane.  After the flight, I looked carefully and the adhesive was still stuck to the wood but had pulled completely off the film.  I applied Sig Stix-It to the wood (after cleaning with acetone) and re-attached the covering.

On the next flight, the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer lifted and flapped in the breeze again held in place by my clear leading edge covering.  It was taped down and on the next flight the flap covering came off along with the underside of one wing.

I'm done with it!  All the "China Kote" is coming off and I will cover the entire thing with Monokote.  I only wish I had done this before assembly since it will be much more difficult with the airplane assembled.  The airplane flys too good to throw it away so I'll invest the extra work.

My Primary Force ARF is more than a year old and the basic covering is still good.  Some of the white trim has come loose, but the orange is still intact.  When I do another Brodak pre-built, it will either be an ARC or I will strip the covering and replace it before assembly.

Steve

I believe the Score is the worst one of the bunch as far as icky covering. I am thinking of recovering mine over the winter. If the darn thing didn't fly so well I would just write it off but it would make a great backup and feel it's worth putting the time and money in.

BTW: If you use a heat gun the covering will just about fall off without leaving a glue mess.

Just reread this post as I was going to start one about when does an ARF become and ARC.  But, as stated to me an ARF is an ARF no matter what you do to it.  But, the thing that caught my eye is you stated that you flew an ARF Smoothie in Old Time.   I never knew a Smoothie was an old timer as it came out after the Thunderbird.  Have fun,  DOC Holliday

Thanks Bill,  I was told one time as a youngster that the "Smoothie" was designed as a windy weather ship in place of the "Thunderbird".  Does this mean I can now build my "Smoothie" kit and fly it in three different stunt classes??  Have fun,  DOC Holliday

I just purchased a Vector arf.I was told it was covered with the new Brodak covering at least this gentalman was told that.Is it different now using the Brodak covering or the same stuff? Im not sure if I should remove and recover. I do plan on changing controles.

While trying to salvage my Smoothie ARF's covering a friend, Dick Hodge, told me to try a mixture of half Fletch Glue, used to hold feathers to arrows, and half MEK. I did this on the Smoothie and it has helped my covering to remain on the plane! I have recovered 3/4 of the horizontal tail with Tower Coat using their red, light blue and white. These colors fairly closely match the original China Coat's color. My vertical Stab started to shed last week! I must have missed with the Fletch Glue Mix! I put it back with medium CA!

Phil Spillman