Dave Browns Skyloft

[Tony Drago]

 Any Pros or Cons about this covering.
 Thanks

[Fredvon4]

I have a 3 Sq yard pack of this stuff 3'x9' and have similar question

[Jim Kraft]

I have used it to cover wings but it has been a while. It does take some learning as the stuff shrinks very powerfully and can warp a strong wing very easily. Just needs some care taken with heat. Other than that it is kind of like a little heavier version of Poly Span. It was popular back in the 70's for covering R/C pattern planes. It was never my choice of covering materials after I used it the first time.

This is just one mans opinion so maybe others have a better one.

[Tony Drago]

Thank you

[George Truett]

We used to use it between the skin and foam cores on very thin F-1 pylon wings.  It worked great for this and added a lot of strength with very little weight gain.  As far as using it for a finish covering I never had much luck.  It goes on well but it's very easy to sand into it and cause it to fuzz.  Once it starts it becomes a battle to recoat the fuzzy areas and make them smooth without creating more of them.  I would suggest making a test part before covering an entire wing or airframe.  George

[bill bischoff]

I thought it was miserable stuff. I used it once. The seams and edges "crept" with each coat of dope, and it took a lot to fill it. I would not use it on the outside of an airplane ever again. Polyspan is infinitely better.

[fred cesquim]

i have used twice, and stripped off from the plane twice
itīs heavy, sucks a LOT of dope to fill completely, tends to twist wings and if wrinkles, forget about stretching again
gave up using

[Phil Spillman]

I put this stuff on a Ringmaster which I finished in 1992! It's still there looks just fine and is strong as anything I've ever used! That plane has been beat around quite hard and has had a hole or two punched into it due to hard handling! Since I didn't care much about how it looked I simply coated the hole with Ambroid and let it be at that! Still flies just fine and is still as strong as ever!

Phil Spillman

ps Soaked it in hot water and then put it on like silk.

[Steve Helmick]

Legendary F1C ("FAI Power) Experimenter Bill Gieskieng used to use Skyloft applied with "Deft" (a sort of varnish stuff from the hardware/paint store)...but covered over it with Monokote. He said it added a lot of strength to sheeted areas without making them "brittle" like FG/epoxy or carbon mat/epoxy.

I have some, but haven't used it. I'd use it something like carbon mat, applying it over a couple of thin coats of clear dope, attach with one coat of really thin clear dope, then a coat of finishing epoxy. Actually, might apply a layer of carbon mat over the Skyloft.

I just finished a new CF/balsa control handle (Chris & Alan Propeller Co.), and did a little re-shaping after I thought it was finished. Was shocked at how far into the balsa the epoxy had soaked. Don't do that! A coat or two of thin clear dope will save weight by reducing the epoxy soaking.    Steve