Exam table vs. monokote?

[frank mccune]

      Hello All:

      What are the advantages and disadvantages of each medium when using them to cover a model airplane?

       Tia,

       Frank

[Dan Berry]

One is fuel proof.

[Ken Culbertson]

One is fuel proof.

The answer totally depends on the intended use of the model and how it will be powered.

Ken

[doug coursey]

HOW LONG WILL THE EXAM PAPER LAST BEFORE IT DETERIORATES ON THE PLANE WITH DOPE OR WHAT EVER PAINT IS USED...

[Dave_Trible]

HOW LONG WILL THE EXAM PAPER LAST BEFORE IT DETERIORATES ON THE PLANE WITH DOPE OR WHAT EVER PAINT IS USED...

My own experience trying a couple different 'doctor papers' is maybe one to three years, after which it becomes so brittle that even the lightest finger pressure results in a puncture or split.  Those I've seen have no fiber content (like cloth fibers or weave),  just scattered matt paper fibers.  The old silkspan had a grain direction to it which indicated how the strengthening fibers were oriented.  I don't know for sure but those fibers could have been silk fibers-hence the name.
I mentioned earlier elsewhere that other than finding some old stock real silkspan the stuff our friend Dave Rigotti provides ( don't know what it is exactly but you can visibly see a fine woven mesh inside it to which paper fibers are attached) is the best I'm aware of.   It hasn't been around for us very long so I can't speak about longevity yet but I'm more confident in it than anything else.  Real silk is still an option and there are some on-line suppliers with a lot of selection and very fair prices.  Thai Silk comes to mind.  Dope never stops shrinking.  I've seen doped silkspan pull and squeeze an airframe to the point of crushing soft ribs inside over time.  The doctor paper simply won't hold up to it very long.

Dave

[Ty Marcucci]

 The so called "Dr Paper" is just that, paper, where as silk span is made from rotten silk and has fibers as stated above. Tea bags have been made from silk span for eons.  I used to take tea bags in my flying kit for repairs, Just the right size. If you can find the old style tea bags, you will see what I mean.  Now they are made of a synthetic mesh.

[M Spencer]

Dunno if THIS is any good .
" Whenzou Rice Paper Rolls 45cmx25m
$35.60
Art Supplies Onli...
Image of Whenzou Rice Paper Roll - 45cm x 25m
Whenzou Rice Paper Roll - 45cm x 25m
$37.30
ArtSup
SALE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_paper

[doug coursey]

My own experience trying a couple different 'doctor papers' is maybe one to three years, after which it becomes so brittle that even the lightest finger pressure results in a puncture or split.  Those I've seen have no fiber content (like cloth fibers or weave),  just scattered matt paper fibers.  The old silkspan had a grain direction to it which indicated how the strengthening fibers were oriented.  I don't know for sure but those fibers could have been silk fibers-hence the name.
I mentioned earlier elsewhere that other than finding some old stock real silkspan the stuff our friend Dave Rigotti provides ( don't know what it is exactly but you can visibly see a fine woven mesh inside it to which paper fibers are attached) is the best I'm aware of.   It hasn't been around for us very long so I can't speak about longevity yet but I'm more confident in it than anything else.  Real silk is still an option and there are some on-line suppliers with a lot of selection and very fair prices.  Thai Silk comes to mind.  Dope never stops shrinking.  I've seen doped silkspan pull and squeeze an airframe to the point of crushing soft ribs inside over time.  The doctor paper simply won't hold up to it very long.

Dave
I wouldnt spend  a lot of hours and putting a real good finish on something im not sure would last very long...some planes  last for years...i use the white thai silk on mine,its half the thickness of the colored silk and use about the same amount of clear and paint as silkspan....and is a lot more durable..

[Dave_Trible]

Thai silk sells the stuff in many different types and weights-I'm not able to decipher the differences.  I've bought a fair amount for future projects,  mostly OTFF but could use more on some classic I beam stunters.  There is a little learning curve with it as to getting it stretched well as you cover and using the right amount of tautening dope, then switching to non-tautening so that the silk doesn't pull warps into the structure.  Sure it will weigh a little more but consider 'in-the-day'  50's-60's most of the stunt airplanes were silked and flown on lesser engines.

Dave

[doug coursey]

I BOUGHT MINE FROM DARMA TRADING..THERES 5MM IN WHITE ONLY AND 8MM WHICH IS THE COLORED TYPE I MICKED BOTH AND THE COLOR SILK IS TWICE AS THICK AS THE WHITE SILK...PEOPLE SAID THE 8MM IS EASIER TO FILL BUT I DID NOT SEE THAT WHEN I USED BOTH...I USED SIG SUPERCOAT CLEAR TO TIGHTEN IT..IT TOOK 2 OR 3 COATS THE USED NON TAUT CRYSTAL CLEAR TO FINNISH FILLING THE WEAVE ON THE COLORED SILK..ON THE 5MM I USED I WAS GOING TO PAINT IT SO I USED TALC AND CLEAR TO FILL THE WEAVE FASTER

[john e. holliday]

I myself put the DOC paper/exam paper on first using Mod podge and getting it as smooth as possible.  Don't seal the open bays.  Mine shrinks a little and I put MonoKote on top.  Makes it almost bullet proof as I have dropped tools on the surface and so far weeds and stubble di not puncture the surface.  Yes it adds maybe a couple of ounces.