Heat shrink plastic covering-low heat

[ptg]

Got some experimental stuff going and need to find a good quality plastic covering material that can be used directly over foam.  Since I haven't used this stuff in a very long time, have no idea what works well.  It needs to be strong and low heat.  Tried Monocote, not low heat and was not impressed.  

Thanks.

[Paul Smith]

I guess I'm a few years away from this now, but I did a lot of plastic-over-foam work.  Monokote, Econocote, and Fascal were high heat and unusable.  Everything else was fine. 

Solarfilm worked great if you can still get it.  Also, in the clear world, Seal Lamin laminating film.

[Lester Nicholson]

Years ago I built 2 Byron Originals Christen Eagles and a Pitt's Special. All 3 were 1/3 scale molded foam w/gasoline engines. Anyway they were covered w/Econocote w/out any problems. Went around the compounds easily and stayed attached w/low heat.  Nick

[Howard Rush]

I have some Solarfilm by various aliases (Solarfilm aliases, not mine).  What color do you want?

[Randy Cuberly]

My memory tells me that Econocote was low heat.  I used it on several combat foam wings in the 1980's (Combat memories, before I got too old to do that stuff without stepping on my tongue).

I don't know if Econocote is still available. 

Another one was Black Baron Film but I'm sure that isn't available anymore.

I'm pretty sure Tower Hobbies sells a version of Econocote that is low heat!  I have no idea how good it is.

Randy Cuberly

[John Cralley]

I've been told that UltraCote is OK over foam - haven't tried but maybe someone else will chime in.

[ptg]

Thanks for the prompt Howard,
After some digging I did find the remains of a roll of blue Solarfilm.  Will give it a try today.  If it works I may hit you for more.  
As an FYI there is some stuff called 'Towerkote' which is obviously from Tower Hobbies.  They tout it as being low heat and good for covering foam.  I ordered a roll today.

[Howard Rush]

I kinda remember Towerkote.  Look at the label.  If it's made in England and has pieces of narrow Scotch tape on it, I'd guess it's the same as Solarfilm.

[dirty dan]

PTG,

If your Solarfilm works, despite being decades old, the stuff is pretty widely available. You'll appear to be quite weird if you begin calling suppliers and using Howard's clues on the chick taking phone orders. So I'll see if better information is at hand.

(Hmmm...Flite Kote? From Hobby Shack? That's what Norm McFadden used to use and I went through a good bit of it myself. On foamies only. I personally do not regard it as particularly useful on built-up structures and like all  low-heat films the top coat of plastic seems "soft" and prone to showing its age before it gets old.)

My best,

Dan

[Howard Rush]

Yup, Flite Kote.  I think it's the same as Solarfilm. 

[Randy Cuberly]

Thanks for the prompt Howard,
After some digging I did find the remains of a roll of blue Solarfilm.  Will give it a try today.  If it works I may hit you for more.  
As an FYI there is some stuff called 'Towerkote' which is obviously from Tower Hobbies.  They tout it as being low heat and good for covering foam.  I ordered a roll today.

Yeah, that's the stuff.  A couple of the Combat guys from here in Tuson used the stuff quite a bit on foam wings...

It seemed to work OK for them.

I used Solar Film on Free Flights but don't really remember it being Low Heat!  Could be wrong, I often am when it comes to memory these days!  

Randy Cuberly

[Joseph Patterson]

We've been covering directly over foam the past year with Topflite Econocoat, Tower coat, and Toughlon (Sig's stuff which they no longer have). Toughlon can be ordered from AIRBORNE MODELS , Livermore, CA. The film Howard has(FLITECOAT) IS Solar film and it is great stuff, probably the best to use. I really like the Toughlon also because it is thicker, but  has the lowest application temp.(136deg-250deg F)-  wt.= .27oz. sq. ft. It is a little harder to go around compound curves, but we are building straight wings/tips w/ tapered T.E., so no problem. AirBorne also has "LightTex" which has even lower app. temp.(136deg. - 200deg F) It is lighter in wt. We've used it too and really like it. It is cheaper- They have the same big color/transparent selection Sig had, even checkerboard. Prices range for lightTex- 8.99 tranp./roll to 10.89 Opaq.,  Toughlon- 8.99 Trans/roll  to 10.99 Opaq./roll, 12.99/roll-Checkerb./Pearlized.  Roll size-31-1/2" x 2 meters. They have a nice website if you wanna check'em out. 
         Stay away from Ultracoat when applied directly over foam. It's temp. range is much higher. I believe it is even higher than Monocoat. I think is about 225 -230deg F to get the adhesive tacking and the shrink temp is about 280deg F up to 350deg F.
        Overall the Airborne stuff is the most user friendly for foam/ also cheap.The Howard flitecoat which Howard sent me is also super easy to use over foam which is most likely Solarfilm which is higher in price than ECONOcoat, Towercoat, and the Airborne stuff.
       Doug   

[GonzoBonzo]

         Stay away from Ultracoat when applied directly over foam. It's temp. range is much higher. I believe it is even higher than Monocoat. I think is about 225 -230deg F to get the adhesive tacking and the shrink temp is about 280deg F up to 350deg F.
       

Monokote is higher.  Application temp for Ultracote is 220, Monokote is at least 275.  Don't know how much shrinking you'll have to do, especially over a solid foam wing.  Complex foam wingtips could be a problem.

[Joseph Patterson]

   Gonzo you are correct about the app. temp which starts at 220 deg. versus 275 deg for Monocoat. However, if film is needed to be shrunk more, then the range for ULTRCOAT is 280 to 340 versus 280 to 350 for Monocoat. You cannot use any of these temp. when going directly onto foam. Ultracoat can be made to work, but you have to be careful with the temp. We have tried it, but find the low temp films a lot easier to work with. I would not consider Ultracoat a true low temp. film.
    Doug