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Building Tips and technical articles. => Paint and finishing => Topic started by: Ty Marcucci on May 02, 2012, 08:34:38 PM

Title: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: Ty Marcucci on May 02, 2012, 08:34:38 PM
Question: How many of you cover the full type fuselage before adding the wing, using silk span or carbon veil?

On profiles, I cover it before installing the wing, the wing is always covered before I install it

It seems that I have making it harder for me to get a nice finish by fighting with the silk span, trying to put it on  just so  after the wing has been installed.



 
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: wwwarbird on May 02, 2012, 09:36:23 PM
 I think it's all just personal preference. To me it kind of depends on the overall design layout of the particular model that your working with and how difficult it is, or isn't, to work around after it's fully assembled. Short coupled models can be a bugger to work on between the wing and stab if you've got it all assembled.
 
 Typically, on a full fuse model, I would do the fuselage silkspan work after the wing is in. On profiles I usually do the fuse before I put the wing in. On both types I do all of the tail surfaces before attaching them to the model.

 And no matter how tempted, always wait 'til the very last before doing fillet work. n1
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: Randy Powell on May 02, 2012, 10:11:02 PM
never.   :)
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: wwwarbird on May 02, 2012, 10:22:47 PM
never.   :)

 Huh?
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: Mike Haverly on May 02, 2012, 10:42:23 PM
Quote
never.

Some of us, many actually, use other media such as carbon fiber veil.  I have used Polyspan as well.  Whatever floats your boat.
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: Randy Powell on May 03, 2012, 11:41:01 AM
Sorry, thought that was clear, Wayne. I always cover after the airframe is complete. Probably my OCD taking over.
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: Jim Thomerson on May 03, 2012, 11:52:19 AM
It depends.  I like to cover seprately.  It gruntles me to cover a fuselage with a single piece of silk. 
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: wwwarbird on May 03, 2012, 09:11:39 PM
Sorry, thought that was clear, Wayne. I always cover after the airframe is complete. Probably my OCD taking over.

 Even the wing afterwards?

 I've always covered my wings before installing them, and by 1/4's. Many many moons ago when I was a total newbie at all this stuff in Junior High School, someone told me that overlapping the wing covering a few inches at the center added significant strength at the center section. I started doing it that way then, and still practice the habit today. I don't totally buy the strength benefit anymore, but I guess it sure can't hurt.
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: Randy Powell on May 03, 2012, 09:23:53 PM
Well, I've built some heavy planes, but I've never had a wing peel off. I've seen some others not so fortunate.
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: PJ Rowland on May 03, 2012, 09:56:24 PM
I build take apart models thesedays, so I only ever cover the wings without it installed.

Infact, I paint /clear and buff the wings without installing it to the fuse.

INFACT..... I also travel to the field with the wing not installed into the fuse..


However when I build 1 peicers I finish everything - completed airframe then start the finishing process with carbon Veil. 
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: wwwarbird on May 03, 2012, 10:04:03 PM
Well, I've built some heavy planes, but I've never had a wing peel off. I've seen some others not so fortunate.

 Yeah, I'd say if anyone depends on the covering job to holds the airplane together the model would likely have plenty of other "built-in" issues as well. I just keep doing mine the way I always have out of habit, I don't believe I'm gaining anything by the center overlap, that's why we put spars in 'em. ;D
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: Gene O'Keefe on May 04, 2012, 02:42:16 AM
I cover mine separately.
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: Randy Powell on May 04, 2012, 09:53:28 AM
PJ,

That's what happens when you use a go cart to take your plane to the field.   ;D

My next plane will be a take apart. I've developed my own system.
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: Allan Perret on May 04, 2012, 05:45:49 PM
On Profiles I have always covered the wing and fuse seperately and then assemble.
For the first time on a full fuse I did it on most recent build of the Olympic. 
It worked out well and plan to do it like that will all future builds. 
For me the advantage is its easier to do the fuse in fewer pieces.   
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: PJ Rowland on May 04, 2012, 07:20:54 PM
Randy : "I've developed my own system"

Yes you have.......


Your going to finish it, then pull it out of the model and re-do it becasue its too heavy?

 S?P
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: Randy Powell on May 04, 2012, 07:22:16 PM
Nope. I'm working on the wing system now.
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: John Sunderland on May 04, 2012, 09:05:57 PM
I cover the fuse last because it is easier to jig up the wing and stab for accuracy with the top and bottom blocks off of the fuse. 
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: PJ Rowland on May 06, 2012, 05:09:53 PM
Juz kiddn Randy :-)

I look forward to your work.
Title: Re: Covering the fuselage before or after..
Post by: Bill Little on May 11, 2012, 05:51:21 PM
Hi Ty,

I have done it both ways and now tend to cover the model once it is in one piece.  Don't know why, just my comfortable way of doing it.

On one large model I had been watching some of Windy's videos so I finished all the sub assembles up to where they had been primed and sanded.  Had more hanger rash once I assembled everything so I haven't done it since. LL~ LL~

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM