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Building Tips and technical articles. => Paint and finishing => Topic started by: Steve Thornton on October 21, 2012, 09:11:37 PM

Title: How do you cover a profile with Ultrakote?
Post by: Steve Thornton on October 21, 2012, 09:11:37 PM

I have looked at most of the threads here and I can't seem to find step by step for covering a profile fuselage with Ultrakote.  I have covered a couple of wings with it but no fuse, and I want to start using it for the entire plane.  I have watched many YouTube videos a and RC Universe covering video, but can't seem to get the big picture on a profile.  Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Steve

Title: Re: How do you cover a profile with Ultrakote?
Post by: Avaiojet on October 22, 2012, 06:48:11 AM

The models I have covered in R/C, the control surfaces are similar to profile fuselages, in that some are much thicker at the hinge side than .5".

The way I did control surfaces, and I believe even in the book, "There are no Secrets," control surfaces are covered doing the perimeters first, then the large flat areas are covered overlapping the perimeter material.

Notches have to be made in all corners and schrinking with a heat gun would be necessary for radius areas.

I would do as much of the perimeter as possible on the straight areas, then use the heat gun on all radius areas. The straight areas can be wrapped easily, both sides, but the radius areas would have to be done a side at a time leaving more material in the center for overlapping the material on the other side.

I hope this helps!

There is no paint on this model. All control surfaces were done the way explained.

Charles

Title: Re: How do you cover a profile with Ultrakote?
Post by: john e. holliday on October 22, 2012, 09:07:05 AM

I have done profile fuselages with Monokote and found it to be no harder than doing it ove the sheeted leading edges of a wing.  Best if you do the covering before gluing in the wing and tail surfaces.   If I remember right, Ultrakote takes less heat than  Monokote.  With the plane all glued together I take narrow strips of covering and do the fillet areas first or you can do the main areas first then the fillet areas.  Like any thing it takes practice and patience.   My DoodleBug is all Monokote covering.

Forgot to add, if you do get and air bubble while working the covering down, a straight pin will punch a hole at the edge of the bubble.  Then it is just working the air out with the iron. 

Title: Re: How do you cover a profile with Ultrakote?
Post by: Steve Thornton on October 22, 2012, 04:54:55 PM

Thanks Gentlemen! Hope I can build beauties like those someday.  I plan to use Ultracote because it works well for me and already have some.  Doc, do you cover the fillets or put the fillet over the 'cote? Do you treat the engine/tank area any differently than the rest of the fuse? I sound like my 3 year-old grandson with all these questions, but I'm probably not as bright as he is.
Thanks again,
Steve Thornton

Title: Re: How do you cover a profile with Ultrakote?
Post by: john e. holliday on October 23, 2012, 10:32:56 AM

I do not build up fillets as I don't think they help that much, with the exceptiong of a stronger wing to fuse joint.   There is no other material over the covering.   The graphics are even Monokote using a low temp iron to put them down.  Now on built up fuselages which have an engine/fuel tank area I coat them with epoxy.  On profiles I have trouble with the kote sticking to epoxy, even after sanding and cleaning.  So kote goes on bare wood.