Honestly I am getting really tired or comments like "I'll only use inton on'd for my fun or sport planes, fo my real stunt ships it's only silkspan and dope" and dozens just like it. The myriad of comments that lead that suggest that is you use a iron on covering you are some how a lesser modeler, inferior, not really with the program, second class...... I can go on and on. This attitude is clear and is in the same vein as the anti ARF, ARC, sentiment. It's this "If you did not fabricate, assemble, cover and paint every last item on your model you are not worthy attitude" that seems not to have changed in the last 30 years. Is it changing, yes and no. Yes because the younger guys and the later retreads are far more open to change and because of attrition. No, because too many of the really old guys still run the ball game.
Perhap it can't be helped, it is a older you get them more stubborn and resistant to change you get, change means leaving your comfort zone, and for many older people leaving thier comfort zone scares the heck out of them. Perhaps because of this I should keep this in the back of my mind and cut the people who hold such attitudes some slack.
Could be that some new technology, or technique they can not grasp don't have much hands on experience with make them feel insecure so they shun it for fear perhaps they can not compete with it. I guess it fall under the old saying "you can't teach a old dog new tricks", maybe ther is more truth to that than is generally accepted.
Getting back to the point, I've used monokote exclusively since it was invented, never used anything else, It's not that I can't paint, as I've done custom paint on every motorcycle I've ever owned and also have done airbrush graphics on cars and vans back in the day. It' is just that on model planes, insisting on sticking with finishing techniques that have basically not changed in 50 years is for me is rediculous. Now I am not knocking anyone who insists on still using paper, silk, and dope to cover their model. If thats what you know how to do best then hey, knock yourself out.
Very beutiful model have been and still created this way. But for crying out loud stop with the upturned nose attitude. You way is not the best way, and certainly not the only way. Just because you can't get the result you want with monokote or are not proficient in its application is no excuse to brow beat, discourage, or otherwise snub anyone who can or wants to finish exclusively with those materials.
Unfortunately until the CL stunt experiences greater turn over, 20 point finishes will remain in the realm of paint only models. BOM will rule the day, and you will not be worthy if your frimary airplane is only a arf or a arc. Sorry you just won't be in the good old boys club, not really anyway, although no one will tell it to your face.
In the acceptence of new technology, and accepting rapid change the RC community wins hands down. Oh they have thier snobs to be sure, but in the RC community the snob are typically the ones with the latest and greatest toys, they are the ones who embrace change and new stuff the most. Kind of explains why participation is RC is so much greater than CL.
Now for a reality check. The photos below are all models finished exclusively with monokote with the exception of some accessories and perhaps a cowl the is painted. This is just a small representation, Short of paint fades and gradients, there is nothing that can be done with paint that can not be done using iron on coverings. So why is it that people in the CL community still hold the superiority attitude?
99.9% of the people in CL can't finish in paint as well as these models are finished in film.
Topic: Iron on coverings (Rant) (Read 724 times)
