Hi,

After many years, I decided to come back to Control Line building and flying. In particular, 50 to 60 inch wing span aerobatic models. Since then, I have been reading this forum and watching many Youtube videos about control line building and flying.

After some consideration, I decided that I wanted to have the experience of building a CL model "the traditional way". That means using the well-proven silk-dope finish. However, I learned that the good silkspan (i.e. ESAKI silkspan) is no longer available. Hence, can somebody suggest which silkspan brand (and type: light, medium, heavy) would be best for covering a 50 to 60 inch wing span aerobatic control line model?? I have seen the following silkspan sources so far: Brodak, SIG, Easy Built Models, DHarmatrading and possibly there are others....

Can someone suggest which brand would be best? I intend to use this covering for open bay structures. Yes, I know maybe Polyspan would be a better choice for this, but as I said, I would like to try this at least once, since I have seen people that are still using silk for covering their CL models....

Thanks!!

Christian A. Patrickson

Hands down the finest available today....

https://stunthanger.com/smf/open-forum/my-source-for-tea-bag-silkspan/msg664743/#msg664743

Thanks Dave for your reply. Can you please elaborate a little bit more on your recommendation??? Can you please comment on the silkspan brands I mentioned in my first post, how good (or bad) they are and why the brand you suggest is better?

I mean no disrespect with my request, but as I mentioned earlier, I am new to CL building and flying and would like to have more information about this material. Particularly, since I see that some people like some silkspan brands (i.e. the one sold by Brodak) while others say that the new material available is not even close to the original silkspan produced and sold by ESAKI. If you do not have your own personal experience on this matter (like myself), these comments are confusing.

Thanks!!

Rgds.,

Christian A. Patrickson

Sig is now selling silkspan again..i emailed them and asked if it was the same stuff they used to sell and they said it should be....

Sig is now selling silkspan again..i emailed them and asked if it was the same stuff they used to sell and they said it should be....

    The big question here is if there is anyone at SIG now that knows what the hell we're talking about!!

    Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

  I am of the thinking just about everything else out there now is doctor paper.   The major problem with that is while it covers nicely like silkspan it has no fiber strength within so after some period of time dope shrinkage will literally pull it to shreds.   I light finger touch will produce a loud pop and a hole.

Dave

My planes don't last that long...bwahahahaha!