Easiest Way to Cover a Wing? / Balsa and Tissue Aeromodelling

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[scotabot]

I don't care for the water based products. I prefer the tried and true methods of good old dope!!!

[steveperry]

i used to build models like that back in the early 60's some for flying and some for static display. they were mostly rubber band powered but always came out to be too heavy probably from too much glue and dope so i would turn them into gas powered with some cox glowplug motors flying them with ucontrol lines or freeflight. it was kinda before r/c was available for kids to have. i enjoyed watching, thnx.

[portlyoldman]

Gotta use cellulose dope for that authentic 60s model making aroma 🤪

[justincase]

I used to dope the entire framework before covering. Added strength plus gave a base coat of dope for fabric to stick to. Put tissue on and lightly coat outside edges of frame through tissue and it would glue tissue on. Of course it’s been 50 years since I built contest models.

[MH-fbkr]

am i the only one who hates the burnt edges of laser cut balsa? sure it is better than any die cut, but i don’t want a brown frame on any of my models. oh well… sanding block at the ready.

[sammoore]

We used to use a wet covering technique where the tissue was applied wet and doped down. We had real dope. I don’t know how it would work with easy dope. The dope could be painted right onto wet tissue. It would soak through the wet tissue and dry long before the water dried. Yes I know it sounds like magic but, the dope would dry and glue the tissue down while it was still water wet. On larger models or RC models we would cover with Japanese silk applied wet. I did a few models using monocote but always preferred tissue or silk. It was just what I was used to.

[richardhayes]

Enjoyed watching your video which brought back memories from way, way back (being very, very old!). Things don't seem to have changed very much other than prior to covering, all surfaces were covered with "tissue paste" (no glue sticks in those days). The tissue was then sprayed with pure water and allowed to dry, using an old scent spray I recall, and yes ducky, there really were such things. If you'd done a good job the tissue would already be wringle free. The next process was brushing on the clear dope which gave off such a smell it fair knocked you over ꟷ I remember if with great affection. The tissue would then be very taut and could be decorated with coloured dope, transfers etc, all obtained from your friendly local model shop as opposed to Hobby King. PS I'm currently converting 2 Lidl gliders to powered flight ꟷ bit of a traitor to the cause!

[ronaldrose]

Bottom should be covered in a complete 2 part section, then the top, tips last. Shrink bottom first as it was done first..then shrink top...you maY have incorporated warps by only doing one side top and bottom on one panel, then the other..

[paperplanes]

I really enjoy watching your videos!!!  Thanks for the tips!!

[kjellringstrom]

Why cut the tissue? Just fold it around the front of the wing in one piece.

[billmorris]

I just remembered what we used to cover our model planes with. It was called silkspan.

[stourleykracklite]

Thank you! I am recovering from hard surgeries and this video brought me great relief

[briana]

As a kid I used my mom's hair spray for shrinking., dried in 20 minutes and sealed with a nice glossy finish.

[NSResponder]

You don't know what you're doing. The dope is all you need to stick the tissue to the frame.

[JIMJAMSC]

I have been into r/c since a boy and now a retired pilot at 60 with my rafters full of planes and I NEVER could properly cover. I mean I never could wrap presents with paper and I have had the best lessons you can have! This art simply isn't in my DNA.

[lowtier]

I love ur vids so much I’ve decided to make my own rc aircraft design based on a late war heavy fighter with an odd engine placement (Doiner do 233 if anyone wants to see what my inspiration for my build is) and it’s going to be big so I’m going to use real aircraft fabric and use actually techniques real plane fabric covering companies use on their costomers aircraft. Though ur where my inspiration to make the rc after all so thank u

[MrSoarman]

Covered many of wing in my combat days, from silk (moms old scarfs) to silkspan, applied damp tp doped framework let dry to drum tight, then after dried apply dope to covering, done deal.

[cranklabexplosion-labcentr]

Do you recommend covering only the top to save weight?

[eclectartebirouproiectare]

hello, i see that the tissue has a matte side and a glossy side. which one goes to be glued? many thanks.

[gsp]

I've didn't understand what is the mixture rating in the latest third stage application to do it like a drum's skin ?