Flying model airplane resources
 
 
       
           



 
(Floor Finish as a Dope Substitute... pg 2)


Covering fragile structures – pre-Futured tissue

Andy: Light indoor models do not require any kind of sealer for the covering, as the structures are not dependent on the strength or water-repellance of the covering. The tissue should, however, be pre-shrunk, so that the humidity in the air does not warp it over time.

On the other hand, on the fragile tail surfaces of an outdoor model, you may want to seal the tissue for reasons of strength or appearance. I’m going to explain a procedure that will allow you to either pre-shrink or pre-seal tissue with Future, then apply it to get a tight, attractive finish without warping. I use a Styrofoam meat tray as a shrinking frame.

 
 
 
 
     

The meat tray sits right side up on my workbench. I brush full strength Future over the edges and apply the tissue, as if I was gluing a covering to the top of the meat tray to cover its contents.
 


After the Future dries, I now have a sheet of tissue loosely covering the top of the meat tray.
 
 



If it’s sprayed or brushed with water at this point, it will sag, then shrink and tighten.

 
 

 
Peel or cut it free and let it “breathe” for a few hours before covering an indoor model with it. It won’t be perfectly smooth once cut off the meat tray for a while, but it won’t warp your model.
   
 
     
       

For tail surfaces of outdoor models and other applications where very slight tension and strength is needed, I paint the tissue with thinned 50% Future (instead of spraying with water) while it’s stuck on the meat tray frame. It will tighten as it dries. The key to a tight covering job with such pre-doped tissue is to cover immediately after you cut it off of the meat tray. It will maintain its smooth, tight finish but shrink very little. My Nickel Scale RWD-5, recently published in the Tissue, flies with Future pre-doped tissue on wings and tail surfaces.






 


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