Wing Issue

There are many different coverings used to cover model Aeroplane wings, Christopher and just as many different techniques. We would need to know whether you are talking of free Flight,Control Line or Radio Control models as the materials and methods differ considerably.In general though as with any operation using you need to apply it neatly using in many cases a brush and not your hands, so that part should not be a problem.

As an example - assuming you are using a synthetic material then the glue is usually painted thinly on the wing structure and then the fabric applied. Many of the modern synthetic matedrials used in this way for RC models are then heat shrunk before being sealed with dope(in some cases) and then painted. Other covering materials for Rc have a adhesive backing and are ironed and then heatshrunk.

Free flight models use much lighter covering materials - quite often a high quality paper, although even here very light heatshrinkable plastic coverings are sometimes used.

As you can see more information on what you are trying to cover is required.

John

It is a free flight plane with high quality paper as a wing cover.

G'Day Chris,

For a sports type free flight model the tissue cn be glued on with a good quality gluestick - i prefer UHU brand. i'll give yu the basic idea but would advise that you look up the links I'll place here as they have a loit more information on all building and covering techniques with lots of good pictures.

Start on either the horizontal tailplane - stab or vertical Fin, first. incidentally all the parts should be covered before assembling the model together

1. Cut a piece of the tissue about 1/2 larger on all sides for the bottom surface of say the tail.

2.  use the glue stick to leave a thin smear of glue on the edges of the tail balsa outline - not the ribs.

3. Place the tissue on a flat surface and gently drop the the tail onto the the tissue- leaving extra tissue outside the outline of the tail frame.

4.Carefully pull the the tissue fairly tigh - no large wrinkles - and then run your finger along the edges of the balsa frame on the opposite side to the tissue ensuring the tissue is stuck all along the frame.

5. Repeat for the top side.This side may be curved so you will need to change step 4 slightly. For a curved surface carefully place the Trailing edge(back edge) of the tail onto the tissue and then while holding a little pressure on the tissue roll the frame forward onto the tisse all the way to the Leading edge(front edge). Smooth down around the edge to ensure its glued all the way. If you line upt he tissue carefully on the table and roll firmly and gently(be very careful not oto use too much force and twist the frame) you should not have many wrinkles.

The wing is covered in a similar manner but how many pieces are need to cover depends on whether it has straight dihedral - looks like a V from the front or if each half has a break with extra dihedral - known as polyhedral.

Straight dihedral - do each half of the wing with a separate piece for top and bottom

Polyhedral - again do each half separately but with 2 pieces for the top and 2 for the bottom.

The actual covering is the same for the tail except each panel finishes at a rib which needs to be gluesticked as well. Also you should start on one wing panel - do the top and then the bottom.Let each section dry before doing the next and trim to the end ribs.

The fuselage is usualyy done with one strip of paper for each of the 4 sides.

Follow the instructions with the kit for finishing the tissue - it may need shrinking with a fine mist of water. This is common but should only be done with either a fine mist sprayer.

http://www.smallflyingartsforum.com/YaBB.pl?board=covering      covering information 

http://www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_forum/index.php?board=37.0   another good free flight forum

There are many experts on these forums - check out the threads.

Good luck

John

If you are doping the wing, the traditional way to adhere the covering is with dope (paint), another way is to use Balsarite, it is a heat activated adhesive, paint it on the wood, allow it to dry, then use an iron to activate the adhesive.

Coverite Balsarite