Webbit example build: Covering

[Richard Wood]

There's probably nobody else using Poly C for their Webbit,

but for completeness a post on finishing with it won't do any harm

to add to the helpful info on PC on other threads.

It's a great way to get a good surface for a paint job & is firmly

recommended for future builds.

 

8 thin coats were brushed on the fin & tailplane, with a light fine sanding

between coats after the second.

The parts were left to fully harden overnight after the last coat.

 

At this stage the surface didn't look very good with brush marks & small

bits showing. Painting straight onto this would give a poor result.

 

With 2400 extra fine wet & dry paper used wet around a sanding block a very

smooth finish can be achieved with just a little effort. All brush marks,bits

and other nasties disappear to give a near-flat surface.

Don't use anything coarser or it will sand away too much Poly-C.

 

Keep the wet & dry paper well lubricated with water & occasionally clean

off the work with a tissue to check progress.

The wood is completely sealed of course so there is no danger of the water

swelling or warping it.

 

Spray on a primer if desired & then build up thin coats of spray paint

for a near flawless finish.

 

[Danny Fenton]

Nicely done Richard, really clear information.

 

Cheers

Danny

[Richard Wood]

Thanks Danny mate.

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

Great work Richard. Very clear and step by step. Just what was needed. Thanks.

 

And what's more....she's looking really good!

 

BEB

[Richard Wood]

Thanks BEB

 

[Andy Muckley]

Hi Richard never covered before, well only repairs and the odd patch, and found this realy good and will be poping back here as i am about to start covering tomorrow.

I have been to a demo that Danny put on for a club night and he did a superb job and hope i remember enough of that covering demo and with the help of your great thread to do a half decent job.

Thank's again

[Richard Wood]

Thanks a lot Andy - glad it's helped.

I'll try & post some pics of the fuselage covering over the weekend.

4 work- free days coming up, so time to crack on with it.

 

Any questions or comments - just ask & I'll try & help.

 

That lad Danny is always a great help t'boot.

 

Cheers

 

 

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

Your wing looks gorgous the way it catches the light in that photo Richard. Thanks for all your effort on this I'm sure that as well as those that have posted many others of the nearly 60 WebBit builders are grateful for an excellent clear demonstration with lots of useful tips. Well done mate.

 

BEB

 

PS Are you planning to get along to Greenacres?

[Big Bandit]

Hey, BEB, Rich,

 

Mine catches he light, just before it hits the deck .

Chris.

Edited By Big Bandit on 29/04/2011 21:23:35

[Richard Wood]

Cheers BEB

I was really hoping to make the Greenacres day, but it looks

like that weekend will be taken over by family duties.

I hope it goes well - I'm sure it'll be one to remember.

 

One more post on covering to wrap this up (oops!).

 

I found the concave fuse top & btm a slight problem as the film

tends to pull in odd directions. A few slits in the covering made

it a little easier here :

 

Fuselage top film going on.

 

Also the inward curve at the nose top can be awkward to cover

and it's very easy to dent the balsa with the iron.

I carefully used the heat gun here, sealing the film down by

pressing with a finger.

The fuse was decorated in a simple way with strips of Solartrim.
Instead of using the soapy water technique as before I used the

method shown in the pictures - by progressively peeling off the

backing.

 

The piece applied first (red) was stretched into correct position

& this then provided a guide for the orange & yellow.

Nothing too fancy here - but it should help visibility.

The canopy was cut out with a compass cutter.

 

One thing worth noting - if using the soapy water technique

make sure any exposed wood likely to get wet is sealed or

it will swell up.

 

A few bits & bobs left to do & it'll be ready for the off!

Cheers

 

 

 

 

Edited By Richard Wood on 02/05/2011 17:54:23

[Pablo]

This may be a silly question to all you very experienced builders - but when covering a fuselage, is it better to do bottom first, then sides, then top. Or some other combination?

Some guidance needed please.

Paul

[David Davis]

Yes

[Big Bandit]

Posted by Paul Harmer 2 on 06/05/2011 01:16:47:

This may be a silly question to all you very experienced builders - but when covering a fuselage, is it better to do bottom first, then sides, then top. Or some other combination?

Some guidance needed please.

Paul

 

Hi Paul,

 

No it's not a silly question. I tend to do the, bottom, top, sides, but that's just my way and seems logical and the way I've always done it. In saying that I'm not the best at covering with film by a long chalk, but I get by the main problem is trimming the overlap cleanly before finally ironing down.

 

Cheers,

 

Chris.

Edited By Big Bandit on 06/05/2011 10:09:45

[Richard Wood]

Hi Paul,

As Chris says, standard practice is to cover the fuselage top & bottom

before the sides for no other reason than it looks better on the finished

model.

Use a new, sharp blade for cutting film.

Trimming film or Solartex with a blunt blade is not a nice way to spend

an evening & results in ragged edges - I know this because I've done

it too often by trying to re-use old blades.

 

 

Edited By Richard Wood on 06/05/2011 19:52:17

[Pablo]

Richard, Chris and David

Thanks for the help, I feel a bit more confident about what I am about to do now!

Regards

Paul