Geoff S Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 I'm at the stage of covering fuselage of my Ryan ST. The wings and tailplane are yellow and I've covered them with HobbyKing film which is superb and very easy to do. The fuselage is supposed to aluminium and I'm trying to use some silver covering I had in stock and it's proving very difficult to get wrinkle free (the fuselage is basically a 1.5mm balsa shell so a bit flexible). I have some silver Ultracote (I think it's a roll I got to cover some repairs to a H9 P47) and it's proving really difficult to do adecent job, I also have a brand new roll of Solarfilm silver which is a very close match. Neither of them seem to stick very well (and yes, I have removed the transparent film from the glue side) I haven't used Solarfiln for ages but it does seem to go on more easily than than the Utracote. Would it be a good idea to paint the fuselage with PVA to act like Balsaloc? Should it be watered down? If so, how much? I have my iron set to 135 deg for the HK film , going up to 150 deg if extra is needed. I'm using the same for the Ultracote but 100 to 120 deg for the Solarfilm. A little guidance would be appreciated. I'm tempted to scrap my old stock film and buy a roll of HK grey but I'm impatient and would like this model in the air. Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Geoff, I've never seen the point of using Balsaloc, since like a chain, the adhesive is only as good as it's weakest link. I've also never had any more adhesion problems with silver Solarfilm than with any other colour. However I have found that silver Solarfilm does not have very good opacity. Joints & different shades of wood can sometimes be quite clearly seen through the film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted September 7, 2019 Author Share Posted September 7, 2019 I've found silver a difficult colour to use in the past. The film I'm trying to use is several years old (8/9?) so I'm wondering if the adhesive has deteriorated somehow. I haven't used 'proper' Solarfilm since I discovered the better (IMO) polyester? types which are much easier to use. I'm rubbish at covering, anyway. Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 hello Geoff,dont know about using PVA,but I've found older solarfilm loses its stickiness when you come to apply the heat iron,i think that it does go downhill as it gets older... ken anderson ne....1....downhill dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul d Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 personally I would give the airframe a coat of balsaloc, apparently one can use neat pva, I've never tried it but again apparently it works, give it a try on a piece of scrap first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McG 6969 Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Hi Geoff, I you can manage to arm yourself with half a cup of 'patience', there are a few different Silvers at HK. Way back with my Ballerina, I used some 'HK Bright Silver' for the fuselage. The Bright Silver gives a very good imitation of polished aluminium. If you want to temper the shine a bit, you can use some Scotch Brite pads used wet to lightly rub the surface of it. If you want to go a step further, just mask some 'panels' on it and you can rub them in opposite directions giving a quite good impression of the different panels next to each other. Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfan Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 I have no experience of silver Solarfiilm, but my even older Solartex went on a treat on my Cub recently. However, for trying different shades of silver, you can lightly mask off areas and then go over them to varying degrees with stuff known as Treasure Silver, a wax which you rub and buff for a different shade each time. I used it on a plastic model and it was very convincing on foil to dull it a little and on paint to give it a silver doped fabric look. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Never had much trouble getting solarfilm to stick... Just get the iron set right and then take it slowly slowly catchy monkey. The same iron temperature will also slowly shrink and stretch round curves with some careful pulling. More heat never helps with the original solarfilm. Is the surface nicely cleaned? Sanded with 180 and vacuumed? Might be some dust getting in the way? The backing when you peel it gets charged with static and is a useful dust magnet for a final wipe over before the film goes in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfan Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Oh that last bit is a very useful tip. Thanks, Nigel Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Z Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Posted by McG 6969 on 07/09/2019 08:57:02: Way back with my Ballerina, I used some 'HK Bright Silver' for the fuselage. The Bright Silver gives a very good imitation of polished aluminium. +1 ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfan Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Odd, but strangely attractive, Max! Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted September 7, 2019 Author Share Posted September 7, 2019 Foxfan, Max specialises in odd but strangely attractive models. Thanks for the suggestions. I think, as Ken suggests, my Solarfilm (as opposed to 'tex, which is usually very easy to use) certainly seems to have lost its stickyness. It's a few years since I used any but I don't remember it's being so reluctant to stay in place before and this is an old but unwrapped sample. I've ordered 5 metres of HK light grey film as a back stop and went out this morning to get some PVA (all I have is Aliphatic and I didn't want to use that. While I was in Wilko's I got another tub of their excellent lightweight filler. I've used more filler on this build because it's all sheeted in1.5mm balsa on formers and 3mm stringers - of course 90% of it ends up as dust so very little weight increase in practice. So I'm going to coat the fuselage in slightly thinned PVA after an experiment on some scrap balsa. The cowl is a vacuum formed clear plastic affair. I've cut it right back by skinning the fuselage further forward (I don't need access as I'm using a much different motor) so it's much shorter. I've found I can apply the Solarfilm without distorting it with heat because Solarfilm uses a low heat adhesive. Not covered it completely but I'll have a go. Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 It's never usually difficult to stick. Think you re right on second reading it sounds like it has just degraded with age. The pva trick might work but I think your HK film will be the easy answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfan Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Worth a test with the PVA, isn't it and that stuff's dirt cheap. I get big pots from the Sunday Market for a quid a pop. Just as good. I also get superglue there for the same price and it really is the best I've used! But, alack, aday, it does sound like HK is your go-to now. Save the silver for trim? Attached with a fine spray glue? Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfan Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 I kind of expected to see Brains from Thunderbirds in the cockpit...his personal transport to TB Island<G> Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Z Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Posted by Foxfan on 07/09/2019 11:10:33: Odd, but strangely attractive, Odd it may be, but it is a scale model of a full size man carrying plane, see my build blog here. Max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfan Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Good grief! Really? How did I ever miss that? Which company made it? Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted September 9, 2019 Author Share Posted September 9, 2019 Well, I'm gradually succeeding both with the Ultracote and the Solarfilm. In both cases I was using too high a temperature. I've been using a setting of 135 deg on my Prolux iron which works well for the HobbyKing film I've been using recently but that's too hot for both Ultracote and Solarfilm which both prefer 120 deg. The Ultracote can stand 150 deg if necessary for final shrinking but it's not normally necessary. The Solarfilm adhesive is better now I've got past the first few inches but it was definitely degraded in parts. I've redone a few bits that were particularly awful and they look much better with few wrinkles. I really should update the build blog on my Ryan ST (well more like a few comments on progress). It's actually getting near completion and not long before the test crash. Thanks for the comments and advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted September 10, 2019 Share Posted September 10, 2019 Makes sense, as original Solarfilm is not tolerant of excess heat. The polyester types like HK film seem a bit more robust if slightly heavier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bisset Posted September 10, 2019 Share Posted September 10, 2019 Posted by Foxfan on 07/09/2019 15:40:39: Good grief! Really? How did I ever miss that? Which company made it? Martin It's a homebuilt from Belgium, Martin. The Verhees D-Plane - I recall seeing it in a flying magazine a while back & plans were said to be available. Only one ever built, though apparently a two seater has been designed ! (Hmm- those comments about old Solarfilm worry me. I'd better test some of my old stock! And check where Balsaloc can be bought) Edited By John Bisset on 10/09/2019 17:11:12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted September 10, 2019 Share Posted September 10, 2019 Try "Cover grip " by Deluxe Materials. It's still available and JMO is far better than Basaltic . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfan Posted September 10, 2019 Share Posted September 10, 2019 Interesting, John. I do like the oddballs of the world. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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