Tim Donald Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 I've been building from plans / kits on and off for 40 years but my latest couple of builds have run into a new problem. These were both built up wings where the ribs slide on to a carbon spar and thin CA is used to soak in and fix the ribs in place. Same with the really thing carbon LE. In order to protect the plans I covered them with cling film which works but I get left with a horrible cling film / CA glue mess on the bottom of the ribs where the CA has either dripped down or has soaked through the balsa. Sanding it all off takes almost as long as building the wing in the first place. Anybody got any tips to stop this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 My dad used to rub a wax candle on the area of the plan under glue joints. One thing i have done in the past is use the smallest amount of glue i can to get it hung together and then go over it all again once i have lifted it from the board. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 Instead of cling film try a piece of thick polyethylene, such as used by builders, the CA shouldn't stick to that and won't stick the sheet to the balsa. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 As with all new things mind you - an experimental test first will save tears later. ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 (edited) Cling film, its in the name. Try polyethylene sheet and even rub some candle wax in it as suggested by Jon. Leccyflyer beat me to it. Edited May 13, 2022 by J D 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Donald Posted May 13, 2022 Author Share Posted May 13, 2022 Thanks for the quick replies ! I've got some thicker plastic sheet in the garage so will do some testing on that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Spence Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 I used to use cling film but it melts with CA when activated and is a pig to sand. get some plan protector sheets from SLEC UK, they are great and rarely have any issues with them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 Are you using some sort of dropper or fine tube applicator? I find that makes the biggest difference. As Jon suggest, the least amount of glue possible. Then go over when it is off the board. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outrunner Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 I use the backing film from Solarfilm, whenever I cover a model I squirrel away the backing. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 Don't use as much cyano . If the joint is a good fit then only a tiny ammount will wick around the joint and be just as strong. Zap thin cyano is exceĺe t for this type of build while other makes can be described as thin but dontmatch the Zap glue. Pippett tips fitted onto your cyano bottles will help avoid excess application. I uave built proper pin to the plan models using Zap thin and have hardly any get on the plan. Once the wing is removed from the plan any gaps can be filled with careful application of thick grade cyano. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Bernard Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 I used to have the same problem and ran out of backing sheets and found Clingfilm problematic. I then came across waxed paper and it's brilliant. Got mine from Amazon here at around £9 for 23m. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Gates Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 +1 for the glue droppers and Zap thin CA. Another +1 for using film backing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piers Bowlan Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 Buy a roll of cellophane as nothing sticks to that. It is available on eBay, it’s used by florists, in the food industry and GRP manufacture. Some art and decent craft shops sell it sometimes too. Cling film a a waste of time, as you discovered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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