Jon H Posted March 15, 2023 Share Posted March 15, 2023 So it is forbidden from being discussed elsewhere ever again? Not that it matters as everyone seems to be done with that line of enquiry anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Hilton Posted March 15, 2023 Share Posted March 15, 2023 Further to my earlier post hammerite smooth is a synthetic based paint ,there are some synthetic based clear coats which may be worth trying .I’m all electric now (bad back) so it’s no longer an issue for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 15, 2023 Author Share Posted March 15, 2023 Just as an off topic query..... ( its my thread anyway 😉 )  What would the group of experienced modelers suggest for using to do small repairs to an airframe covered in that lovely deep red solartex.  As it is no longer available and there is hanger damage to the trailing edge of a wing ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted March 15, 2023 Share Posted March 15, 2023 (edited) Heat up and peel the knackered Solartex off the whole wing and replace with another covering that is available. Edited March 15, 2023 by Alan Gorham_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 15, 2023 Author Share Posted March 15, 2023 Alan , is there anything available like solartex and in a similar colour ? Everything I have seen is a ,more garish red. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 I think the only other coloured heatshrink textile material is Oratex, but I paint my models so I don't buy coloured covering, so no idea if it's the same or similar colour to Solartex sorry. If you want to match the colour of the rest of the model then you may just have to consider recovering the whole model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 I would patch it with any old colour solartex and then mix up some paint to match as best you can. Even if you were able to get a hold of the original covering it wont match what you have due to age and fading anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 Well that is certainly the alternative. It depends if you can live with an obvious patched repair on your model or want to return it to pristine condition. Stripping models covered in tex materials is always easier than stripping film covered models though. Plus getting all the covering off an old model enables you to give it a thorough mid-life inspection and repair ready for more years of service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil R Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 Ken - what do you mean by "deep" or "dark" red? I'm only seeing "red" or "antique red" in the Solartex colour charts. I have some old "red" offcuts you'd be welcome to if that's the right colour?  1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 3 hours ago, Alan Gorham_ said: Well that is certainly the alternative. It depends if you can live with an obvious patched repair on your model or want to return it to pristine condition. Stripping models covered in tex materials is always easier than stripping film covered models though. Plus getting all the covering off an old model enables you to give it a thorough mid-life inspection and repair ready for more years of service.  Yea you will get a better finish with a recover that is for sure. But if its a simple repair just to make the model airworthy again then its quite a significant effort and expense just to cover some small hangar rash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Stephenson Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 If the hole is small enough just put one of those BMFA "Safety is no Accident" stickers over it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 16, 2023 Author Share Posted March 16, 2023 2 hours ago, Neil R said: Ken - what do you mean by "deep" or "dark" red? I'm only seeing "red" or "antique red" in the Solartex colour charts. I have some old "red" offcuts you'd be welcome to if that's the right colour?  Neil, looking at the online swatch for Solartex, the antique looks too orange so it must be the Red , unless back 20 years ago there was another version. If you have offcuts I am interested ..... where in the world are you ? Can you PM me ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 16, 2023 Author Share Posted March 16, 2023 As usual, to all responders to all of my queries in this post.... many thanks for your help and comments. A special thanks to Neil R and his kind offer of some solartex to try and patch my Magnatilla. Perhaps the old bird might fly again 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 16, 2023 Author Share Posted March 16, 2023 2 hours ago, Andy Stephenson said: If the hole is small enough just put one of those BMFA "Safety is no Accident" stickers over it. No Andy, the damage is courtesy of a rather nasty little rodent that decided that the trailing edge of the wing might taste nice. That and some hangar rash which might require the realignment of the tail plane . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 Hi Ken . You are correct there were two shades of red available for Solartex as I found out when I repaired a Flair tri plane last year . A bright red and a darker shade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 16, 2023 Author Share Posted March 16, 2023 Hi Phil, out of interest what was the "official" name for the shade of red that you found was right for your triplane ( I presume Fokker )Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 HI Ken. I believe it was called Vintage Red . Looking at the colour chart here you can see it brighter than the plain Red higher up the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 If its a magnatilla i wouldnt loose too much sleep over getting the perfect finish. Chalk it up to battle damage 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 17, 2023 Author Share Posted March 17, 2023 Looking at that colour swatch I tend to think two things. Firstly as someone that colour manages a workflow and works to a close match , the colours shown there do not either match the material. I fear whomever did that photo purely snapped it , which is a shame.  Saying that the Red looks more like what I am after, the antique looks too orange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 17, 2023 Author Share Posted March 17, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, Jon - Laser Engines said: If its a magnatilla i wouldnt loose too much sleep over getting the perfect finish. Chalk it up to battle damage 😉 Did think of dropping a few glue rivets around the patch and possibly a couple of stitch marks.  As you are the 4 stroke man, how are 4 strokes at being revived from the garage after 20 years ? Edited March 17, 2023 by KenC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 28 minutes ago, KenC said: As you are the 4 stroke man, how are 4 strokes at being revived from the garage after 20 years  usually not bad, same as a 2 stroke really.  Take them to bits, clean, new bearings (and valve springs if rusty or one has been left compressed), rebuild. If any parts are left over try again 😉  Which engines need attention?     Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted March 17, 2023 Author Share Posted March 17, 2023 I wish I could say it was a Laser ! But it is an 80 Saito Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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