Tissue?

[EAS]

Because I haven't built anything in 25 years, I thought I'd use tissue because I did very well with it those many years ago. I decided I'd try sig nitrate dope, specifically so I could use spray paint on it afterwards. There's very little instruction anywhere. I guess 'cause nobody or few are using tissue anymore.

I built this small section of test wing to try it out.

Now, as seen in the oblique view, it's pretty bad. Unacceptable. Shrink? No, it got worse with more coats. I can't do this to my wings.

I've got Butyrate Dope coming, which I had very good results with 25 years ago. Maybe it's because I haven't done this in a long time, but if I can't get right with the Butyrate Dope....I'm going to have to look at the monokote and tools. If I am poor at tissue, out of practice, I'm not sure I could do any better with monokote and I think it'd be much harder to get off the model if I do badly. However, I won't do any of it until I can get this section of wing right.

Any advice or opinion is welcome.

 

[Matthewdupreez]

Because I haven't built anything in 25 years, I thought I'd use tissue because I did very well with it those many years ago. I decided I'd try sig nitrate dope, specifically so I could use spray paint on it afterwards. There's very little instruction anywhere. I guess 'cause nobody or few are using tissue anymore.

I built this small section of test wing to try it out.

Now, as seen in the oblique view, it's pretty bad. Unacceptable. Shrink? No, it got worse with more coats. I can't do this to my wings.

I've got Butyrate Dope coming, which I had very good results with 25 years ago. Maybe it's because I haven't done this in a long time, but if I can't get right with the Butyrate Dope....I'm going to have to look at the monokote and tools. If I am poor at tissue, out of practice, I'm not sure I could do any better with monokote and I think it'd be much harder to get off the model if I do badly. However, I won't do any of it until I can get this section of wing right.

Any advice or opinion is welcome.

From what I've seen, monokote is easier to use than tissue...
Although I've never done either ☺️

 

[EAS]

From what I've seen, monokote is easier to use than tissue...
Although I've never done either ☺️

I was doing some looking...can't get a sealing iron. Nothing coming in thru the supply chain.

 

[Matthewdupreez]

I was doing some looking...can't get a sealing iron. Nothing coming in thru the supply chain.

Maybe a standard clothes iron would also work....

 

[EAS]

Maybe a standard clothes iron would also work....

It did finally, fully dry a bit better. Maybe I'll get it with butyrate and a little practice. They're saying sealing iron only maybe, will be imported in November...but not for sure. If I do get good results with butyrate, I probably won't wait.

 

[Tench745]

What tissue are you using? I've heard that good tissue applied wet doesn't really need a shrinking dope.
I can't speak from experience, as I've only ever used cheap tissue and either Krylon clear coat or water-based polyurethane to seal it.

When Hobbico went out of business in 2018 and various parts of the business were bought up, the supply chain was broken. Covering irons have been hard to get ever since. They're feeling it in the full scale aviation world too because covering irons are great for adding pinking tapes when covering real airplanes.
Anyone you could borrow an iron from?

 

[cyclone3350]

There R videos that show the use of glue sticks to apply tissue. This has a high tack so U can stretch in on very tight before water and dope shrinkage. It has been a very long time, but for silkspan, I think I used 3m permanent clear glue sticks. This allowed me to put it on with the silkspan damp. It has a super high tack and the damp silkspan won't soften the glue and pull back during shrink drying. I think I also used thinned dope over the edges after applying with the glue stick. To damp, I spray mist the silkspan using a travel size hairspray pump with water. For shrinking, I use the pump with a 50/50 water /rubbing alcohol. Like I said, it has been a long time and I am sure I am missing some details.

 

[EAS]

What tissue are you using? I've heard that good tissue applied wet doesn't really need a shrinking dope.
I can't speak from experience, as I've only ever used cheap tissue and either Krylon clear coat or water-based polyurethane to seal it.

When Hobbico went out of business in 2018 and various parts of the business were bought up, the supply chain was broken. Covering irons have been hard to get ever since. They're feeling it in the full scale aviation world too because covering irons are great for adding pinking tapes when covering real airplanes.
Anyone you could borrow an iron from?

The tissue is sig silkspan. I stopped lending tools many years ago, and of course, that means I don't borrow them either. It's a bad idea that always leads to problems.

 

[EAS]

There R videos that show the use of glue sticks to apply tissue. This has a high tack so U can stretch in on very tight before water and dope shrinkage. It has been a very long time, but for silkspan, I think I used 3m permanent clear glue sticks. This allowed me to put it on with the silkspan damp. It has a super high tack and the damp silkspan won't soften the glue and pull back during shrink drying. I think I also used thinned dope over the edges after applying with the glue stick. To damp, I spray mist the silkspan using a travel size hairspray pump with water. For shrinking, I use the pump with a 50/50 water /rubbing alcohol. Like I said, it has been a long time and I am sure I am missing some details.

I'll check for vids, but I only use my phone as a hotspot for my computers.... meaning I have limited data. So far, I haven't found much. Not many people using tissue anymore.

 

[cyclone3350]

I see that U R using Sig silkspan. I would stay with that and test try it with the 3m glue stick. After U put it on dampened, go around the edges with the dope before it dries. U can do some more stretch pulling when doping the edges. I have a club member that puts his silkspan in a pan of water and then blots out the excess water by pressing it flat in between to layers of paper towels. I can't remember if I used the red or silver. It was one of these two.

 

[EAS]

I see that U R using Sig silkspan. I would stay with that and test try it with the 3m glue stick. After U put it on dampened, go around the edges with the dope before it dries. U can do some more stretch pulling when doping the edges. I have a club member that puts his silkspan in a pan of water and then blots out the excess water by pressing it flat in between to layers of paper towels. I can't remember if I used the red or silver. It was one of these two.

Thanks for the info, I'll look into the glue and wet tissue approach.

You can see when the wing section completely dried it was better, but....it'll take some practice. Some one provided me with a link to a hanger 9 iron. I just purchased it, but this practice will help me no matter what covering I decided on. Now I'll sand this one off and try the Butyrate Dope when it gets here in a couple days.

 

[cyclone3350]

I think I will order one myself incase the one I have craps out on me.

 

[EAS]

I think I am going to have to make another small wing section....tapered, swept. Try the monokote before I make a final decision.

 

[EAS]

I think I will order one myself incase the one I have craps out on me.

Is ultracote harder than monokote because it's thinker and more durable? Harder to apply?

 

[Bricks]

One thing only thing stick it to the outside edges only none of the ribs

 

[EAS]

One thing only thing stick it to the outside edges only none of the ribs

Are you referring to monokote...ultrakote?

 

[cyclone3350]

TBH.I have only done about a dozen planes in iron on plastic over many years. I have used Econokote, Monokote, Ultracote and Parklite. Parklite was the only one that gave me a little bit of a hard time. The rest seemed to work about the same. Follow the recommended heat settings for getting it to glue the frame. Of those who do a fair amount of iron on, I seem to hear that Ultracote is the preferred the product.

 

[EAS]

I'll continue to put my tissue results here, but I've just purchased UltraCote, so I'll put the "Covering" adventure into my built thread.
https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/my-aerodynamic-experiment.67514/

I thought this thread should stay tissue only.

 

[Bricks]

Are you referring to monokote...ultrakote?

All of them including Silkspan when applying.

 

[EAS]

All of them including Silkspan when applying.

I always stuck the ribs with butyrate dope...worked great, stretched smooth. I would think you could get skin flutter if you don't.