New Covering Technique...

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Brian Kloft

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Sep 27, 2024, 6:39:43 PMSep 27
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We it may not be new, but it is new to me! I found a few planes with some rather interesting covering designs recently as they were quite stunning. So I sent off an email to find out more...  In the end this is actually quite easy and never thought this was possible! Needless to say my next plane that I cover will not have colors joining just on the ribs! 

Here is a test piece I tried and it is now essentially one solid piece of Oracover! The possibilities are endless!

Brian c1.jpegc2.jpeg

daniel roberts

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Sep 27, 2024, 7:17:55 PMSep 27
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Wow that’s cool 

From: 'Brian Kloft' via soarabq <soa...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, September 27, 2024 5:39:42 PM
To: soarabq <soa...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [ASA] New Covering Technique...
 
We it may not be new, but it is new to me! I found a few planes with some rather interesting covering designs recently as they were quite stunning. So I sent off an email to find out more...  In the end this is actually quite easy and never thought this was possible! Needless to say my next plane that I cover will not have colors joining just on the ribs! 

Here is a test piece I tried and it is now essentially one solid piece of Oracover! The possibilities are endless!

Brian c1.jpegc2.jpeg

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STAN JOHNSON

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Sep 28, 2024, 10:04:08 PMSep 28
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The Monokote folks were talking about this technik  over 20 years ago, so it's not new.  I tried it on a model  about 20 years ago.  Monokote instructions said iron the 2 colors together on a clean piece of glass as the Monokote adhesive will not stick to glass.  The problems I ran into was not having the two colors shrink at the same rate when I applied the covering to the open wing structure.  The more I tried to fix it the worse it got.  The covering is still on the model today in all its wrinkled glory.  I'll be the first to admit maybe I did something wrong, but I never tried to technik again.
 
There's a very big potential problem using this technik with Oracover.  If the adhesive goes loose at a temperature lower than the shrinking temperature the seems between the two colors will pull apart.  Ultrakote has that problem.  I've no idea what the relative temps are for Oracover.  I await Brians report.

Richard Shagam

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Sep 28, 2024, 10:22:31 PMSep 28
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I was under the impression that Orocover and Ultrakote were the same product--manufactured in Germany, I believe.  Last time I looked at a roll ( a while ago), the backing paper had 'Orocover' printed on it.  
Richard Shagam
Albuquerque, NM

RNSh...@rhizotech.net 

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and Apr '24 solar eclipse pics at: 


STAN JOHNSON

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Sep 29, 2024, 12:31:07 AMSep 29
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That was something I thought I remembered, but wasn't sure of it.  Oracover/Ultrakote was changed years back.  It used to be more rubbery.  The new formula is more like Monokote.  The adhesive used on both types I believe is the same.  If that's the case the technique in question might be difficult to pull off.  Looking forward to the report from Brian.

Dan Tandberg

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Sep 29, 2024, 9:35:16 AMSep 29
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When I was a young man, I took a two semester course in polymer chemistry. My recollection is that tiny differences in each batch make huge differences in the eventual characteristics of the polymer, in this case an adhesive. My guess is that the observed problems with this covering technique have born to do with batch to batch variation than anything else.

Brian Kloft

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Sep 29, 2024, 11:41:45 AMSep 29
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Let me reassure you on the question of Oracover and Ultrakote. I spoke with the owner of Oracover (sigfried) and they are one in the same. I also have used both on the same model and of course the same color and there was no difference. 

As for my attempt at a different color scheme...  It will either be spectacular, or a heap of trashed covering on the floor! Time will tell, as the iron is starting to get hot...

Brian   

Carris Mike

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Sep 29, 2024, 12:13:59 PMSep 29
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When I repaired the 4 meter Eagle F5J using Red and White Ultracoat there was no problem overlapping the two, white over red, by 1/4" or so.

Is this what the discussion is about?

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STAN JOHNSON

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Sep 29, 2024, 12:47:06 PMSep 29
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No, It's about joining the different colors before you apply the covering to the model.  The other issue is having an overlapped seam pull away from an adjacent color or the same color where the overlap occurs at the junction of the horizontal stab to the fuselage etc.  I think you can sum up the difference between Monokote and Ultrakote with regards to the comments above in one sentence.  Monokote shrinks at a lower temperature than what activates the adhesive and Ultrakote is the opposite.  At least that's my take on it having used both over the years.

Carris Mike

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Sep 29, 2024, 1:24:55 PMSep 29
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Oh, prior to covering.

Thanks Stan.






Brian Kloft

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Oct 11, 2024, 11:09:31 PMOct 11
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and so it begins....  more to follow.  I am using Oracover light in Black and Transparent White.

Brian 

covering.jpeg

Brian Kloft

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Oct 15, 2024, 12:27:05 PMOct 15
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here is the finished product at least for the tips. It was a challenge but came out pretty good!

Brian 

tip1.jpegtip2.jpeg

Dan Tandberg

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Oct 15, 2024, 12:45:12 PMOct 15
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I'll bet you can remove the remaining wrinkles with a careful hot trim iron.   

Brian Kloft

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Oct 15, 2024, 1:36:59 PMOct 15
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well yes and no....  The violet and white have the same shrink temp. The black and white are a bit different. The black has a lower shrink temp. Hard to get them matched up.....

Brian 

STAN JOHNSON

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Oct 15, 2024, 2:43:15 PMOct 15
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Rocky Stone

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Oct 15, 2024, 4:55:17 PMOct 15
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Looks great, Brian!


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