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Covering With Solite - Page 2

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Cessna Wing

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I have NOT shrunk the covering on the bottom

I love doing big things all in one chunk, especially with solite. This isn't necessarily a recommendation, and most experienced modelers will say it's a bad thing to do. In fact, it can be a very bad thing to do with a less shrinkable covering. For this example, I'm doing the entire top of the wing with one piece, cut lengthwise from the roll as the wingspan is more than the roll is wide.

Cut out a chunk that will leave about one inch of overhang front and back and more like two inches at the wingtips. You'll see why later.

 

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Lay the covering with the finished side to the work table.

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Using any of the above mentioned techniques, start to peel the backing off.

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Make sure the covering stays flat against the table. You can help this by pulling the backing straight back, and not up.
 

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Yes, still keep it flat against the table. Follow the backing with my hand all the way along.

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Pick up the covering by the corners furthest away from you

 

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Slap 'er down on the wing. Make sure not to double back or you may end up with the infamous solite stick.

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You now have a mystery wing underneath this messy piece of covering. That's ok

 

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Tack the covering down for the first couple of inches along the main spar near the center of the wing. For this wing, I've done that at the top of this photo just outboard of the dihedral joint. Pull the wing tight at the spar out at the wingtip

Here's the iron & heatgun that I'm using and how hot (not) it is for tacking the solite down. The picture isn't the best, but it's a 12 year old tower hobbies iron, and the setting is at 1.25 out of about 4 maximum on the dial. I don't have the foggiest clue what the real temperature would be.  On the heatgun, I use the nozzle attachment that makes a long narrow opening

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Heating Things Up