Iron on Coverings for Small RC Models

Iron on Coverings for Small RC Models
All model airplanes, RC and free flight, need some sort of covering. This has traditionally been some sort of cloth, silk or silkspan covering with colored dope or paint applied.
In the 1960s TopFlite developed the revolutionary MonoKote covering that used heat activated adhesives to apply the covering. MonoKote was very easy to use, had no offensive odors and could be used by anyone.
MonoKote is a bit heavy at 2 ounces per square meter, too heavy for small model aircraft.
As electric motors, lipo batteries and mico RC electronics came into use in the early 2000s, the stage was set for light/lite weight iron on coverings.
There are a range of these lite/light weight iron on coverings, to include AeroLite, ParkLite, MicroLite, UltraCote Lite and Solite. All weigh around a third of the MonoKote weight and are ideal for smaller RC model airplanes.
Here is a link to my KZread Channel:
/ timmckay56
Many thanks in advance for a post of this video on Facebook, it truly helps the channel a lot!
Regards,
Tim
Dumas Aeronca C-3:
• Dumas Aeronca C-3 Elec...
Guillows Aeronca:
• Guillows Aeronca RC Co...
Guillow Lancer:
• Guillow Lancer RC Mode...
E-flite Radian:
• E-flite Radian Update ...
www.StevensAero.com for lite weight RC iron-on covering.
Chapters (note: lite = light)
00:00 - Intro
00:17 - Lite covering overview
01:25 - Covering history
02:38 - Introduction of MonoKote
04:02 - Small RC models
05:36 - Where to buy
07:02 - Examples of small RC airplanes
08:52 - Lite covering tips and techniques

Пікірлер: 50

  • @bobculp2376
    @bobculp23762 жыл бұрын

    Getting ready to build a Guillow SE5, thanks for the info and examples of "how-to", great job. I also watched the SE5 electric conversion video. Time to build

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    Bob: Glad this was helpful. The SE5 was always one of my favorites, best of luck! Tim

  • @kenswanson1093
    @kenswanson10932 жыл бұрын

    Tim, .. thanks .. great presentation, on this topic. And, the end result is awesome. Love that transparent/see through effect, exposing the balsa framing .. and, opaque is great, too.

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    Ken: Glad it was helpful! Tim

  • @ds2jim
    @ds2jim Жыл бұрын

    thanks for posting this very helpful video! I learned a lot.

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    Жыл бұрын

    👍🏻 Tim

  • @DadsRCHangar
    @DadsRCHangar2 жыл бұрын

    Great tips Tim, I find ironing covering very therapeutic 👍🏻

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    Dad: Same here! Tim

  • @kenw9790
    @kenw97907 ай бұрын

    Love exploring your videos, as there are lots of good info here for my R/C interests. One thing - being a drummer, I very much like that the closing music for many of your videos is whatever jazz tune you're using here. Good-sounding little group, and its drummer is very sensitive and tasteful, just what's needed for that kind of music and size of group. Thanks so much!

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    7 ай бұрын

    Ken: Thanks so much for checking in! The music on my videos is from the copyright free library that is part of iMovie, video editor on my Mac. Enjoy! Tim

  • @kenw9790

    @kenw9790

    7 ай бұрын

    😀@@TimMcKay56

  • @davidquerry8869
    @davidquerry88692 жыл бұрын

    Informative video, Tim.

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    David: Glad you enjoyed it! Tim

  • @polylight
    @polylight2 жыл бұрын

    My last plane I used red parklite on the top of the wings, and very thin docu-lam (forget the mil) on the bottom. The doculam was less than half the weight of parklite, but I still got the color from the top. I am happy and will use this technique again. I wish you could get doculam in tints!

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    Polylight: Thanks for this update! Tim

  • @MrRCGregG
    @MrRCGregG2 жыл бұрын

    Hi Tim - just a shout out for the coverings sold by Stevens Aero. I've used several of them with great success. One warning though - pay strict attention to the temperature you're using. They do not tolerate being overheated. Ask me how I know :-)

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    RCG: Great tip, fully agree and thanks for sharing! Tim

  • @olphartcoastie8719
    @olphartcoastie87192 жыл бұрын

    I use two pieces of blue painter's tape to separate the layers, one per side, alleviating the need to find a clear edge.

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    OPC: Great technique, thanks! Tim

  • @arnehusby1420
    @arnehusby14202 жыл бұрын

    Starting on a Gipsy now. Difficult to find lite covering here in Norway. Either order from Stevens or cover it with water based dope. This Gipsy will be RC converted, lot of trees where we fly.

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    Arne: Sounds like a fun project. All the best to you in beautiful Norway! Tim

  • @arnehusby1420

    @arnehusby1420

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@TimMcKay56 Nice project in the dark winter nights..I like the old timers slow and elegant flying.

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@arnehusby1420 Me too! Tim

  • @altamirofaria5741
    @altamirofaria57412 жыл бұрын

    Gostei muito 👍🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! Tim

  • @tariksbl
    @tariksbl2 жыл бұрын

    Great overview, thanks!!!!!! Can't believe Monokote is calling quits?! Very sad. I blame the foam RTF and foamboard builds. New to the hobby but we've only ever used tissue paper, old school.

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    Tariksbl: With this hobby suppliers come and go, just the way it is. There is still a ton of MonoKote rolls out there. If you find a color you like, buy it. Plus there are equivalents like Oracote that work very well. And of tissue looks great! Tim

  • @lacrossewisconsin
    @lacrossewisconsin2 жыл бұрын

    Can you add a link for that iron? That looks like a nice one!

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    Just Google “Monokote iron,” will show several purchase options. Tim

  • @thenovylen
    @thenovylen Жыл бұрын

    Thanks you. I just looking for a cover like that. Tissue paper has a tendency to wrinkle if it falls on damp grass

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    Жыл бұрын

    Good luck! Tim

  • @windsurfer3329
    @windsurfer3329 Жыл бұрын

    I recently tried cellophane sheet from a dollar store (literally $1) that came as a folded sheet (3ft x 1ft?) on a Guillows model. It sticks to balsa, but you have to be careful on the temperature! Mylar baloon sticks also. You have to experiment though. Since you are in small airplanes, I thought you should know :-))

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    Жыл бұрын

    WS: Great input, thanks for sharing! Tim

  • @jacobwebber1090
    @jacobwebber10903 ай бұрын

    Hi Tim, thanks so much for these videos. I have built a few of these Guillow planes for free flight and want to try an RC conversion. Which kit do you think would be the easiest to fly for a beginner?

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    3 ай бұрын

    The easiest to fly is the Arrow. I have two videos on this. Total fly weight really needs to be under 3 ounces. The Hellcat is a good second option. Plenty of room inside but flies a bit faster. Tim

  • @jacobwebber1090

    @jacobwebber1090

    3 ай бұрын

    @@TimMcKay56Thanks so much for your response!

  • @1mikeb
    @1mikeb2 жыл бұрын

    Nice video. I've used ultracote and lightweight colored packing tape to armor foam planes. It's heavy but worth it for those of us who crash frequently. I painted a foam wing recently to cover some ugly graphics, and was shocked at how heavy the paint was. Any recommendation on lightweight paint?

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    Mike: I've used packing tape a lot on foam board planes, works very well. And I have used acrylic paint as on my F-22. You are correct, the paint can surely add weight. That might be a good video subject, lighter weight paint. Tim

  • @1mikeb

    @1mikeb

    2 жыл бұрын

    A video on lightweight paint would be interesting. I mistakenly used spray latex primer. I estimate the 1 coat weight to be 80g per m2, more than 2x the weight of parklite. I should have used iron on covering, it would have added strength to the wing too. Live and learn!

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@1mikeb Roger that! Tim

  • @keithpearson7539
    @keithpearson7539Ай бұрын

    Rounding of the hinge side edges is wrong in my opinion and could ultimately result in the moving surface levering itself loose. A double flat surface chamfer forming a point on the hinge line is the correct way to go.

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    Ай бұрын

    Good point! Tim

  • @The-Player
    @The-Player2 жыл бұрын

    the covering shrinks and bends the model ! it has to be strongly built , most guillows are to weak for covering , What is the tricks >? ty very much , your work is beautiful ! ♥

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    TK: Just use one of the "Lite" coverings, as they use less heat and shrink less. Be careful with the heat gun, moment covering is tight take off the heat. Tim

  • @jasonhurdlow6607
    @jasonhurdlow66072 жыл бұрын

    A bit disconcerting about MonoKote if that turns out to be true... :( Hard to color match and patch old vintage fliers without a supply.

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    Jason: Concur. But still a lot of MonoKote rolls out there, get them now while you can! Tim

  • @guamflyer1
    @guamflyer12 жыл бұрын

    For reals..monokote is stopping...gosh I use it on all my sloper planes..durable...going towards small so the lite stuff is appreciated..

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    2 жыл бұрын

    Guam: Copy all, thanks for checking in! Tim

  • @anthonyjwalker61
    @anthonyjwalker61 Жыл бұрын

    Based on my research Guillow's is pronounced like guild or ghee-lows phonetically, vs gwi-lows. I've always pronounced it ghee-lows. I like your videos, but I cringe every time I hear gwillows. I'm sure Paul rolls in his grave every time.

  • @TimMcKay56

    @TimMcKay56

    Жыл бұрын

    Will work on it! Tim