Great video! I was searching for product ideas to skin a scratch built Predator drone I'm working on and your video convinced me that this is the product to run with. The ease of application and the end result sealed the deal! I'll definitely be using hinges on my control surfaces though as I heard these laminates may get brittle over the years but other then that the finish is incredible! I'm hot wire cutting my own wings and plan to retask some fiberglass arrow shafts I have laying around for my wing spars. 3 shafts in the central fixed wing section then dropping to 2 shafts (all 5 over lapping 3" at the union) where the removable wings join followed by 1 shaft centered out nearly to the wing tips. I was thinking about skinning it with carbon fiber but after seeing this I think I will save some money and go with this. I'm going big with an 8 foot wingspan for a nice stable camera platform for some serious FPV soaring fun. This will be my first plan with an Ardupilot system complete with GPS. The price for the electronics is amazing these days, the entire system with GPS, OSD, telemetry and power readings was only $79 bucks delivered! Back when I first started flying a cheesy 1 axis Gyro cost more then that! lol Thanks for the great information and video...
Very helpful video. I can definitely see the benefits of laminating. Thanks for taking the time to share your technique. And I learned a new phrase, "relief cut".
Great video Dick, I bought this from Aloft last week after watching your video and plan on laminating the wings, vertical and horizontal stabilizer on my Volantex Firstar 2000 mm FPV plane... Aloft should give you a discount for the business you have brought them through your videos... Thanks so much my friend..
+Solar Flarin Thank you soooo much for watching and if I can be of any other service just let me know. Experiment with the heat on that kind of foam first! Have fun
Cool thanks for doing this video I might try this on one of my projects, seen others use this covering you make it look easy to work with. Thanks for sharing
It's book laminating film for school books. We used it for balsa sail planes back in the mid 90's. You could get a ton of it for cheap. You can also paint the inside "side" with a light coat of spray paint. Really lightened those old planes.
+Watt Waster Worked perfectly. Dicks video was the best tutorial for the process. The relief cuts are very effective when encountering curves and the foam is well protected and strengthened with the lamination.
The point of laminating is that it works similar to a bike helmet. The foam alone is fragile, as is the covering, but together they work quite well. I'd say in my experience that you gain 50% over the foams original strength
...very good and i use the stuff on all my diy scratch-built epp stuff...add lot of strenght and resistance...for epp exactly 150˚ Celsius...thank you for the demonstration...
Just wanted to say thanks, looking at coating my foam and balsa planes. Not to worry about looks, as long as it is functional and helps with those unplanned landings😀 or pesky trees that come out of nowhere.
Great work Dick I have only just seen this video today! I fly the assassins from Crash Test Hobby - these are made similarly. Laminating film does a fantastic job in strengthening and making the foam more durable. Yes it take time but it is very rewarding .... I resurrected a HK Teksumo with this stuff!
Some folks are worried that the foam bubbles are expanding, seems like you'd want more adhesion so the laminate doesn't come off--plus now you have a paintable surface.
f marz Absolutely plus makes the plane much stronger. Using less heat will produces fewer bumps. Different kinds of foam show fewer bumps. Paint before you laminate.
Can i make one suggestion ... what ever covering you are applying be it tissue, silk, film etc always cover the bottom first then the top surface same with fuss bottom , sides , top.
I would not do it that way, as the surface bubbles up (doesn't look nice imho) - much too hot with the iron to keep a smooth surface. I recommend the adhesive Oracal 751C film which max. requires a hairdryer for carved surfaces - it's like car wrapping...!
No it is not necessary however for some planes that not have landing gear or may have re occurring damage it is very important. The weight is negligible and is spread over the entire plane. 1.3 mil thickness if very thin. It is a lot of fun to do and much easier to use than a monocote type covering. Thanks a big bunch for watching!!!
Best if you paint the foam first. I use a rattle can paint and let it dry well. Then laminate, then you will have a strong and beautiful plane. This is a new Fun Cub that was painted and laminated: ua-cam.com/video/gamYsq8mH5U/v-deo.html
about 8 years ago I watched this video and now I'm wondering if this system would work on the outside of a wood-framed shadow box I'm building for my granddaughter? I want to protect the inside of the shadow box from the weather with your iron-on system, will this stick to a wood frame? January 26/ 2024 8:42 hours.
It should work, I have covered balsa wood airplanes with the same technique. Just practice on something before you jump into it. Thanks a big bunch for watching. DG
I want to build my P-40 Warhawk into just a model. I have laminating film but I was wondering, if I laminate the foam to give it more strength, can I prime over the film with plastic primer and then do my paint, then clear coat it, will this work or will the paint just chip off ?
Absolutely. If you want to paint before you laminate that is probably the best. However, if you paint after lamination then scuff with a very fine sand paper, scratch pad or steel wool, clean with alcohol then use a simple rattle can fast dry to paint.
Thanks Dick. I was also wondering if putting two layers of lamination would work, then the paint. I was wondering if it would stick to the previous layer and should I scuff up the first layer for better adhesion ? Thanks
Great question Erdem, two reasons - strength & Durability. New people to the hobby crash more often so this would make a foam plane last longer. + as a hobbest it is fun to do!!
Not necessary to sand just make sure it is clean. Make sure you do the nose well. As a trainer plane the nose and motor are first to go. That is a great plane
make sure you follow the instruction for initializing the radio to the stabilizer and check that the controls are moving the right way when you move the plane .. This will assure many successful flights. @@Wings_of_foam
I would use the 1.7 because it is easier to form around round pieces. It also overlaps better without seeing the seams. I personally would try to do the fuselage in one long piece equal halves. Starting in the center and working my way to each end. You could probably do the wings top and bottoms with one piece for each top and bottom. This will be a big project and lot’s of fun. I now get my laminating film from Amazon. Thanks a big bunch for watching!!! Keep in touch
Hi Dick good day, i ordered the film already, but i am wondering will the foam cells bloat with the heat. the planes foam surfaces are very smooth now. how hot is hot enough for the iron. thanks
davidsai Experiment with the heat settings on the iron Find what works best for you. Some foams don’t puff. Check out my “My Twin Dream “ video. That foam is as smooth as plastic.
Good idea, sometimes I do that. If I have a very long wing I will pre-stress the bottom of the wing then laminate it. That prevents excessive upward flex of the wing. Top of bottom first? Just laminate and have fun!! Thanks a big bunch for watching.
Was that you on that jet plane at the end? Very good tut. I always wanted to know this and now you showed me. Thanks! There is a big box under the xmas tree that could be a Twin*
QUESTION: I'm just getting into RC aircraft, and I'm starting with a HK Bixler 2, and after I master that one, I plan to step up to a HK Phoenix 2000 and use it as an ALES [learning] platform. Would you recommend this thin film for their EPO wings, or should I use the next thicker sized film? Second, I've read that a lot of Bixler flyers put Scotch Extreme tape on the leading edges of the wings, and clear packing tape over much of the wing chord. Could this film be applied over over these type of tape to give the wing a more finished look? Thanks
I'm looking at laminating, but unsure of how much laminate I need to purchase.. How much does it usually take? I know different sizes will require different amounts
Hi, Mr. Dick. Great video! What do you think to use a 3 mil (75 micra) film to laminate a MTD, that is a "heavy" plane, but with much power too? Thanks. See you.
Luis I laminated my MTD completely with the 1.7 except for the bottom of the fuselage. On the bottom only for abrasion protection when landing. The 1,7 is plenty for the rest of the plane and yeilds a very smooth finish. You will love the MTD, it is one of my favs!! Thanks a bunch for watching.
Stoneblueairlines has a nice video on this as well. Uses a slightly different method. Instead of starting in the middle and working your way out continuously, start in the middle and leave gaps. Then go back and shrink the gaps. It might be a better method for avoiding having the material bunch up on you when covering larger or curved surfaces. Whatever works. I bought a whole bunch of 3 mil glossy on Amazon real cheap. Gonna get crazy
+Dick Gibson it was eBay actually. Laminator_warehouse is the seller, out of Texas. Think I purchased 2 12"x200' glossy 3 mil for $30.00. Not sure exactly because the exact item I purchased doesn't show up in my purchase history, think it's been deleted. He's got a variety of laminates for sale. I think 3 mil is a nice thickness. Light enough to be pliable, yet only need to overlap once on the leading edges to get adequate protection. There is more expensive UV tolerant laminate out there. I wonder if it's worth the expense. I've got the new radian and carbon z cub foamies I'm going to laminate.
Hello there! I've been using laminating film for quite some time now however the film de-laminates after some time. Do you have an idea how to better glue the film to the foam so that it stays there glued well? Thank you!
Nice job Dick. I'm sort of an old timer when it comes to RC craft. Built my first in the late 70's with the old monocote and had an iron just like yours.. I may still have the iron, not sure. Anyway, I'm looking to get back into fixed wing. Have my eyes on a foam Bixler. Do you think my heat gun would work? Granted, I cannot press the film like you are doing here plus you need to be careful with the heat gun. It will melt this Ethylene/PP foam if you get too close to it.
The foam is expending so the surface is not smooth anymore after laminating process and more wind resistance plus more weight of your plane .If you have crashed your plane it's much more difficult to repair the plane because you need boiling water to get back the original form of your ( plane,foam) before the crash.No it's not a good solution in my opinion.I use cheap superglue to strike over the servants of the plane ( EPO FOAM only!!)and it will make your plane 50% ore more stronger and super light at the same time plus still easy to repair your plane after you have crashed it🤔😏
You should try it first to get a first hand impression. The weight of the film is minimal and only adds a few grams to a big plane. The plane is much stronger with the film! If you crash with the film on it is sooo much easier to fix and a touch the damaged place with the iron and it pops back out. Thanks a big bunch for watching
@@DickGibson If you ask me it's a lot of work and if you want to do the fuselage it's almost unduable because of the roundings, but of course your right that i have to try it first before i can give it a real judgement.Ps like your video, keep up the good work 😉💪👍
Hi Dick,Great Video been looking at doing this Laminating for awhile now but haven't had the confidence too do it.You have made it a lot easier.Where about did you buy heat Iron from.Cheers from NZ
hobbyking.com/en_us/turnigy-covering-film-iron.html www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=COVR2550&P=FR&atrkid=V3ADW3A24148B_39159633250_pla-326341586606__201979541663_g_c_pla_with_promotion__1o1&gclid=CjwKCAjwoNrMBRB4EiwA_ODYvxbYATozP0oC5FFnHXN2GSKh0i4dOl8V_2VEE03-t8qSVTEPflW1uRoC0boQAvD_BwE Any iron like this will work. Thanks for watching and don't be afraid to try this it is great fun!!!
These foam dots bulge up when heat iron put it on them, It is not easy for someone who has trypophobia. I wonder if you can moist the foam first then apply the "new stuff", would the "new stuff" still sticks?
+ASUS Micro I have had that question before. POR the hot iron technique "I believe" makes the combination of the laminate and foam stronger. Putting water on before would only make the dots more noticeable. Perhaps you could try setting the iron a little cooler and see what happens. Thanks a big bunch for watching
One of the few videos on this subject that clearly explains how to handle the hinged surfaces. Thank you!
Iron was way too hot. The foam slready expanded
Thanks, Uncle Deek, for this video. I'm just starting to work with foam and appreciate your sharing your knowledge.
Great video! I was searching for product ideas to skin a scratch built Predator drone I'm working on and your video convinced me that this is the product to run with. The ease of application and the end result sealed the deal! I'll definitely be using hinges on my control surfaces though as I heard these laminates may get brittle over the years but other then that the finish is incredible! I'm hot wire cutting my own wings and plan to retask some fiberglass arrow shafts I have laying around for my wing spars. 3 shafts in the central fixed wing section then dropping to 2 shafts (all 5 over lapping 3" at the union) where the removable wings join followed by 1 shaft centered out nearly to the wing tips. I was thinking about skinning it with carbon fiber but after seeing this I think I will save some money and go with this. I'm going big with an 8 foot wingspan for a nice stable camera platform for some serious FPV soaring fun. This will be my first plan with an Ardupilot system complete with GPS. The price for the electronics is amazing these days, the entire system with GPS, OSD, telemetry and power readings was only $79 bucks delivered! Back when I first started flying a cheesy 1 axis Gyro cost more then that! lol Thanks for the great information and video...
That intro itself is worth subscribing….
Very helpful video. I can definitely see the benefits of laminating. Thanks for taking the time to share your technique. And I learned a new phrase, "relief cut".
Whats that? Extra weight.
Great video, thank you! I just picked up many tips watching you work!
Thank you sir! I never noticed this or your fx61 video before. Helped me a lot now I have a full day with tinkering with my wing :)
Great video Dick, I bought this from Aloft last week after watching your video and plan on laminating the wings, vertical and horizontal stabilizer on my Volantex Firstar 2000 mm FPV plane... Aloft should give you a discount for the business you have brought them through your videos... Thanks so much my friend..
+Solar Flarin Thank you soooo much for watching and if I can be of any other service just let me know.
Experiment with the heat on that kind of foam first!
Have fun
***** Will do ... Thanks again !
Excellent video, very useful and good camera work as well. Makes a pleasant change for UA-cam!
tropicalparsoon Lana my wife is very grateful for your very kind comments, Thanks a big bunch
Cool thanks for doing this video I might try this on one of my projects, seen others use this covering you make it look easy to work with. Thanks for sharing
It's book laminating film for school books. We used it for balsa sail planes back in the mid 90's. You could get a ton of it for cheap. You can also paint the inside "side" with a light coat of spray paint. Really lightened those old planes.
Very true!
Thanks a bunch for watching!!
Yes I used it on many planes. It is lighter and tougher than the model airplane coverings. It does not shrink as much, but that is not a problem.
Thanks for posting the video. I bought this same film based on your video and will be doing my first try at laminating this next week.
+Watt Waster Worked perfectly. Dicks video was the best tutorial for the process. The relief cuts are very effective when encountering curves and the foam is well protected and strengthened with the lamination.
Great video! I would turn the temperature down to just above medium on EPO. High is good for EPP though.
Lovely. Thank you for the education. Have a great day
Nice and clean :)
Very cool job! Love the monocote iron :)
Thanks for sharing and happy weekend to Lana and you :)
You have that iron way to hot, the bubbles show lack of knowledge.
The point of laminating is that it works similar to a bike helmet. The foam alone is fragile, as is the covering, but together they work quite well. I'd say in my experience that you gain 50% over the foams original strength
That was really well done! Looks great!
Thanks a big bunch
you deserve a lot more subs
...very good and i use the stuff on all my diy scratch-built epp stuff...add lot of strenght and resistance...for epp exactly 150˚ Celsius...thank you for the demonstration...
Im going to try this tomorrow and just found your tutorial, thanks very helpful
Informative and well done ... thanks for taking the time to show this.
My pleasure.
I am the ambassador of laminating.
Thanks a bunch for watching.
Just wanted to say thanks, looking at coating my foam and balsa planes. Not to worry about looks, as long as it is functional and helps with those unplanned landings😀 or pesky trees that come out of nowhere.
I hate those freaking trees being right in my way, it's kinda funny in fpv but it sucks for the plane
Very Nice! Well Done ! Thank you for your time and all the tips!
Great work Dick I have only just seen this video today! I fly the assassins from Crash Test Hobby - these are made similarly. Laminating film does a fantastic job in strengthening and making the foam more durable. Yes it take time but it is very rewarding .... I resurrected a HK Teksumo with this stuff!
Have you watched my series of videos on the POP Wing
Hi, grandpa, nice video coverage and cool, usful presentation. Enjoyed lot.....
Big uncle Deek... what a legend! Love your vids fella!
Spray with Acrylic water based varnish. Far better results and much quicker.
Wish I could like this video more than once.
Congratulations, nice video, I did not know that it was possible with foam and heat....
Awesome video! Remember that if your on a budget for strength you can always simply use clear packing tape!
Yes, I use to do that but packing tape does not last long, it is heavy and it is UV reactive.
Once you try laminating a plane you will be hooked.
Some folks are worried that the foam bubbles are expanding, seems like you'd want more adhesion so the laminate doesn't come off--plus now you have a paintable surface.
Sorry, but I see bigger gaps between grains of material after laminating. This is effect of "heat treatment" of material. Is it nice ?
An excellent demonstration sir, thank you.
Thanks a big bunch for watching!!
He should have covered the underside first
You are probably right but for the demo this worked.
Thanks a bunch for watching
Nice job.. How to skin a foam wing and make it look so easy ;-)
looks like the same as monocote covering method, good tip
thanks
Awesome intro speech!
Great idea and ecplanation, thank you !
Nice tips, this is so informative 👍
Just what I was looking for. Awesome shirt. Thanks for the vid.
Very nice video, thank you for your expertise...
Fo information, I use 75 micron (3mil) on my bigger planes and the weight increase is in the region of 30%.
I would imagine that this reduces surface tension tremendously, making the airplane more slippery thru the air....
f marz
Absolutely plus makes the plane much stronger.
Using less heat will produces fewer bumps.
Different kinds of foam show fewer bumps.
Paint before you laminate.
Can i make one suggestion ... what ever covering you are applying be it tissue, silk, film etc always cover the bottom first then the top surface same with fuss bottom , sides , top.
What?
I don’t think so you always close on the bottom. Like a cap on a bottle
Lid on a bowl is probably a better analogy
Makes sense...You avoid having a seam on or near the leading edge of the airfoil facing the relative wind.
@@bigdog1476 Your lid and bottle cap analogy seems more fitting to what this poster recommended.
Classic monokote trick is to do the bottom first that way the top overlaps the bottom you don't see the seams
thanks, but where were you two nights ago lol. thank you for your time and skill. UNCLE DEEK ROCKS!!!!!
As fast as this old man can go??
Your loyal servant
Uncle Deek
Great job Dick! I'm in the middle of doing a video on the same subject. Hmmm.
Thumbs up buddy!
Cheers, Bob
+Watt Waster
The video sucked so I didn't upload it. A redo is in the works.
Cheers, Bob
Best intro I’ve ever seen haha!!
I've done a few planes. Have you had your CG change on any of your planes because of the extra weight?
Never
Uncle Dick you're so amazing i have to subscribe. think i'll repair my phoenix glider using your method. - no substitute for experience. thank you.
Great video
I would not do it that way, as the surface bubbles up (doesn't look nice imho) - much too hot with the iron to keep a smooth surface.
I recommend the adhesive Oracal 751C film which max. requires a hairdryer for carved surfaces - it's like car wrapping...!
If you do the same with your main wings you will significant change the aerodynamic of the wings because of the created foam bubbles.
I have covered many foam airplanes completely and the results were fabulous. All the planes flew better and are much more durable.
Is it neccesary to skin an all foam airplane ? Some skins are fairly heavy. Is reduction in drag penalty worth it ?
No it is not necessary however for some planes that not have landing gear or may have re occurring damage it is very important.
The weight is negligible and is spread over the entire plane. 1.3 mil thickness if very thin. It is a lot of fun to do and much easier to use than a monocote type covering.
Thanks a big bunch for watching!!!
Yeahbut. Now you have smooth bubbly foam. Agreed good for more strength, but what does it look painted?
Best if you paint the foam first.
I use a rattle can paint and let it dry well.
Then laminate, then you will have a strong and beautiful plane.
This is a new Fun Cub that was painted and laminated:
ua-cam.com/video/gamYsq8mH5U/v-deo.html
That was really helpful, thanks.
starkid255 Thanks a big bunch for watching
Thanks for that Deek,great tutorial.
Hey man thanks for watching
Can you use a heat gun to take out the wrinkle?
Yes you can
How about a fuselage or something curved? I see plenty of videos on flat (ish) surfaces.
I asked for this video and you supplied thanks :-)
thank you sir, much appreciated
about 8 years ago I watched this video and now I'm wondering if this system would work on the outside of a wood-framed shadow box I'm building for my granddaughter? I want to protect the inside of the shadow box from the weather with your iron-on system, will this stick to a wood frame? January 26/ 2024 8:42 hours.
It should work, I have covered balsa wood airplanes with the same technique.
Just practice on something before you jump into it.
Thanks a big bunch for watching.
DG
The heat is expanding the foam dimples resulting in a textured finish - not a smooth glossy finish!
I noticed that as well. I think this method uses too much heat for this type of foam.
I want to build my P-40 Warhawk into just a model. I have laminating film but I was wondering, if I laminate the foam to give it more strength, can I prime over the film with plastic primer and then do my paint, then clear coat it, will this work or will the paint just chip off ?
Absolutely. If you want to paint before you laminate that is probably the best.
However, if you paint after lamination then scuff with a very fine sand paper, scratch pad or steel wool, clean with alcohol then use a simple rattle can fast dry to paint.
Thanks Dick. I was also wondering if putting two layers of lamination would work, then the paint. I was wondering if it would stick to the previous layer and should I scuff up the first layer for better adhesion ? Thanks
Sueño con ser como tú que Dios te bendiga siempre que hermosa labor
The only thing and a bit harder to do is using selfsticking foil..
Heating up styropor only mess up the smooth surface....
Hi, after laminating an Elapor wing, do you feel that the wing has become a bit stiffer in terms of deflection?
Yes it makes everything you laminate stronger.
@@DickGibson thanks Dick... from Old Germany!
do you know Horst Zeller?
Sorry, I am the new guy on this hobby. Why we need filming. Are there aerodynamic concerns?
Great question Erdem, two reasons - strength & Durability. New people to the hobby crash more often so this would make a foam plane last longer. + as a hobbest it is fun to do!!
awesome. .. slow and steady
real people do real things
large up yourself
I'm getting the Apprentice STS 1.5 meters.
Would it be best to sand the plane first for a smooth finish?
Not necessary to sand just make sure it is clean.
Make sure you do the nose well.
As a trainer plane the nose and motor are first to go.
That is a great plane
Thank you very much.
Yeah, I think I made the right choice.
My first 3 planes were a Xk A800 with a cheap chinese transmitter :D@@DickGibson
make sure you follow the instruction for initializing the radio to the stabilizer and check that the controls are moving the right way when you move the plane .. This will assure many successful flights. @@Wings_of_foam
Yes, good point.
Cheers.@@DickGibson
Great side, love it
Thanks a bunch for watching
Great job! 😎👍
hello, i just a got freewings al37 737 max, and would like to cover it with laminating film, wich film would you use, 1.7 3 or 5 mil size thnaks
I would use the 1.7 because it is easier to form around round pieces.
It also overlaps better without seeing the seams.
I personally would try to do the fuselage in one long piece equal halves. Starting in the center and working my way to each end.
You could probably do the wings top and bottoms with one piece for each top and bottom.
This will be a big project and lot’s of fun.
I now get my laminating film from Amazon.
Thanks a big bunch for watching!!!
Keep in touch
Dick Gibson will do, follow my channel for updates on the build. Will let you know what I finally do looking at several options. Gracias from Colombia
Hi Dick good day, i ordered the film already, but i am wondering will the foam cells bloat with the heat. the planes foam surfaces are very smooth now. how hot is hot enough for the iron. thanks
davidsai
Experiment with the heat settings on the iron
Find what works best for you.
Some foams don’t puff.
Check out my “My Twin Dream “ video.
That foam is as smooth as plastic.
@@DickGibson film allready at the miami offcie should get to colombia next week.
I think you had the temperature a bit too high but still very informative video
Perhaps for your next video you could make something more interesting like, for example, watching paint dry.
Muy buen trabajo, Exclente, gracias por compatirlo.- Como busco ese material en tiendas?
Check the link above for Aloft Hobbies
Awesome... thanks for the demonstration. Merry Christmas and happy new year. Thumbs up.
Where can I get the film and the iron?
www.alofthobbies.com/new-stuff-laminating-films.html
www.horizonhobby.com/e-flite-brand/e-flite-brand/sealing-iron-han101
Nice video man 👌
I would do the bottom first then the top but I suppose it doesn't really matter.
Good idea, sometimes I do that.
If I have a very long wing I will pre-stress the bottom of the wing then laminate it.
That prevents excessive upward flex of the wing.
Top of bottom first? Just laminate and have fun!!
Thanks a big bunch for watching.
Was that you on that jet plane at the end?
Very good tut. I always wanted to know this and now you showed me. Thanks!
There is a big box under the xmas tree that could be a Twin*
QUESTION: I'm just getting into RC aircraft, and I'm starting with a HK Bixler 2, and after I master that one, I plan to step up to a HK Phoenix 2000 and use it as an ALES [learning] platform. Would you recommend this thin film for their EPO wings, or should I use the next thicker sized film?
Second, I've read that a lot of Bixler flyers put Scotch Extreme tape on the leading edges of the wings, and clear packing tape over much of the wing chord. Could this film be applied over over these type of tape to give the wing a more finished look?
Thanks
I'm looking at laminating, but unsure of how much laminate I need to purchase.. How much does it usually take? I know different sizes will require different amounts
Dude... did you melt the foam..?
Too hot
Goose bumps caused by the heat make it look really crappy 😕
How do i cover foam plane that is powered by an engine on it?
Can you use this on balsa wings ? Solar film is just too Expensive !
Yes absolutely you can cover a balsa wing.
The laminating film I use is very inexpensive if you purchase it in larger quantities.
Hi, Mr. Dick. Great video! What do you think to use a 3 mil (75 micra) film to laminate a MTD, that is a "heavy" plane, but with much power too? Thanks. See you.
Luis I laminated my MTD completely with the 1.7 except for the bottom of the fuselage. On the bottom only for abrasion protection when landing. The 1,7 is plenty for the rest of the plane and yeilds a very smooth finish.
You will love the MTD, it is one of my favs!!
Thanks a bunch for watching.
nice video, how to smoothen the foam dots? Did you put a spray paint on the laminate?
Great video! Thanks for the tip! Has anyone tried this in balsa ribbed wings instead of monokote/oracover to get a lightweight covering?
Stoneblueairlines has a nice video on this as well. Uses a slightly different method. Instead of starting in the middle and working your way out continuously, start in the middle and leave gaps. Then go back and shrink the gaps. It might be a better method for avoiding having the material bunch up on you when covering larger or curved surfaces. Whatever works. I bought a whole bunch of 3 mil glossy on Amazon real cheap. Gonna get crazy
+Jacob Keller Thanks a big bunch for watching and have fun!
What is the link for the Amazon laminating film please?
+Dick Gibson it was eBay actually. Laminator_warehouse is the seller, out of Texas. Think I purchased 2 12"x200' glossy 3 mil for $30.00. Not sure exactly because the exact item I purchased doesn't show up in my purchase history, think it's been deleted. He's got a variety of laminates for sale. I think 3 mil is a nice thickness. Light enough to be pliable, yet only need to overlap once on the leading edges to get adequate protection. There is more expensive UV tolerant laminate out there. I wonder if it's worth the expense. I've got the new radian and carbon z cub foamies I'm going to laminate.
Hello there! I've been using laminating film for quite some time now however the film de-laminates after some time. Do you have an idea how to better glue the film to the foam so that it stays there glued well? Thank you!
How thick laminate film do you use on the belly of belly landing foam planes like a Skipper or power glider, bixler etc
Excellent! Very informative! I build with Dollar Tree foam, this would be great to keep it from delaminating! Does this work with the color film too?
Mat Dodge Thanks for very much for watching.
Nice job Dick. I'm sort of an old timer when it comes to RC craft. Built my first in the late 70's with the old monocote and had an iron just like yours.. I may still have the iron, not sure. Anyway, I'm looking to get back into fixed wing. Have my eyes on a foam Bixler. Do you think my heat gun would work? Granted, I cannot press the film like you are doing here plus you need to be careful with the heat gun. It will melt this Ethylene/PP foam if you get too close to it.
The foam is expending so the surface is not smooth anymore after laminating process and more wind resistance plus more weight of your plane .If you have crashed your plane it's much more difficult to repair the plane because you need boiling water to get back the original form of your ( plane,foam) before the crash.No it's not a good solution in my opinion.I use cheap superglue to strike over the servants of the plane ( EPO FOAM only!!)and it will make your plane 50% ore more stronger and super light at the same time plus still easy to repair your plane after you have crashed it🤔😏
You should try it first to get a first hand impression.
The weight of the film is minimal and only adds a few grams to a big plane.
The plane is much stronger with the film!
If you crash with the film on it is sooo much easier to fix and a touch the damaged place with the iron and it pops back out.
Thanks a big bunch for watching
@@DickGibson If you ask me it's a lot of work and if you want to do the fuselage it's almost unduable because of the roundings, but of course your right that i have to try it first before i can give it a real judgement.Ps like your video, keep up the good work 😉💪👍
where can I get one of those irons or something similar and once you laminate it can you paint over it?
Hi Dick,Great Video been looking at doing this Laminating for awhile now but haven't had the confidence too do it.You have made it a lot easier.Where about did you buy heat Iron from.Cheers from NZ
hobbyking.com/en_us/turnigy-covering-film-iron.html
www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=COVR2550&P=FR&atrkid=V3ADW3A24148B_39159633250_pla-326341586606__201979541663_g_c_pla_with_promotion__1o1&gclid=CjwKCAjwoNrMBRB4EiwA_ODYvxbYATozP0oC5FFnHXN2GSKh0i4dOl8V_2VEE03-t8qSVTEPflW1uRoC0boQAvD_BwE
Any iron like this will work.
Thanks for watching and don't be afraid to try this it is great fun!!!
Thank You very much. Nice video. Now where to find the film.
These foam dots bulge up when heat iron put it on them, It is not easy for someone who has trypophobia. I wonder if you can moist the foam first then apply the "new stuff", would the "new stuff" still sticks?
+ASUS Micro I have had that question before. POR the hot iron technique "I believe" makes the combination of the laminate and foam stronger. Putting water on before would only make the dots more noticeable. Perhaps you could try setting the iron a little cooler and see what happens.
Thanks a big bunch for watching