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...
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
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".
+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.
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
...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...
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
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.
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
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.
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!!!
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
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
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
can this product be used on balsa wood planes instead of tissue , what's the weight per squre inch compared to tissue, can you give stats per size 1.7,3,5,10mil
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!
... Excellent video.Usted could clarify me what kind of film used. No entindo when speaking English , perhaps entinda if he writes. Thank you, I send a greeting from Argentina
This is the material used to cover a document, business card, picture, ID card, that you would go to an office supply store to have done. Their machine has two rolls of laminating film in them and your document or card is placed between these two pieces and place in an two sided iron and heat sealed. You can find this film on Amazon or Ebay or at your office supply store. Thanks for watching.
Hi Deek, Thanks for the tutorial it was very informative. Can you post a link where you are getting the laminating material? All the best and Happy flying!
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 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.
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.
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
I am just finishing up a new Fun Cub, which I completely laminated. It was a real fun build and it will be very strong a very kool looking. The 1.3 mil worked great for the entire plane. The top of the wing was done with one continuous piece and it conformed to the wing tips with out any relief cuts. This is amazing stuff. Enjoy
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.
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
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
Hi Dick, great video, your a real character. I have a question I hope you can help me with. I recently bought a Hobby King X8 Skywalker flying wing. It has about an 8 foot winspan and higher speed cause oscillations on the wings. This thing is foam and I was wondering which laminate choice and thickness you' would recommend. I look forward to hearing from ya. -Greg O
+Greg O Greg I would definitely recommend laminating the X8. I would use the 3mill or 5mill. There is such a large area to cover and the thicker film will add so much more strength to the plane. The x8 is not a high speed plane. It has been documented that the wings will fold during high speed maneuvers. The x8 is a slow stable camera platform and a hoot to fly. There is a lot that goes into setting up the x8. The CG must be spot on and there needs to be a little reflex in the elevons. What OSD/Control system are you using? Can you send me some pix of your build? A wing is sometimes hard to get set up. I will be more than happy to help you any way I can. Try to message me or use face book with my name.
Hi dick and thanks for offering your help, I really could use it. Currently I am sourcing parts and deciding what equipment I will use. I have not glued anything together yet as I want to make certain that access for wiring etc for future equipment is not impeded by putting everything together. I have ordered up the laminate, some fiberglass for the wing tips, servos, engine and props. I am eagerly awaiting their arrival. This plane is white foam. I would like to see it painted dark or light grey(my Navy experience/preference). Would you recommend painting it prior to laminate or post? What spray paint would you recommend?
+Greg O You may experiment with some aerosol spray paints. I would not recommend water based paint. Painting the foam with a very light coat and covering it with laminate is best. However, Krylon fast dry outdoor paint will stick to the laminate. I used that same paint on a foam plane and covered it and it looks great.
Hi again, Dick! I was hoping you could help me out here. Have you ever laminated a foam plane, say a EPP (Elapor) Multiplex, after you have painted it? Could you make a video about this, maybe?
Yes I have. I use Krylon fast dry enamel spray paint and let it dry real well. The only problem is when you touch the iron to the paint it will lift it. So you have to be real careful. You can also paint the laminating film afterwards. Just clean it real well with rubbing alcohol and paint it with the same paint. Try it with something before you go all the way and see what is best for you. Check out my MTD My Twin Dream video and you can see one that was painted first. I also refurbished a Fun Cub that was beat up real bad. I painted it yellow and then laminated it and it looks new. Let me know what you do. I will do a video but it will be a couple of weeks or so...... Thanks for the question!
I can vouch for the added strength. I have a sheet foam "foamy" Flying W and ironed on laminating film all over. I've had some not so gentle touch downs and it still flies where others would have been bent or broken in half. Takes a little while to iron it all down but hey, the results are well worth it.
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*
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!!!
Mr. Dick, I'm a bit confused as to your reference to 1.3 and 1.7 films. First, you showed a roll of 1.7... then actually used 1.3, if I'm not mistaken. (?) I'm not new to R/C by any means, but I'm new to electric and/or foam planes. I'm setting up a Ranger EX for aerial photography, but I do not like how the hinges are made on any of the control surfaces... so I read online to laminate them (which I've never done before). I've applied a LOT of MonoKote and/or fiberglass, kevlar, and carbon fiber, but never over a foam plane. (And I agree with a lot of the others here... a fully hot iron? I almost fainted when you said that!) :) Thanks for the video!
You are the first one to catch that. Congrats. I use the 1.3 for curvy and tight places and the 1.7 for the bottom of the wing and the bottom of the fuselage. On the wing because it prevents the wing from flexing upwards and on the Fuse for skid protection. The 1.3 is the thickness of choice mostly. Great catch Clint!! Thanks a big bunch for watching
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.
Yes it adds structural stiffness and stability. Also if you do crash it makes it easier to repair. Unlike mono cote it is very resistant to abrasion and puncture. If you use the thin film it adds very little weight. Plus you can paint the foam first and laminate over the top and the color won't scratch off. Thanks a bunch 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.
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!
***** No Problem i am new to making RC planes but have the basics down. it is just covering the wings that i needed. thanks for the great video keep it up!
No comparison! epoxy and fiberglass would be way way too heavy, hard to do and expensive. This method is easy, very low cost, and super strong. You can also paint before or after application of the film. I have other videos in the series you can watch also. Thanks a bunch for watching and if I can offer more help let me know.
Dick Gibson wow, you’re the best! Thanks for getting back so quickly. Can you post s link to where you ordered it from? I have a bunch of new planes coming in - balsa and foam (EPO and EPP) - and I wanna do this before I assembles. Obviously the balsa is going to be monocoat, but the foam I wanna do this. Especially for protecting the hinge
Hey, I saw your link to aloft hobbies. I was thinking of getting the CP type film, but what mil should I get? I saw you got the 1.7 mil, which they say is for small planes. My Plane though is about 6 feet in wingspan and weighs as the most 8 pounds maybe. So I was thinking 5 mil would do the trick, but maybe 3 mil? I reckon 10 mil = about 250 microns = about .25 millimeters. So is mil the thickness of it? It seems like .25 millimeters is really thin.
+Sky Studio Great question: I like the 1.7 on the top and sides of the fuselage and top of wing and 4 or 5 on the bottom of the wing to give it a little strength and 4 or 5 on the bottom of the fuselage for abrasion protection. In fact two layers of 4/5 on the bottom. The 1.7 is easiest to fit around corners and tight places. My SkyWalker is laminated that way and it is perfect for me. Thanks for watching,
You say you put maybe two layers on the bottom of the wing? Wouldn't it be easier to simply buy 10 mil and just put one layer on the bottom? Thanks for the reply though. I will probably put 3 mil on top and possibly 5 or 10 mil on bottom of wing.
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...!
Absolutely, Please check my play list I have a video on covering a balsa wing and painting it. I recently built a 40 size Goldberg cub and covered it with laminating film and painted int in the olive drab war bird colors as a L4
Thanks for the reply! Greatly appreciate it. Glad you found this stuff and shared it with all of us. I'm thinking of using this on free flight rubber band models. Do you think with this film and paint, it would be too heavy? I've never built a free flight model before. Thanks!
+Jarvis E. Yes you can paint it. I used a fast dry Krylon enamel. I went over the film with a cloth with alcohol to clean. A friend is doing a 1/4 scale cub and painting the whole thing. Good luck and get back with me to tell me how it turned out. Thanks for watching
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the few videos on this subject that clearly explains how to handle the hinged surfaces. Thank you!
Great video, thank you! I just picked up many tips watching you work!
Thanks, Uncle Deek, for this video. I'm just starting to work with foam and appreciate your sharing your knowledge.
Iron was way too hot. The foam slready expanded
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...
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 !
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 :)
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! I would turn the temperature down to just above medium on EPO. High is good for EPP though.
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
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.
That intro itself is worth subscribing….
you deserve a lot more subs
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
Lovely. Thank you for the education. Have a great day
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.
...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...
That was really well done! Looks great!
Thanks a big bunch
Very Nice! Well Done ! Thank you for your time and all the tips!
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
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.
You have that iron way to hot, the bubbles show lack of knowledge.
Nice and clean :)
Very cool job! Love the monocote iron :)
Thanks for sharing and happy weekend to Lana and you :)
How about a fuselage or something curved? I see plenty of videos on flat (ish) surfaces.
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
Thank You very much. Nice video. Now where to find the film.
Congratulations, nice video, I did not know that it was possible with foam and heat....
Great idea and ecplanation, thank you !
Im going to try this tomorrow and just found your tutorial, thanks very helpful
Hi, grandpa, nice video coverage and cool, usful presentation. Enjoyed lot.....
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.
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!!!
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
Big uncle Deek... what a legend! Love your vids fella!
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
where can I get one of those irons or something similar and once you laminate it can you paint over it?
How thick laminate film do you use on the belly of belly landing foam planes like a Skipper or power glider, bixler etc
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
Very nice video, thank you for your expertise...
Best intro I’ve ever seen haha!!
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
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
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?
How do i cover foam plane that is powered by an engine on it?
Great video
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.
Wish I could like this video more than once.
Nice tips, this is so informative 👍
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.
Can you use a heat gun to take out the wrinkle?
Yes you can
can this product be used on balsa wood planes instead of tissue , what's the weight per squre inch compared to tissue, can you give stats per size 1.7,3,5,10mil
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
... Excellent video.Usted could clarify me what kind of film used. No entindo when speaking English , perhaps entinda if he writes. Thank you, I send a greeting from Argentina
MarianoP1000 eso se usa para laminar libros. Posiblemente lo puedes encontrar en una tienda que venda materiales para colegios.
This is the material used to cover a document, business card, picture, ID card, that you would go to an office supply store to have done. Their machine has two rolls of laminating film in them and your document or card is placed between these two pieces and place in an two sided iron and heat sealed.
You can find this film on Amazon or Ebay or at your office supply store.
Thanks for watching.
@@pagrichard gracias!!!
Hi Deek, Thanks for the tutorial it was very informative. Can you post a link where you are getting the laminating material? All the best and Happy flying!
www.alofthobbies.com/new-stuff-laminating-films.html
*****
Thanks Deek. Take care and all the best!
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
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
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.
Just what I was looking for. Awesome shirt. Thanks for the vid.
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.
nice video, how to smoothen the foam dots? Did you put a spray paint on the laminate?
where do you buy the film at?
Amazon has it in bulk.
Aloft Hobbies has it in small lots.
Hello Mr. Gibson, what do you estimate the additional weight of the laminate added to your Fun Cub?
2 or 3 grams at the most.
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
Great video! Thanks for the tip! Has anyone tried this in balsa ribbed wings instead of monokote/oracover to get a lightweight covering?
Nice job.. How to skin a foam wing and make it look so easy ;-)
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.
I've done a few planes. Have you had your CG change on any of your planes because of the extra weight?
Never
Thanks for the inspiration! What is the film called?
www.alofthobbies.com/new-stuff-laminating-films.html
Thanks buddy!! :-)
I am just finishing up a new Fun Cub, which I completely laminated. It was a real fun build and it will be very strong a very kool looking. The 1.3 mil worked great for the entire plane. The top of the wing was done with one continuous piece and it conformed to the wing tips with out any relief cuts. This is amazing stuff. Enjoy
I'm going to order som laminating film and try out the methode. You are a great inspiration! Thanks :-)
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.
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
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
Any issues with warpage of the wing?
Hi Dick, great video, your a real character. I have a question I hope you can help me with. I recently bought a Hobby King X8 Skywalker flying wing. It has about an 8 foot winspan and higher speed cause oscillations on the wings. This thing is foam and I was wondering which laminate choice and thickness you' would recommend. I look forward to hearing from ya. -Greg O
+Greg O Greg I would definitely recommend laminating the X8. I would use the 3mill or 5mill. There is such a large area to cover and the thicker film will add so much more strength to the plane. The x8 is not a high speed plane. It has been documented that the wings will fold during high speed maneuvers. The x8 is a slow stable camera platform and a hoot to fly. There is a lot that goes into setting up the x8. The CG must be spot on and there needs to be a little reflex in the elevons. What OSD/Control system are you using? Can you send me some pix of your build?
A wing is sometimes hard to get set up. I will be more than happy to help you any way I can. Try to message me or use face book with my name.
Hi dick and thanks for offering your help, I really could use it. Currently I am sourcing parts and deciding what equipment I will use. I have not glued anything together yet as I want to make certain that access for wiring etc for future equipment is not impeded by putting everything together. I have ordered up the laminate, some fiberglass for the wing tips, servos, engine and props. I am eagerly awaiting their arrival. This plane is white foam. I would like to see it painted dark or light grey(my Navy experience/preference).
Would you recommend painting it prior to laminate or post? What spray paint would you recommend?
+Greg O You may experiment with some aerosol spray paints. I would not recommend water based paint. Painting the foam with a very light coat and covering it with laminate is best. However, Krylon fast dry outdoor paint will stick to the laminate. I used that same paint on a foam plane and covered it and it looks great.
Muy buen trabajo, Exclente, gracias por compatirlo.- Como busco ese material en tiendas?
Check the link above for Aloft Hobbies
Hi again, Dick! I was hoping you could help me out here. Have you ever laminated a foam plane, say a EPP (Elapor) Multiplex, after you have painted it? Could you make a video about this, maybe?
Yes I have. I use Krylon fast dry enamel spray paint and let it dry real well.
The only problem is when you touch the iron to the paint it will lift it. So you have to be real careful.
You can also paint the laminating film afterwards. Just clean it real well with rubbing alcohol and paint it with the same paint.
Try it with something before you go all the way and see what is best for you.
Check out my MTD My Twin Dream video and you can see one that was painted first.
I also refurbished a Fun Cub that was beat up real bad. I painted it yellow and then laminated it and it looks new.
Let me know what you do.
I will do a video but it will be a couple of weeks or so......
Thanks for the question!
How much stronger does this end up making the plane?
A large bunch!!
I can vouch for the added strength. I have a sheet foam "foamy" Flying W and ironed on laminating film all over. I've had some not so gentle touch downs and it still flies where others would have been bent or broken in half. Takes a little while to iron it all down but hey, the results are well worth it.
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*
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!!!
is this the same type of stuff as the Hobbyking covering film?
Awesome intro speech!
Mr. Dick, I'm a bit confused as to your reference to 1.3 and 1.7 films. First, you showed a roll of 1.7... then actually used 1.3, if I'm not mistaken. (?)
I'm not new to R/C by any means, but I'm new to electric and/or foam planes. I'm setting up a Ranger EX for aerial photography, but I do not like how the hinges are made on any of the control surfaces... so I read online to laminate them (which I've never done before). I've applied a LOT of MonoKote and/or fiberglass, kevlar, and carbon fiber, but never over a foam plane. (And I agree with a lot of the others here... a fully hot iron? I almost fainted when you said that!) :)
Thanks for the video!
You are the first one to catch that. Congrats.
I use the 1.3 for curvy and tight places and the 1.7 for the bottom of the wing and the bottom of the fuselage. On the wing because it prevents the wing from flexing upwards and on the Fuse for skid protection.
The 1.3 is the thickness of choice mostly.
Great catch Clint!!
Thanks a big bunch for watching
Thanks so much for the clarification, Sir! Helps a bunch, and keep posting great videos!
@@DickGibson Can you paint over the film after its applied or would it be best to apply color monkote over it? Would that work?
Spray with Acrylic water based varnish. Far better results and much quicker.
Hi.
will have the contact of an international distributor of EPP sheets ????
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.
Great job! 😎👍
What this laminating film does exactly?It makes foam not as easy to brake?
Yes it adds structural stiffness and stability. Also if you do crash it makes it easier to repair. Unlike mono cote it is very resistant to abrasion and puncture. If you use the thin film it adds very little weight. Plus you can paint the foam first and laminate over the top and the color won't scratch off.
Thanks a bunch for watching.
+Dick Gibson Thank you for fast reply.I hope to be so easy to install as it seems.
The sailplane will be FunGlider Multiplex
I am doing my second Fun Cub this week.
Go slow and have fun
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.
That was really helpful, thanks.
starkid255 Thanks a big bunch for watching
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!
Would this work with wood as well as foam? I am a happy chappy if it does
I have a video on covering a wood wing and the wing is still flying great after a couple of years.
Thanks a bunch for watching.
***** No Problem i am new to making RC planes but have the basics down. it is just covering the wings that i needed.
thanks for the great video
keep it up!
Does this work better than let’s say epoxy and fiberglass?
No comparison! epoxy and fiberglass would be way way too heavy, hard to do and expensive. This method is easy, very low cost, and super strong. You can also paint before or after application of the film. I have other videos in the series you can watch also. Thanks a bunch for watching and if I can offer more help let me know.
Dick Gibson wow, you’re the best! Thanks for getting back so quickly. Can you post s link to where you ordered it from? I have a bunch of new planes coming in - balsa and foam (EPO and EPP) - and I wanna do this before I assembles. Obviously the balsa is going to be monocoat, but the foam I wanna do this. Especially for protecting the hinge
I’m also going to disassemble all my foamies and do this! Thank you
@@rossrcfallacaro3422
www.amazon.com/s?k=laminating+film+1.3+mil+25+x500%27+standard+roll&ref=nb_sb_noss
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.
Hey, I saw your link to aloft hobbies. I was thinking of getting the CP type film, but what mil should I get? I saw you got the 1.7 mil, which they say is for small planes. My Plane though is about 6 feet in wingspan and weighs as the most 8 pounds maybe. So I was thinking 5 mil would do the trick, but maybe 3 mil? I reckon 10 mil = about 250 microns = about .25 millimeters. So is mil the thickness of it? It seems like .25 millimeters is really thin.
+Sky Studio Great question: I like the 1.7 on the top and sides of the fuselage and top of wing and 4 or 5 on the bottom of the wing to give it a little strength and 4 or 5 on the bottom of the fuselage for abrasion protection. In fact two layers of 4/5 on the bottom. The 1.7 is easiest to fit around corners and tight places. My SkyWalker is laminated that way and it is perfect for me. Thanks for watching,
You say you put maybe two layers on the bottom of the wing? Wouldn't it be easier to simply buy 10 mil and just put one layer on the bottom? Thanks for the reply though. I will probably put 3 mil on top and possibly 5 or 10 mil on bottom of wing.
+Sky Studio That would be great also.
Try 2 or 3 different thicknesses to see what you like.
There are no wrong answers, just try it!!
Thanks
what is the best 1.3mil or 1.7mil? You mentioned you used 1.3mil but I saw 1.7 written on that one roll.
***** I prefer 1.3. It is much easier to get to mold into curves and tight places.
Thanks a big bunch for watching.
***** Thanks I've been watching your channel for few months now. And you shared a lot of good techniques and advices!
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...!
I asked for this video and you supplied thanks :-)
Can you use this on balsa and then spray color of your choice? Instead of using monokote?
Absolutely, Please check my play list I have a video on covering a balsa wing and painting it.
I recently built a 40 size Goldberg cub and covered it with laminating film and painted int in the olive drab war bird colors as a L4
Thanks for the reply! Greatly appreciate it. Glad you found this stuff and shared it with all of us. I'm thinking of using this on free flight rubber band models. Do you think with this film and paint, it would be too heavy? I've never built a free flight model before. Thanks!
It is heavier than monocote but much stronger, give a try......
Thanks again!
Can you paint the laminating film? If so, what type of paint?
+Jarvis E. Yes you can paint it. I used a fast dry Krylon enamel. I went over the film with a cloth with alcohol to clean. A friend is doing a 1/4 scale cub and painting the whole thing. Good luck and get back with me to tell me how it turned out. Thanks for watching
Dude... did you melt the foam..?
Too hot