covering my supercub

[oaktree11]

Hi all,
I am building a second Supercub from new parts. It will be equipped with ailerons and a brushless motor. I want to cover the plane with solarfilm. I am away on business just now but I will post photos of my aileron conversion and motor mount soon. Now, here is the problem! I covered the fuselage and it looks really good and will be very strong. However, I got carried away with the wing and, like a dummy, fitted the ailerons BEFORE I covered them or the wing. Duh! I have center hinged the ailerons and there is no way I am going to remove them now. I am lookning for advice from those more experienced than me in covering (not my forte!). I think my best solution is to cover the win up to the cut out for the ailerons and then paint them and the hinge area? It looks really fiddly to try to cover the ailerons in-situ with lots of small edges to come loose. Any suggestions?

[Dillzio]

www.modelaircraft.org/MAG/FTGU/Part%2031/31main2.html

That will be 10 bucks thanks

[ginginho]

Oaktree,
As outlined in the article, you really want to seal the hinge gaps to stop air flowing between the top and bottom of the wing. An alternative to the "S" listed in the article is to apply covering to both the wing and the aileron, and then add a strip over the gap. The coverings tend to stick better to itself than anything else, so you get the bonus of a fail-safe should a hinge fail.
If you go this way, when applying the strip make sure that the aileron is positioned at a full deflection away from the covering strip to allow for full movement. It can be sealed on either top or bottom as it makes no difference so long as it stops air leakage. If you don't do this you'll lose a fair amount of lift.

Advice given FOC.

[oaktree11]

HEY!!! Brilliant Guys, exactly what I needed. Thanks so much. I can't send the $10 but I promise to drink at least that value in beer tonight and toast both your healths!
John

[ginginho]

Sept 30, 2009 21:20:59 GMT 1 oaktree11 said:

HEY!!! Brilliant Guys, exactly what I needed. Thanks so much. I can't send the $10 but I promise to drink at least that value in beer tonight and toast both your healths!
John

Hahaha, nice one John. I drank a little more that $10's worth last night, so feeling a bit ropey at work today