Transparent Duct Tape

[mississippiflyboy]

I have found that 3M Transparent Duct Tape is an excellent way to protect leading edges and to repair or reinforce certain areas of the aircraft. I will post pics soon. It is very difficult to tell the tape is on there and because it has cloth in it helps to strengthen the airframe

[cybersoft]

Sounds good, where can we buy it?

[mississippiflyboy]

I got my roll at wal mart...I was flying this morning and came in too hot on landing, so I killed the throttle, but I still cartwheeled her a bit and the wing was in beautiful shape. If I had not covered the leading and trailing edges, several large chunks would be missing.

[mississippiflyboy]

update on the duct tape - I augured in today at WOT and there was very minor damage to the fuselage and wings due to the duct tape reinforcement.

[bearweasel]

I'm so used to taping up my slope soaring foamies, I decided to do a little on the Cub to help protect the leading edges. However, with the EPP foam on my slopers, you need a little help from either 3M77 or 3M90 spray adhesive... which, I discovered, will sometimes melt the Cub foam. I thought the Cub was EPP, but it isn't. Strangely, the spray adhesive didn't attack ALL of the foam I sprayed it on, just bits. Trouble is, I had sanded off all of the mold lines, etc, from the leading edge and it was perfect. Not so now with the half-melted foam in places. Grrr. Note to the wise: don't use spray adhesive on the Cub. The foam won't take it.

[cybersoft]

I shopped around and found some white duck tape, it's very strong stuff, triple layer interwoven with fabric, this gave me an idea................


This picture does it no justice at all, it actually looks like it's made from GRP/fibreglass and has a high gloss finish.

I recieved a new fuselage today in the post as a replacement for my original SC which yet again had the tail snapped off, not through bad flying, I dropped it taking it out :-(

Anyway, before building it tonight, I covered the entire fuselage with this white duck tape, doing lots of cuts and trimming here and there, I then glued in all the bits that are overlooked by hobbyzone, battery box, servos etc. and once completed, it looks good and appears to be very strong.

I know there'll be extra weight but I have room to play with after going LiPo and getting a much lighter video camera.

It also has a nice glossy shine to it now.

I've still to maiden that and another SC I built from scratch yesterday so I'll let you know how it flys covered in strong tape.

I've also covered the wing edges of the new one with the white tape and strenthened the new cowl.


With those 2 completed, it's now time for my latest scratch build, a PZ Stryker, I can't wait :-)

[pommie]

Yeah duct tape is the way to go ! i covered my complete fuselarge also, it added a little weight but not noticed as flying with lipos and used red radiator repair tape ( cloth type ) on the leadind edges of the wing tips



Happy flying everyone

Pommie