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Posted

I am planning to build an FxRES type model.   I haven't bashed the balsa in some decades and the last time I built anything I used Solarfilm.  I assume that coverings have moved on in the meantime, so I am looking for any advice on lightweight coverings for an FxRES 2m model.  What do you use?

John Minchell
Posted

Lot of FxRES people use Oralight which is transparent and lighter than Profilm (same as Oracover) opaque film covering.  Some structures however have exhibited flutter due to the Oralight not being torsionally stiff enough.  In this case going back to a tex style covering is structurally better but much heavier.  Good old FF competition method of tissue doped over Mylar is much lighter & cheaper but you have to do the covering job twice.  And dope will stink the house out.  If you are building from a kit then follow the recommended covering materials.  If you are designing and building from scratch or a plan then you can please yourself, but it also depends on how light you want the finished model.  Also is it for fun, or entering RES competitions?  And lastly how good is the structure ie. stiff enough without the covering or does it rely on the covering?  Since Solarfilm went out of business I am not sure if the airspan or similar lightweight coverings are available from other sources.

John M

oipigface
Posted
3 hours ago, John Minchell said:

dope will stink the house out. 

I recently used some stuff called Eze Dope, (which is waterbased and doesn’t smell) to cover an Angelwings Prandtl. It was much easier to use than the cellulose dope I remember from my teenage years. The Prandtl came out at a shocking 2/3 the weight cited by the kit instructions! The tissue I used was Eze Tissue from the same stable.

Norman Turner
Posted
3 hours ago, John Minchell said:

Lot of FxRES people use Oralight which is transparent and lighter than Profilm (same as Oracover) opaque film covering.  Some structures however have exhibited flutter due to the Oralight not being torsionally stiff enough.  In this case going back to a tex style covering is structurally better but much heavier.  Good old FF competition method of tissue doped over Mylar is much lighter & cheaper but you have to do the covering job twice.  And dope will stink the house out.  If you are building from a kit then follow the recommended covering materials.  If you are designing and building from scratch or a plan then you can please yourself, but it also depends on how light you want the finished model.  Also is it for fun, or entering RES competitions?  And lastly how good is the structure ie. stiff enough without the covering or does it rely on the covering?  Since Solarfilm went out of business I am not sure if the airspan or similar lightweight coverings are available from other sources.

John M

Solarfilm are still in business, I bought some myself last year. Check on https://solarfilm.co.uk to see what's available

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