So the last couple days I have been working on covering the ARF so I can assemble an ARF. Seems odd to have to do so much just to get back to “go”. I guess that is what custom liveries require. Anyway I first did the wing. Top and bottom, left and right and then the ailerons and flaps, top and bottom, left and right. I had been studying the fuse for a while trying to decide how to cover it with the least number of seams to show, Monokote shows seams on lighter colors as you iron the pieces together. I finally chose to make a template and have one seam on top of the turtledeck from the fin forward and one on the nose from the cockpit to the cowl (which will be painted). This required a template be made to cut the big piece out of the 6′ stock. This piece was 62″ long and 14″ in width. I traced the pattern on yellow pieces and then realized that it would require another roll for the other side. Oh well, I planned on four to begin with. No harm no foul. I cut out both sides and then used the rest for the horizontal stab, top and bottom and the vert stab, left and right. All in all, I have about 1/2 a roll left that is 6′ long but narrow in spots. I finished the vert stabs covering installation this morning. Total time covering was about 22 hours.
Last thing I did was bolt on the fillets/covers and trace out their shape on the sides of the fuse. I then ironed the Monokote to the wood under where they will be installed. I think some silicone will be used to cinch up the .040″ aluminum to the fuse sides during assembly. The orange trim stripe is next while its apart.
