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andynfultz(at)bellsouth.n
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:03 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

Good afternoon guys.  I'm about to embark on what I hope to be the final big

step in the build process.  I THINK I'm ready to cover and paint my project.

My question to you is this.  Are there any, &(^%(&^%., I wish I had done

that before I covered, items I need to make sure I have done.  I can't seem

to think of any more excusses not to go ahead.  Just looking for

suggestions.  Thanks.



Andy Fultz

AVID Speedwing (Extended)

STRATUS EA-81

Starkville, Mississippi

skwgn(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

I picked a 3-color paint scheme and that was a ton of work.  Doing it again

I'd only use 2 colors.  Be prepared that covering and painting is 1/2 to

2/3rds of the total effort to complete a project. It was 2/3rds for me.



-Bob

Kitfox 3



--

akflyer

Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 574
Location: Soldotna AK

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

I covered the fuse and tail feathers in a long day including the pinked tapes, one more for spraying up to top coat and one day for top coat  One wing took a day to complete up to the tapes (included ribstitching) and the first coat of poly brush.  the next day was two more coats polybrush sprayed on, 3 coats silver and two coats polytone.. All depends on how complex a paint scheme you are going with.  You can spend alot of time masking at various stages.  Another thing to consider.  I see alot of guys loading the paint on tillthe weave of the fabric can no longer be seen.  This adds ALOT of extra weight and is not needed.  If you want a super smooth shiny finish, it was a bad choise to go with a rag covered plane..Just my .02 and you get what you pay for..

_________________
DO NOT ARCHIVE
Leonard Perry aka SNAKE
Soldotna AK
Avid "C" / Mk IV
582 (147 hrs and counting on the rebuild)
IVO IFA
Full Lotus 1450
#1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009

I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die....

dosmythe(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 3:21 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

I would choose a bright white color for the entire aircraft and use other 

colors for accent stripes etc.  A dark color Poly Fiber fabric "can" shrink 

during hot outside temps.  Been there and done that.



Don Smythe

Do Not Archive

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:00 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

I went the other way...a little too stingy with the polytone paint  

(or maybe because it was 12 year-old paint) and the edges of my plane  

are starting to fade.

My advice is to give it a little more paint and eat a few less pounds  

of food...you'll be healthier and the plane will look better...but  

like Leonard says, not to excess.

Lynn Matteson

Grass Lake, Michigan

Kitfox IV Speedster  w/Jabiru 2200

flying w/350+ hrs

On Jun 29, 2007, at 5:31 PM, akflyer wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I covered the fuse and tail feathers in a long day including the  

 pinked tapes, one more for spraying up to top coat and one day for  

 top coat  One wing took a day to complete up to the tapes (included  

 ribstitching) and the first coat of poly brush.  the next day was  

 two more coats polybrush sprayed on, 3 coats silver and two coats  

 polytone.. All depends on how complex a paint scheme you are going  

 with.  You can spend alot of time masking at various stages.   

 Another thing to consider.  I see alot of guys loading the paint on  

 tillthe weave of the fabric can no longer be seen.  This adds ALOT  

 of extra weight and is not needed.  If you want a super smooth  

 shiny finish, it was a bad choise to go with a rag covered  

 plane..Just my .02 and you get what you pay for..



 --------

 Leonard Perry

 Soldotna AK

 Avid &quot;C&quot; / Mk IV

 582 IVO IFA

 Full Lotus 1260

 95% complete

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

Wiring... It is easier to secure wiring in place  before doing the covering.  Make sure all the flight controls are operating  properly and then remove only what has to be removed for covering.  If you  decided to inhibit your frame ( the 4130 tubes) the time to do it is before the  covering process.  Primary temporary fitting of seats will make the  permanent installation easier if it has been installed then removed before the  covering.



All in all, just about anything you can do before the covering  process can be done after only with a lot more four letter 50 cent penalty  words.



 

[img]cid:864595401(at)30062007-0D6D[/img]  

 Noel Loveys, RPP, AME intern

 Campbellton, Newfoundland, 

 Canada

 Kitfox Mod III-A, 582, B box, Ivo IFA

 Aerocet 1100s

 noelloveys(at)yahoo.ca (noelloveys(at)yahoo.ca)

 

 

 Do not archive

 

 

 



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_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:20 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

You're dead right on that one don...  What could be worse if the cloth was

fully shrunk is the possibility of over heating it in the strong sunlight

with dark colours.



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

I can't help to wonder if any one has flown their plane with just the poly

spray...  It should reflect the heat of the sun and be lighter than anything

else.



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

7suds(at)Chartermi.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:08 am Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

Andy,

You have been getting a lot of great advise. A few other things to think of, 

A good cover and finish job will easily last 20+ years, so do not short cut 

using the right amount of materials or putting the extra time in to get the 

results you want, you will be looking at it a long time (And so will 

everyone else). You will have to decide what is most important to you in the 

finish, light weight, smooth finish, quick build, and choose the finish 

materials and color scheme that fits. Simple things in the end make a huge 

difference, like making sure tapes are straight and the ends are clean cut, 

ironing down tape edges continually, rounding open ends of tapes, if this is 

your first cover keep the scheme simple and clean, take the time to draw and 

color out the sceme on paper (I used the 3 view drawing in the plans and 

blew them up then used them to draw and color different schemes) A few 

things I like to do is start wet sanding after 2nd coat of silver, use a 

bright white as a base for everything and finish buff the final color.

Have fun,

Lloyd

Fox 5 912

UP Mi.

Rebuild Project



(do not archive)



 	  Quote: 	
		   suggestions.  Thanks.



 Andy Fultz

 AVID Speedwing (Extended)

 STRATUS EA-81

 Starkville, Mississippi

Tom Jones

Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 752
Location: Ellensburg, WA

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:45 am Post subject: Re: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

 	  Quote: 	
		  Are there any, &(^%(&^%., I wish I had done 

that before I covered, items I need to make sure I have done. 	




Get plenty of inspection hole covers, paint them, and put them where you can find them in a couple years.



When trimming the fabric along the top and bottom of the fuselage be careful to trim close enough so that the two inch finish tape will overlap properly.  If you haven't covered one before this can slip by you until you put the tapes on then wish you had cut it closer.



Bias finish tapes for the tail curves.  http://polyfiber.com/products/finishingtapes.htm

_________________
Tom Jones
Classic IV
503 Rotax, 72 inch Two blade Warp
Ellensburg, WA

kitfox(at)ida.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 7:16 am Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

Just read the covering manual one more time and start.   I just stuck 

with one color. Thankfully.

Albert Smith

Mudlake, Id.

All red 5TD NSI turbo and Cap

andynfultz(at)bellsouth.n
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:10 am Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

Thanks guys for the many comments and suggestions you have offered.  I THINK

I have done about all I can do in preparation for the covering process.  I

have one more wire to run and everything I can think of has at least been

prefit and removed or left in place if it won't interfere with the covering.

I do believe I have about run out of excuses to go ahead and get it done.

If anything else comes to mind I'm still listening.  Thanks again.



Andy Fultz

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:42 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

There was a plane known as the "Gray Ghost" a few

years ago.  Don S. probably knows it best.  I know it

was a bit hard to see on a cloudy day when it quietly

slipped out of OSH.  The Soob sounded like an electric

motor and the plane earned its name by sight and

sound.



If you want to be seen though, paint it to be seen.



Kurt S.

S-5/NSI turbo



--- Noel Loveys <noelloveys(at)yahoo.ca> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   I can't help to wonder if any one has flown their

 plane with just the poly

 spray...  It should reflect the heat of the sun and

 be lighter than anything else.

 

 Noel


	




 

Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. 

Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta.

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:47 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

--- Andy Fultz <andynfultz(at)bellsouth.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   Good afternoon guys.  I'm about to embark on what I

 hope to be the final big

 step in the build process.  I THINK I'm ready to

 cover and paint my project.......

 

 Andy Fultz


	


Hi Andy,



Don't know the particulars of your plane, but make

sure you provide access to everything for maintenance

before you cover.



On my S-5 I missed using blind nuts on a few places

like the baggage floor and rudder peddle mounts.  Much

harder to work on once covered.  To remove the rudder

peddles, I needed to remove the firewall and

everything on it!  Check for stuff like that first. 

Not everything is best done by the plans.



Kurt S.

S-5/NSI turbo

       

Get the free Yahoo! toolbar and rest assured with the added security of spyware protection.

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lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 2:04 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

Can't agree more with Kurt.  In the group that flys the back country 

togethere there are all sorts of colors.  The least visible is the silver 

with blue sunburst on the wings model IV.  Then, in my opinion comes white 

with yellow the most visible.  The silver airplane is visible above the 

horizon and gone below - sometimes within 100 yards unless included in a 

regular sweep.  Take your eyes off for a minute and gone again.



Lowell Fitt

Cameron Park, CA

Model IV-1200 R-912 UL Warp

1998 850 hrs.

---

Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 2:25 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

On Jul 1, 2007, at 12:03 AM, Lowell Fitt wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Then, in my opinion comes white with yellow the most visible.


	


Lowell and Kurt, I think I read somewhere that the US air force has 

decided that black was the best visible colour for an aircraft during 

daytime. Can you confirm that or have I just been dreaming?



Cheers,

Michel Verheughe

Norway

Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

davestapa

Joined: 13 Mar 2007
Posts: 30
Location: Woodstock, GA

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 2:56 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

Andy, I decided that on my 5 it would be difficult to install the

outboard seat belt bolts without pushing fabric out more than I wanted.

So I put a little epoxy on the bolt heads and installed before covering.

Did the same for the tailwheel bolt. Glad I did. Much easier to deal with

now.

C. David Estapa

Woodstock, Georgia

S5TD 912S  Warp Drive 

Phase 1 Testing

 	  Quote: 	
		   --- Andy Fultz <andynfultz(at)bellsouth.net> wrote:

 > Good afternoon guys.  I'm about to embark on what I

 > hope to be the final big

 > step in the build process.  I THINK I'm ready to

 > cover and paint my project.......

 > 

 > Andy Fultz

_________________
C. David Estapa
Woodstock, GA
S5TD N97DE

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:31 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

Michel,  May be true, but I have no knowledge of it.  One more thing on 

color.  When flying in a group some sort of second color highlight is 

helpful.  Occasionally we will do a roll call sort of thing and if I report 

I am off Larry's wing or I can identify Mark's location it helps the others 

know the flight's spread and it helps keep the adrenalin under control when 

we know generally where we all are.  Mark is white with two broad red 

stripes fore and aft mid wing.  Wray is yellow with a blue stripe on the 

fuselage and blue wingtips, Hal is white with green wing tips etc.



Lowell Fitt

Cameron Park, CA

Model IV-1200 R-912 UL Warp

1998 850 hrs.

---

Fox5flyer
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:08 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

Kurt, I believe the Gray Ghost was our late Mike Harter with a Model IV/Subaru who lost his life out west several years ago when he got trapped in a canyon he couldn't climb out of.

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong about this.

Deke

S5/NSI Subaru/CAP

Northeast Michigan

On Sat, 30 Jun 2007 13:41:21 -0700 (PDT), kurt schrader <smokey_bear_40220(at)yahoo.com> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 <smokey_bear_40220(at)yahoo.com>

 There was a plane known as the "Gray Ghost" a few

 years ago.  Don S. probably knows it best.  I know it

 was a bit hard to see on a cloudy day when it quietly

 slipped out of OSH.  The Soob sounded like an electric

 motor and the plane earned its name by sight and

 sound.

 If you want to be seen though, paint it to be seen.

 Kurt S.

 S-5/NSI turbo

 --- Noel Loveys <noelloveys(at)yahoo.ca> wrote:

> I can't help to wonder if any one has flown their

> plane with just the poly

> spray...  It should reflect the heat of the sun and

> be lighter than anything else.

>

> Noel

 Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check.

 Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta.

henrysfork1(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 7:08 pm Post subject: Pre Cover and Finish Thoughts?

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->  No doubt.

 [quote]   ---

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