Bryan Tucker Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Hello fellow JP builders. I am nearing completion of my JP, but have a problem. I am trying to Solarfilm the tip tanks. They are so small and all compound curves and they have defeated me so far!. Does anybody have any tips? Do I use a single piece of film? 2 pieces of film or a load of strips? I've been trying to use a single piece of film with a temperature controlled filming iron but just burn my fingers and get a creased mess and then have to tear the film off and start again. Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Really stretching and working the film is the usual way with compound curves Bryan. Are then already on wing? If not can you drill them and fit a spigot? You could then hold that in a vice so you can really "get at it" and pull the film. Then cut the spigot off flush. Just a thought! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Tucker Posted May 12, 2014 Author Share Posted May 12, 2014 Hi BEB thanks for your reply. My tips are not mounted on the wings. Do you think I should try covering them using 2 pieces - like top and bottom? rather than a single wrap around piece of film. Bryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Personally I'd go for two pieces - but not top and bottom! Start by putting a smallish piece on the inside face covering to about 1/3 up - so no real problem with the compound curve there. Then add the spigot to that face and move to the outside. Tack down the film here along the centre outer surface line. Once this is anchored start simultaineously pulling and heating to draw the film round the compound curves and downward. The aim is to meet up with the bit you have done underneath. The only way to avoid creases here is to stretch the film. There used to be a really good video on the Solarfilm website showing how to cover a wingtip with double curvature - a very similar shape to the one you are dealing with. I don't know if its still there? BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 The trick is to pull the solarfilm over the curve and away from the wood, and whilst stretched out place the iron up against the film so it takes out the creases whilst the film is in air, not on the wood, once it is hot and pliable the film can then be pulled down firm over the tip tank curve and you can iron it down without creases... then you move round a bit more and repeat the method. It is incremental, it is tricky, but it does work. Ive done my second pair today, I ended up using 4 strips per tip tank, as curving it round more than 90degrees was proving tough without creases... You WILL get use to having burnt fingers... mine are battered after todays ironing and heat gunning too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill_B Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 I know the tip tanks are relatively small on the Provost, but I've had success on wing tips by employing the use of another pair of hands and a heat gun. I would initially iron down the main wing panel and then get a mate to pull the film over the wing tip as tightly as he could whilst I carefully wafted the heat gun over it. Great care is need, but the result is spot on. Edited By Bill_B on 12/05/2014 07:44:03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Tucker Posted May 12, 2014 Author Share Posted May 12, 2014 Thank you all for your suggestions. I think that as you say, I need another pair of hands to help or a spigot to fix the tip tank whilst I work. I'll try 2 pieces of film too and just try harder!! Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Blake 1 Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Solarfilm do paints to match thier covering and I would find that the easier way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Blackburn Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 On the original model, I had three pieces of Profilm on each tank, initially well oversize so that it could be trimmed in situ when it had got to the limit of its shrinkage, and that worked OK - but you have to know what temperature the iron is, and you have to stretch the film around corners as described by Phil using an iron temperature right at the top of the heat range - if you're pulling the film whilst it's being heated up, you can feel it "give" slightly when it gets to the right temperature (it goes a bit plastic) and at that point you can pull it some more to store up a bit of stretch that will be used up when you apply the iron again. If using Solarfilm, I'd personally go with 4 pieces of film rather than 2. Also, I had the iron in a vice - call it cheating, if you like, but it was either that or get the Minister for Home Affairs to hold the iron... I'm planning (=hoping) to start covering later this week, I'll post some pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Tucker Posted May 12, 2014 Author Share Posted May 12, 2014 Thanks, I am using solar film. I will give it a shot with 4 pieces and the brilliant idea of putting the iron in a vice - that might be the answer to the extra hand that I haven't got!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Tucker Posted May 12, 2014 Author Share Posted May 12, 2014 Thank you Malcolm Blake for suggesting the paint. I'm going to try with film tonight using the advice above. It that fails my skills I'll think about the paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 take your time, use 3 or 4 pieces of film, run the iron along a straight line from nose to tail then work the film either side of that anchor point as described above - you'll get there!! Heres a photo of the second pair I've just finished this weekend - each used 4 pieces of solarfilm, a high heat on the iron, a lot of pulling and stretching, then cut off clean when you can work the peiece no more and iron down the edge without wrinkles...finish off with the heat gun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Tucker Posted May 12, 2014 Author Share Posted May 12, 2014 Hi Phil, you've made an excellent job of your tip tanks. I have managed to cover 1 of my tanks tonight using 3 strips of solarfilm with my iron set at 123 degC. I couldn't cope with iron in a vice but I managed by wearing a pair of shorts so that I could grip the tank between my knees and hold it firmly enough for me to iron with one hand and stretch the film with my other. I've got nowhere near your standard of finish but I am happy with my result - it will look fine in the air, which is where I like my models to be. Thanks to everyone who contributed to help me through. See you all on June 1st. Bryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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