Great Planes PT-40 MkII Kit - GPMA0118 - Manual (Page 41)

Several trim options are shown on the box. You may
duplicate one of these or use them as a “starting point” to
create your own trim scheme.
Modelers who have not used iron-on coverings should
refrain from attempting complicated trim schemes. You
may add stripes, graphics and various designs to your PT.
These are cut from different colors of covering, then ironed
directly over the base color. If you are new to iron-on
coverings, try just a single color base (usually a lighter color
such as white or yellow) with perhaps a single stripe, your
AMA number, or some stick-on graphics. A simple trim
scheme will get you in the air faster and look much better
(not to mention give you fewer headaches) than a model
that was difficult to cover because of too ambitious a
trim scheme.
Make sure the structure is sanded smooth with 320-grit
sandpaper. Remove as much dust as possible from the
structure with a vacuum cleaner and a brush or a Top Flite
Tack Cloth so the covering will stick well.
Cover the aircraft with Top Flite MonoKote covering using
the sequence that follows. Make sure the MonoKote is
thoroughly stuck down and all of the edges are sealed. Use
a Top Flite MonoKote Hot Sock on your covering iron to
avoid scratching the MonoKote film and denting the wood.
EXPERT TIP EXPERT TIP EXPERT TIP
Cover the Structure
41
COVERING TECHNIQUE
You can practically eliminate wrinkles that sometimes
occur in the covering when the model is left out in the
sun or in your car by following this technique used in the
Great Planes model shop:
A. Cover your sealing iron with a Top Flite Hot Sock and
tur n the heat about 3/4 of the way to the
high setting.
C. Cut a piece of MonoKote film for the stab about 2"
larger all around. Strip off the backing and position the
film flush with the fin, over the MonoKote corner strip.
Tack the film down at the center of the stab/fin junction.
(For illustration clarity the covering pieces in these
photos are not cut 2" over size.)
D. Pull (as in stretch) the film toward edges of the stab,
sealing it to the balsa from the fin outward, the width of
your sealing iron. Work out any wrinkles and air
pockets as you proceed with a back and forth motion.
E. Stretch the MonoKote film toward the four corners,
sealing it down as you proceed. The trick is to shrink
out any wrinkles before you seal the film to the surface.
also bypasses the need to cut the MonoKote film in
these areas after it has been applied. DO NOT, under
any circumstances, attempt to cut the covering
material after it has been applied to the fin and stab,
except around the leading and trailing edges and the
tip. Modelers who do this often cut through the covering
and part-way into the balsa stab.
F. Use a heat gun or your iron with the heat turned all the
way up to heat and stretch the film around curved
surfaces like the stab and rudder tips. Pull on the excess
material while you apply the heat. You may need to pull
hard to get out all of the wrinkles, so wear a glove if you
B. When covering areas that involve sharp junctions, like
where the tail meets the fuse, apply narrow strips (3/8" to
1/2") in the corners before covering the major surfaces.
This is an area where the Top Flite Trim Seal Tool
™
really comes in handy. The larger pieces of MonoKote film
will overlap and capture these smaller pieces. This technique