MonoKote 101


Written by Jerry Smith Tips for covering with film Product Review As seen in the March 2019 issue of Model Aviation.

these are the tools the author
01. These are the tools the author uses to cover an airplane. Two covering irons, one for sealing and one for ironing down the covering, are used, as well as a supply of single-edge razor blades.

Throughout many years of model building, I have covered aircraft with all kinds of material. I have used nearly every kind of film covering from the very lightweight types to heavier MonoKote and UltraCote.

For larger, heavier models, I prefer MonoKote. It was the first on the scene back in the mid-1960s. I can remember going to the Toledo Show and watching Sid Axlerod of Top Flite demonstrate his newfound wonder with a crowd of modelers looking on in amazement. MonoKote and other films have changed the way we cover our models throughout the years.

It was not initially accepted by those who used silk and dope and painted their models. To them, it cheapened the model and they looked down on it, but Sid kept selling it, and in time it became a desirable covering medium.

it is important to sand
02. It is important to sand the parts well. Start with coarse sandpaper and work down to a finer grade. Use only fine-grade sandpaper on soft wood. Balsa filler is a must for uneven surfaces. Keep at it until everything is silky smooth.

Some people have become experts at covering with it. Their airplanes have no wrinkles and look as though they were painted. They achieve this with patience, learning how to use the film and how it reacts to different temperatures and, above all, sticking with it. Of course, we don’t cover models every day and it might be a long time before we do it again. For that reason, it is a good idea to keep notes to remind yourself of how you did it.

Everyone has a different approach to covering. Whatever works best for you, keep on doing it. Here is the way that I cover to get smooth, wrinkle-free surfaces. I hope you will get some tips that will help you with your covering.

Sanding the Airframe

This is where you lay the foundation for a good covering job. Joints, dings, and dents are often not filled and sanded to a level condition, creating an uneven surface. This will show through the covering. Pay close attention and make sure to do this.

I use Hobbico HobbyLite balsa-colored filler to fill dents and uneven surfaces. White won’t look as good beneath transparent covering. Sometimes during the building process, I see a need for filler and apply some to save time later while it cures. When encountering a particularly rough surface, I use a Great Planes Easy Touch sanding bar with 80-grit sandpaper.

I then go over it with 220-grit sandpaper and finish with 400-grit sandpaper. I can’t stress the sanding part enough. I typically spend more time sanding than covering. Sand, sand, and sand some more.

After the parts have been sanded, get out the vacuum and clean. Clean up the workbench and the surrounding area. Now run the vacuum over the aircraft parts and keep it handy for in-between parts covering. Removing the backing creates static electricity, attracting dirt and dust. Good housekeeping is the rule.

Plan for Covering Usage

Lay out the MonoKote roll with the back side up. Now lay your parts down and trace around them with a Magic Marker. Plan for the best usage as you go along. Trim around the outline leaving a 1-inch margin. When laying out two pieces that include the other side, flip the parts so that the glue side of the covering is against the wood. Don’t get caught with two pieces that look alike. You need opposites.

lay the part on the back
03. Lay the part on the back side of the covering and trace around it with a Magic Marker. Trim around the marking, leaving enough to grab it for arrangement.
heat your covering iron to 225
04. Heat your covering iron to 225° and have it ready for use. The author uses this type of thermometer.
vacuum the part to be sure
05. Vacuum the part to be sure it is free of dirt and dust. Pull the backing off the covering, laying it down shiny side up, and centering it on the part. Tack one end then go to the other end and pull gently and tack, following the numbers as in the photo. If one place needs more pulling, untack, pull, and then re-tack. Try for a good wrinkle-free covering, although MonoKote does have excellent shrinking qualities.

Seal the Edges

Set your iron temperature at 225°. Center the piece on the part and tack the covering at one end. Now go to the other end, pull gently, and tack it. Go to the middle and tack both sides, gently pulling the covering. After you have it arranged, seal it all the way around. Roll the iron outward away from the part as you do this.

Trimming the edges can be done with scissors or a sharp blade. I use both, as well as a Harry Higley Eversharp Trimmer for perfect overlaps and seams. The trimmer uses inexpensive razor blades. Machined from solid bar stock, the film travels in one of eight slots, which provides eight cutting edges!

Get Out the Heat Gun

After covering both sides, lay the part down on a flat surface and apply heat to the covering. Let the hot air blow over the surface, not down on it. You can control the heat by holding the gun level with the surface then tipping it upward to get more heat.

It is important to keep the heat gun moving. Spending too much time in one spot or letting it touch the covering can cause an unwanted hole to appear. At this point you should have a mirror finish on the covering and be tempted to leave it, but not yet!

Turn Up the Heat

I generally use two irons: one for sealing and one for ironing down, which is the final step in my covering process. For this purpose, I set the iron temperature at 350° with an iron sock installed.

Lay the part on a flat surface. If it is a large part such as a wing, weigh it down before ironing the covering to prevent warping. On the sheeted surfaces, lay the iron down and move it in a circular motion, ironing the covering to the wood. Do this at every place the covering meets the wood. This will keep the wrinkles out and give you a nice, tight covering job.

MonoKote Over MonoKote

Sometimes we trim our airplanes to make them look better and stand out. After the aircraft is covered with MonoKote, why not use the same material for trim? A good example is putting a stripe down the side of the fuselage. This is not a problem. Here is how I apply mine.

trim around the part so there
06. Trim around the part so there isn’t a large overlap. The author uses a Harry Higley Trimmer for perfect seam flanges. Seal it all the way around to make sure it is bonded.
the higley trimmer uses a standard
07. The Higley Trimmer uses a standard single-edge razor. The blade lasts a long time because the slots in the trimmer are not evenly spaced. When the edge becomes dull, flip the blade end for end for a new set of cutting edges. There is a learning curve to using the tool, but it works well.
lay the part on a flat
08. Lay the part on a flat surface and shrink the covering with a heat gun. Keep the heat gun moving, letting hot air blow over the covering. To apply more heat, tip the gun upward so the heat is more directly down. This way you can control the amount of heat being applied.
heat the iron to 350 install
09. Heat the iron to 350°. Install an iron sock and iron the covering down on the balsa parts, moving the iron in a circular motion. This keeps it from wrinkling in the sun and adds some strength to the airframe.
when using two colors that meet
10. When using two colors that meet, a perfect seam is imperative. Here is a good example of how well the Higley Trimmer works.
the author is proud
11. The author is proud of the Alien Arrow Master that was covered using MonoKote and the method described in the text.

First, clean the application area with alcohol, making sure it is dust free. Next, spray on a little blue Windex and push around the area with your finger. Lay the stripe in place, pushing it around to make sure it is straight.

Using a credit card as a squeegee, start from the center and move out, wiping away excess Windex with a paper towel. Keep squeegeeing until all of the moisture is gone. Heat your iron to 200°. Using an iron sock, iron it down in a circular motion and this will be a perfect job every time.

This method can be used to apply any MonoKote over MonoKote. I have not tried other types of covering with this method; however, it is likely to work as well.

There you have it. This is my way of covering using MonoKote. I have had good success with this method. I hope it gives you some ideas and will help you with your next covering job. Good luck!



SOURCES:

MonoKote

(800) 338-4639

www.monokote.com

Harry Higley and Sons, Inc.

(410) 732-3500

www.harryhigley.com

Hobbico HobbyLite Filler

(800) 637-6050

www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL482

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6 comments

Excellent article. Should be updated for today's tools (e.g. Higleyly tool no longer available.)

It looks very easy to make one of these tools out of some plywood and a blind nut to hold down the blade. The tool is genius.

great info for us just getting started.

Very good information to keep and review.

Good Covering Tips

what do you use for a sealing iron to replace the unavailable HAN101?

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