Profi Cover 2 Covering Material
Profi Cover 2 Covering Material
Rc Giant Scale
By | [email protected]
As seen in the October 2023 issue of Model Aviation.
WELCOME BACK. The October Model Aviation is the build issue, so in the spirit of building, I happened to use a great product for the first time, Profi Cover 2, which is available from Vogelsang Aeroscale. I was also fortunate to photograph the test flight of a superbly built 1/4-scale A5M4 Claude from Jerry Bates Plans. I hope you enjoy.
A photo pass by Tony Kirchenko’s DLE-120-powered Mitsubishi A5M4 Claude shows the unusual wing shape that is similar to that of the British Spitfire.
Profi Cover 2
While working on a 105-inch wingspan Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet with an open-bay wing construction, I needed to find a suitable covering material. There are a number of polyester materials available from different sources; however, I was looking for an easy-to-use, single-step system that would accommodate a larger-chord wing. That’s where I happened upon Profi Cover 2 from Vogelsang Aeroscale.
Profi Cover 2 is a super-shrink, lightweight (.33 ounces per sq. ft.) covering that comes complete with a glue backing. At 29 inches, it is the widest iron-on fabric covering on the market, and it’s available in 5- and 10-meter rolls.
Covering the wing on the Komet was a snap. The material easily went around the curved wingtips, and the glue backing adhered nicely to the wood. I was happy with the results. Profi Cover 2 has certainly earned my recommendation.
According to the Vogelsang Aeroscale website, "Profi Cover 2 can be coated practically with every type of paint, providing the paint has a certain amount of flexibility. Two-component polyurethane paint is absolutely ideal for the purpose. For vintage models, CLOU dope is ideal. Do not use any form of filler coat or similar, as these materials become very hard and develop cracks and particles break off."
For your next large RC Giant Scale aircraft, try Profi Cover 2. The Vogelsang Aeroscale website link is listed in "Sources."
A5M4 Claude
Pictured is Tony Kirchenko, of Setauket, New York, right after the successful testflight of his Jerry Bates-designed 108-inch wingspan Mitsubishi A5M4 Claude. The Claude is powered by a DLE-120 twin cylinder, two-stroke gas engine swinging a 27 × 12 propeller.
Tony is shown with his newly completed DLE-120-powered A5M4 Claude.
The plans were purchased from Jerry Bates Plans. A short kit was purchased from Bob Holman Plans, and the cowling, canopy, and wheel pants were purchased from Vic Catalasan at VICRC.com. The fixed main landing gear is Robart #684 (625 series).
Jerry lists the dimensions as a 108-1/4-inch wingspan, a length of 74-1/2 inches, and a wing area of 2,759 sq. in. He also lists the power requirements as a Zenoah G-45 or G-62 engine; however, with such a voluminous cowling, Tony installed a DLE-120 engine. With a very short nose moment, the model could use the weight up front for balance and swing a more scalelike propeller diameter—but who complains about having more than enough power?
Tony painted the Claude with Klass Kote epoxy paint and used Red 5 Designs graphics and masks.
The Mitsubishi A5M (Type 96) entered service in early 1937, where it first saw action at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was the world’s first carrier-borne monoplane fighter.
The A5M flew against Boeing P-26C Peashooters, Curtiss Hawk IIIs, and the Polikarpov I-16, its most formidable adversary. Although it was lightly armed with only a pair of 7.7mm machine guns, it proved very effective. It could take a good deal of punishment and had excellent maneuverability.
Another pass of the Claude shows the wheel pants, the large split flaps, and the underside graphics.
The Profi Cover 2 material is cut to shape and ready to iron on.
One wing panel is covered. The ailerons are next.
The finished and covered Me 163 wing panels.
Profi Cover 2 is a full 29 inches in width and comes in both 5- and 10-meter rolls. It’s long enough and wide enough to cover the largest of models.
The A5M had an open cockpit, but initial examples were built with an enclosed cockpit, which pilots rejected. Approximately 1,094 A5M Type 96 fighters were built. In the closing months of World War II, most of the remaining Type 96 fighters were relegated to kamikaze attacks. There are no flying examples of the A5M in existence today.
SOURCES:
Jerry Bates Plans
Robart Mfg., Inc.
(630) 584-7616
Vogelsang Aeroscale
(919) 533-6275
Bob Holman Plans
(909) 885-3959
Red 5 Designs
(516) 353-8860
Klass Kote
(612) 243-1234
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