We're going to have our first club meeting online, in about a week or so. We'll be using the ZOOM app, so download it onto your iphone or ipad, or any suitable/compatible computer that has a camera.
The topic of the meeting will be 'covering balsa models with heat activated film'.
I will do the presentation, followed by discussion.
Athol will be collecting email addresses of those that want to watch and participate.
Please send him your email addresses, and mention that you want to participate:
[email protected]A Tickler (club newsletter) will be emailed out with some details, and then a day/time will be confirmed.
We are going to have an online ZOOM meeting!
Several TEMAC members have asked for an official online meeting, with the ZOOM app (for iPhone, iPad, etc.). There have been specific requests for a presentation on covering balsa models with heat-shrink plastic film. I'm thinking that it be held 7pm on Wednesday April 22, but we can discuss this on the TEMAC Forum website.
If you want to participate, the ZOOM app requires that you be invited to the conversation, so please send your email address to:
[email protected]Of course, download the app onto your device. When we do have the meeting on ZOOM, you'll need to indicate that you're using video and audio. If you have any questions, ask on the TEMAC Forum website.
Also, please submit questions regarding covering your models on the website.
Everyone that sent Athol an invitation request should have received it. If not, it's possible that he might have missed it. Please resend your request and he'll send you the invitation as soon as possible. If anyone has not yet requested an invitation, there is still time, up to end of day on Tuesday 21st. [email protected]
Things will get better in a few weeks, and if protocol allows, we will likely be flying at the field again. Please make sure your membership is paid up for 2020. We do not want to collect cheques and cash at the field. Please make an email-money-transfer to: [email protected]
The purpose of the online meeting is twofold.
First, and most important, it is a venue for us to maintain the social relationships we have as a club. Hopefully, the meeting will go smoothly, and maybe be a bit funny and entertaining.
Second, it will be informative, but mostly to beginner builders. It is aimed at modellers who are considering covering their first balsa model airplane with heat shrink covering. Please participate, even if you are an expert builder, because there's always a tip or two that you could potentially use.
I will give a few tips and ideas regarding covering, and then I will cover the the two items shown in the image: a wing section with a carved wing tip, and a stabilizer with rounded front and sides, and square back.
The format of the meeting will be as follows: I will run the meeting exclusively for the first 15 or 20 minutes, preferably with no other input from anyone, essentially to keep it running smoothly. I know many of you will have other ideas and techniques you'd like to share, but in the interest of order, we'll hold that dialogue until after I finish covering the 2 pieces.
Sorry guys, it's after 7 and I haven't received Athol's invitation to the ZOOM meeting. I'm still waiting.
Well, I think that went very well. I really hope you all enjoyed it.
A big thanks to Athol for organizing!
The presentation was very good and I learned a lot. Thanks Michael
As the next topic may I suggest power systems. I have been following the builds and have noticed that the rational for the power system has not been posted. I know there are online calculators but I would like to learn the steps of putting together an appropriate power system for a given model. Where to begin and the reasons for each choice along the way.
This may be a tall order for one meeting so I am fine with a series.
Hope this is a topic of interest for all.
That's a good idea, George. We have had presentations on that subject in the past, but it was years ago.
Anyone else interested?
Thanks Michael - Great presentation!
Power systems is an excellent idea
Thanks for organizing and hosting the meeting Athol.
Thanks for the covering demonstration Michael. As you had indicated in the offering, some of us may learn something new and helpful, which I did.
What I learned was the most obvious and simple solution to my corner folds that I had never thought of before.
I had always just slit the covering at a 45 degree angle from the corner. Usually 1 out of 4 of my folds didn't come out in the desired quality.
In the future I will cut the corner material away as demonstrated and the fold quality should end up improving it to 4 out of 4.
Thanks again guys. It was great to see everyone.
PS (My apologies for the dome shine.) I even learned how to set the lighting for the next zoom meeting I will be attending. Yes old dogs can be taught new tricks. Sit!
Thank you Athol for Zooming and Michael for the presentation.
I've learned new tips in the covering techniques. Not sure when I will be able to apply these. ;)
It was nice to meet everybody in the virtual space.
Super presentation Michael, especially your surgically clean work bench. I can't wait to see the maiden flight of your wing segment! ;D
Special thanks to all the attendees whose up close and personal facial expressions really enhanced Michael's presentation.
Great job by Athol containing extraneous noise from participants. And congrats to BJ on his superb studio lighting.
Be well guys!
Andy H
I have just completed my first attempts at covering.
As you can see I'm having trouble with the intial point of contact. I suspect too hot.
I was able to make the wing tip a little better after spending some time smoothing out with the iron
Hopefully the other half of the wing comes out better
@msatin Mark, for your first go, it looks great!
Much of the remaining areas that are not tight can be readily eliminated with a little patience. I have a smaller iron that I use for just such touch up shrink jobs. The small shoe of the iron concentrates the heat only on the desired area you wish to tighten up and doesn't further shrink the area previously shrunk (if that makes sense). I will be happy to lend it to you if you desire to use it.
I can see why you had some difficulties with the wing tip. The wing tip doesn't appear to be the same type Michael had covered in his demonstration. The wing tip can also be improved if you like by replacing that area with new covering and ensuring that only the covering is tacked down at the ends of the wing tip and on the rib. In this instance to shrink the covering the iron has to kept off of the covering to avoid pushing down on it and inadvertently tacking it down on the flat wingtip piece. (I am surprised there weren't a couple of small pieces of balsa flaring out from the rib to the end of the wingtip to help shape the covering in this regard.)
Great job.
Thanks for the offer and the feedback Bruce.
The extreme shrinkage (dang I hate that term ;)) occurred immediately while tacking down the corner. That's why i susepct the iron was too hot
I only ended up pressing down little while trying to fix it.
You've given me an idea however.
Perhaps I will pleace a former or 2 in the end cap to help retain its shape on the uncovered side. If the comes out better I will try to redo the bad side.
Wing is now covered (except for small center section)
A few of lessons learned - from a newbie persepctive :)
-Not always necessary to cover entire section with 1 piece of film. For the top of the wing I did the end caps first with one peice, and that came out much better
-At first, I was moving the iron around quite a bit - concerned about melting the film. After a while, I learned to keep the iron in one place for a little longer, to allow more time for the adhesive to work, and the shrinkage to occur
-I found the heat gun to be very effective in larger areas where there were no spars. Low setting from far, and slowly bring the gun closer. As with the iron, hover over an area until you see the shrinking occur. It sometimes longer than in other areas.
Still a long way to go, but a respectable 1st effort.
Next is the fusealage
I think that looks great... can't wait to see it on the field. Nicely done!
Mark,
Great first effort. Surely it passes the new 50/50/50 rule*.
Now see how good it feels to have built your own plane.
Frank
* Fifty bucks if you can see a covering mistake at 50 feet and 50 km/hr. 8)
Sheesh... I thought I only had to worry about 50 feet up and 50 feet out. Now, in addition, I have to fly at 50kph so I won't see all my mistakes???
In real numbers that's 31mph. I think we should only have to pick one metric..
Except for a few tweaks (that I will request in-person suggestions for) the StevensAero Shaft is finished. Everything is working - whether it will fly and stay in the air is another story. ;D
Thanks to Michael, Bruce and of course Frank, for their suggestions and help.
A few quick notes:
1-I did find the heat gun quite helpful - especially in areas where there aren't a many contact points. The heat gun shrunk the covering without touching it. Seemed to make the area more uniformly taut.
2-I have a sock on my iron. Seemed to allow the iron to glide more smoothly over the covering. Unfortunately the pointed end of the sock tore, which at first I was annoyed with. But quickly realized that I now had an iron with essentially 2 heat settings. One setting where the sock remained, the other where it was torn. 8). It actually worked very well this way
3-followed Frank's post regarding retrofitting a film hinge, and although did not come out as neat as I would have liked, they do work fine.
Beatuiful. It'll fly... and fly well, I'd bet.
It will fly just fine.
Looks good. More than good enough for the 50/50 rule. ;)
Mark, see how good it feels to have built your own plane. Wait 'till you see it fly for the first time. 8)
Frank
That's great Mark. Looks fantastic.
Now that you have started. You won't be afraid to tackle many, many, many more! The achievement of building is just one kind of success. Next is to have fun flying it (them).
Fantastic, Mark!
I hope you enjoyed the process along the way and are already thinking about the next build.
I think you'll find the stress level of the first flight of your own build will be higher than usual, but the greater excitement and sense of accomplishment will be experienced seconds after take-off.
Congratulations!
Robert
Thanks Gents.
Regardless of how it flies, I did enjoy the process
My workbench has been cleaned, and is ready for the next one.
Another easy build. If I enjoy that one also, I will move onto something a little harder
Nice airplane, and a nice covering job; certainly way better than my first covering.
Thanks Michael - Your tutorial was really helpful!