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Build Thread, Page :  <<   36   37   38   39   40  [ 41 ]  42   43  (851 posts, 20 posts per page, 43 pages in total) [ < Prev ] [ Next > ]
rayl, Comment for image # 3497714 Nov 15 15:39
Sky: Read the fine print; NOT for use on aircraft (chuckle).
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3497714 Nov 15 14:25

Well guys, it finally happened. No tricks, or gimmicks. Found this can in the paint section of Wal Mart. It's actually a paint stripper, but the title got my attention. My humor for the day:: just spray it up in the air next time a plane flies overhead and see what happens.
meku, Comment for image # 3496714 Nov 15 01:13
Very good looking, super, it was worth it to do a lot of attempts.
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3496713 Nov 15 22:03

This is the final result of all my trials and experimentation. Not bad, eh? Its not as "contrasty" as the black thread I used before,. Its a bit more understated and realistic. Now the real challenge will come when I try to apply all that I've learned on the completed fuselage. Thats it for the stitching experiment. Now, I'll be working on the fuselage and doing some "slight" revising to accommodate the cockpit interior as well as alter the profile of the nose to reflect a more "boxy" squared-n appearance.
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3496613 Nov 15 21:54

If this is a repeat posting, I'm still learning how to use this thangy. I looked up The Vintage Aviator website and found some amazing colored close up photos of the S.E. 5 they restored (or built), an the side fuselage stitching appears to be a medium gray color. A quick stop at Wal Mart's fabric section netted me a nice gray colored thread that actually has a braided texture.
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3496513 Nov 15 21:48

Again, remembering the unsightly mess, I decided to use a pin dipped in Tamiya's olive drab paint to carefully further clean up any signs of frayed fabric or tiny wood chips from the balsa sheet that the Solartex is covering.
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3496413 Nov 15 21:46

After punching the new holes on the adjacent strip, I brushed off the trimmings with a stiff brush to keep things nice and tidy-like
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3496313 Nov 15 21:43

Okay guys, I think I've got it narrowed down to something workable and looks good at the same time. In this photo, you can observe that only one strip of Solartex has been pre-punched with pin holes while the other is blank. Last time, it was discovered that the strips stretch out while being laid on the fuselage side, thereby causing the holes to be rearranged out of alignment. This time, I am going to use the pre-punched strip as my guide for the plain strip.
Skyediamonds1985, Comment for image # 3494813 Nov 15 12:57
Thank you for your response John O, but the underside paper and thread are intrinsically bonded together with glue. The thread actually loops through the paper underneath as well. This means the thread sticks out of the paper on both top and bottom. To sand flat would also mean to sand off the thread as well as the paper with the results of having everything come apart (Ask me, I know... LoL). -Sky
John M Oshust, Comment for image # 3494812 Nov 15 22:07
Maybe do it this way. Allow to dry. Then sand underside flat?
John M Oshust, Comment for image # 3494912 Nov 15 22:06
Best wishes for success. Tough row to hoe! Lots of stitching, not much space! Best wishes, show us the way !
John M Oshust, Comment for image # 3494912 Nov 15 22:05
Best wishes for success. Tough row to hoe! Lots of stitching, not much space! Best wishes, show us the way !
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3495012 Nov 15 21:33

Sorry guys, still learning how to upload images. I used a pin vice to drill the covering and wood backing to help me thread the stitching. It was at this point, since I knew I was stitching directly onto the fuselage, that I will leave the entire bottom of the fuselage uncovered to allow me access to the interior for the stitching. Once everything is done, II will cover the bottom of the fuselage and seal everything inside. That's it for now. Thanks guys . sky
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3494912 Nov 15 21:29

a pin vice to help me penetrate the wood. During the actual covering and finishing of the fuselage, I'll leave the entire bottom of the fuselage uncov
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3494812 Nov 15 21:25

You can easily see gluing the whole thing wasn't the solution..... Only one option left, just simply stitch the Solarte4x and thread directly to (and thru the wood too) fuselage.
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3494712 Nov 15 21:22

Problem with the sticky paper was that after threading the Solartex film, when I tried to pull it off, the threads came apart. Only option was to try to simply leave the threads and covering on the paper and glue to whole thing to the fuselage.
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3494612 Nov 15 21:19

Here is a really good example of what was happening as I tried to loop the needle back through the paper and covering. You can easily see how the previous threads were pulled apart and distorted. So, I figured the next best thing would be to use sticky paper to help hold things down.
John M Oshust, Comment for image # 3494412 Nov 15 20:50
Wonderful labor intensive. Bravo!
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3494512 Nov 15 20:50

I initially laid out some strips of Solartex on a piece of paper and tried to stitch them together. Thinking that I could simply glue on the results to the fuselage. As it turned out, each time I threaded the needle, the covering would move around or the thread would distort and stretch. If you zoom up, you can easily see the inconsistency of the stitching.
Skyediamonds1985, Image # 3494412 Nov 15 20:45

Well, to make a long story of my trials and tribulations short, I think I've got it. This stitching was done on my "faux" sample fuselage to practice my craft. I encourage you to zoom up and you can see the slight imperfections as a result of my learning. I'll show you just a couple of extra pictures of some of my mistakes that finally led up to where I am now.
Build Thread, Page :  <<   36   37   38   39   40  [ 41 ]  42   43  (851 posts, 20 posts per page, 43 pages in total) [ < Prev ] [ Next > ]