For a tough, cost effective covering that paints beautifully and is reasonably simple
to do, we suggest the brown paper method, cheap and thin paper is best, about the
consistency of christmas wrapping.
Cut each panel oversize, and coat the matt side with PVA glue1. Let the paper
‘grow’ for about 30 seconds and then lay it on the surface to be covered,
smoothing with your hands. Using a medium hot iron, iron from the centre out
towards the edges. As PVA is heat reactive, this step of the process is a lot like film
covering. You will find it will go round quite convex shapes. Continue until all the
surfaces are covered.
Allow 12 hours to dry then give it a coat of diluted non-shrinking dope [dilute with
30% cellulose thinners] followed by a light sanding with flour grade wet and dry.
You will need acrylic aerosols of white primer, grey primer, and matt black2. These
types of paint go on very dry and are reasonably durable in their own right3
The white primer is for all of the underside and the invasion stripe areas [see plan]
on the top surface. When dry, mask off the invasion stripe areas4 and then grey
primer the remainder of the upper surfaces.
HINTS & TIPS
1 Dilute the PVA glue by about 10-15% with
water
2 Halfords [the car store] acrylic primers
are excellent for this purpose
3 Paint adds unwanted weight - always use
the minimum amount possible
4 The invasion stripes are approx 10” wide
on each wing and fuselage
The grey primer covers really well and should be used as the primer for the areas
that will ultimately be green or grey.
We used Humbrol enamels for the remaining colours. The Green is “Dark Green”
No 116, the two greys being “Ocean Grey” No 106 and “Medium Sea Grey” No 165
underneath.
Although the cans are very small1, the colour is very accurate, and it does mean
that should you need to touch up your plane in the future, colours will match. We
would expect to use two tins of each colour if airbrushing.
Now pull the masking off of the invasion stripe area and using two inch masking
tape spray on the black stripes with the remaining aerosol.
Once the main colours are dry, lightly rub off any dust with a sheet of plain paper,
and add the decals2. You can add panel lines with an indelible felt tip pen and the
impression of wear with a dry brush of silver. Pastel chalks are very effective for
shading and have the advantage of being removable should you make a mistake.
Finally, fuel proof the whole plane3.
HINTS & TIPS
1 Thinning the enamel using cellulose
thinners will cover more area with less
weight. Consistency of creamy milk is ideal if
airbrushing
2 You will find that one drip of liquid soap in
a saucer will provide a good lubricant to the
surface while you position each decal
3 Although a satin finish is what we want,
gloss fuel proofer is the most resistant, which
we use in very vulnerable areas. Be warned,
some dedicated fuel proofers can curl up the
edges of decals
Covering & painting
Covering & painting