newbie- small holes in film

All of the above.

Depends on how fussy you are - but a patch of some of the self-adhesive "Solarfilm" used for "decals"/stripes or just some sticky tape if it's an electric (no fuel problem). You won't be able to see it when it's flying.

Depends on how good you want the plane to look. 1. You can replace the whole piece. 2. You can cut small patches of the same color and iron them over the holes. 3. You can use "100 mph" tape (clear packing tape) over the holes. Dr.1 Driver "There's a Hun in the sun!"

Holes this small can be repaired by lifting any depressed section with an Xacto knife to get it level with the surface and applying a bead of medium cyanoacrylate (Super Glue) along the crack. It will be almost invisible when cured.

If you mess it up performing the above, your best bet is to seal the area around the hole by ironing down the film to the surrounding framework. Cut the section out, and construct a patch just slightly larger than is needed Carefully iron down the longest edge, just overlapping the rib or sheeting. Stretch the patch to the opposite side, and iron down all but the area closest to the edge. Stretch the remaining ends into place and iron them down. Trim any excess, and shrink the patch with your heat gun or iron. If done properly, the seams will be almost invisible.

Jim - AMA 501383

sno> Hey guys,

Just get a hole puncher from stationary store or your office and punch 2 holes of self stick vinyl.

Cut two small patches of covering about 1/4" larger than the holes all the way around.

Clean the surface well.

Attach the patches with a covering iron.

Make sure your patches are rounded on the leading edges, stick them down well, and they'll last as long as the plane.

Don't ask me how I know so much about patching holes. :o(

Marty

You can either patch with small pieces of heat covering, replace the entire section (if looks are that important to you) or just stick on some clear 3M tape. All methods work. The patch idea would be best in my opinion if looks are not important. If its a trainer, you will probably be adding more patches anyway!

Do you know what kind of film it is? Small holes in Monocote and Ultracoat(Oracover) can usually be patched by cutting a patch about 3 times the diameter of the hole and carefully ironing it on. The idea is to make it stick without shrinking. Once it is attached, shrink as you normally would.

If it is a solid surface with covering over it, you can patch any size hole with a patch a little larger than the missing covering.

For a temporary repair, use clear packing tape. I have seen these "temporary" repairs last for a couple of years, although the sun and fuel will degrade the tape and the adhesive.

A ragged tear or large hole is best patched by replacing the bay (the area between two ribs.) Iron down the existing covering around the outside of the bay so it will stay in place. Cut out the bay, leaving about 1/8 inch of the original covering. Cut slits into the corners so that the 1/8 inch border can be folded down into the bay. I usually iron this edge to the ribs, spars and trailing edges inside the hole. Cut new covering about 1/4 inch bigger than the panel all around. Tack at one corner, stretch the opposite corner and tack it, then stretch and tack the other two corners. (I use a Cool Hand, a glove made for working next to hot irons to help stretch it.) Iron the edge down all the way around, then use a heat gun to shrink out the wrinkles.

None of the above applies to the slow flyers - I have never flown one.

-- Mike Norton

Clean the area first then use Scotch tape (the old shiny style).