How to Cover a Model Aircraft

Model aircraft require a smooth surface for flight. For the most efficient flight, model aircraft need to be as light as possible. Because of this, whenever possible you should use a lightweight material to cover the body of your aircraft. Using tissue paper to cover the aircraft meets the requirements for both a smooth surface and a lightweight material. Application of a tissue covering is a quick process as long as you prepare the aircraft properly beforehand. You should only apply this process with wooden display models or slow moving aircraft, such as those powered by rubber bands, due to the fragility of the tissue covering.

Things You'll Need

• Balsa model aircraft
• Sandpaper
• Tissue paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Clear dope adhesive
• Paintbrush
• Water
• Mist spray bottle

Instructions

1. Sand the model surfaces where you'll attach the tissue paper using a fine-grained sandpaper to smooth and level the wood.

2. Place the model piece onto a sheet of tissue paper. Trace an area onto the paper slightly larger than the model piece, with an excess of paper half the width of the side edges of the parts.

3. Cut the tissue along the traced lines.

4. Brush a layer of the clear dope adhesive onto surface of the model wood pieces. Clear dope paint serves as an adhesive for the tissue paper, purchasable from most model hobby shops. Allow the clear dope to dry for two hours.

5. Spray the piece of tissue paper with a slight misting of water, making it damp.

6. Lay the tissue over the model part with the excess tissue overhanging the part's edge. Brush the clear dope over the tissue at all of the areas where the tissue meets the aircraft structure. Brush the overhanging tissue onto the side edges of the part. The clear dope should soak through the tissue and bind the tissue with the wood structure beneath.

7. Allow the clear dope and tissue to dry and then cover the rest of the aircraft using the same process. As the tissue dries, it will shrink to fit tightly over the aircraft's surface.

Tips & Warnings

• If painting the tissue, use the same brand of dope paint as your clear dope adhesive.

• For safety, use the clear dope only in well-ventilated areas.

References

• Mike's Flying Scale Model Pages: Covering the Flying Surfaces
• The AMA Insider: Covering Model Structures with Tissue
• PLDaniels.com: A Guide to Aircraft Covering Materials

Resources

• Airfield Models