How to Cover a Model Plane With Tissue

Finish your model plane.

Covering your model plane with tissue paper will make your plane unique and authentic-looking. The process requires some special materials, such as an adhesive called dope and a compatible thinner to create a glue mixture for the tissue. The process itself is simple, but it requires careful preparation and adherence to the steps, otherwise your model could come out looking blotchy or patchy. If the steps are followed carefully, your model plane can be admired by enthusiasts for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• 50/50 mixture of nitrate dope and thinner
• Balsarite for film and thinner
• Fine sandpaper
• Rounded artist's brush
• Tissue paper
• Scissors
• Wet rag
• Covering iron

Instructions

1. Coat the parts to be covered in a 50/50 mixture of nitrate dope and its thinner. Let the coat dry and sand the parts lightly. Repeat the process two more times and check to make sure the wood has a slight shine to it.

2. Add thinner to your Balsarite until it is the consistency of your dope. Brush a single coat of the Balsarite around the edges of the more curvy parts you want to cover to make the tissue stick better.

3. Place the tissue on the adhesive and carefully spread the tissue with your fingers. Smooth out wrinkles, but don't stretch the tissue. Trim away any excess with scissors.

4. Use a wet rag to carefully wet the tissue. Allow the water to dry and shrink the tissue. Smooth away any wrinkles with a covering iron set to medium heat.

5. Brush a few coats of the thinned nitrate mixture over the tissue to seal it to the model. Repeat these steps on other parts of your plane that need to be covered.

Tips & Warnings

• Brush the thinned nitrate mixture thoroughly on every inch of the model that will be covered with tissue or the model will look blotchy.

References

• RC Groups: Covering Balsa Models with Tissue