In my last column, I related some of
the trials and tribulations associated
with rebuilding and refi nishing
my Crossfi re Extreme. Not only
did I complete the project, but the
resurrected model fl ew even better than
it had before the redo; it performed so
well that I captured a third-place fi nish
in the Open division in CL Aerobatics at
the 2012 Nats. I’m pleased with that!
I left off last time discussing the
ChromaSeal product that goes on after
the three-part auto body primer has
been sanded. ChromaSeal adheres well
to the airframe and it also grips to the
top coats of the ChromaBase paint.
This eliminates a tendency for the tape
to pull up the substrate during the
trimming process.
Sand as much of the ChromaSeal
off of the model as possible, leaving
only a thin coat of it in place to avoid
unnecessary weight on the model.
A minimal amount of white
ChromaBase paint was required to
cover the ChromaSeal on the Crossfi re
Extreme. I used the white-tinted
ChromaSeal. It also comes in light
and dark gray. After the ChromaBase
white had dried for 24 hours,
I scuffed the surface using
a 3M Ultra Fine Scotch-
Brite Pad. Don’t omit this
step if you plan to use the
ChromaBase system; the trim
colors won’t adhere properly
to the basecoat if you do not
properly scuff it.
Buddy Wieder discovered
this the hard way on his new
Ryan’s Eagle. He forgot to
scuff the basecoats of color.
When he shot on the trim,
it pulled up in large sheets
when he removed the tape.
He remasked and repainted
at the 11th hour, scuffi ng the
surface of the model as he
proceeded. He fi nally shot the
trim successfully, and he was
rewarded at the Nats with 18
points in appearance.
After I had the basecoat of
color shot and scuffed on the
Crossfi re Extreme, it was time to apply
the trim colors. I didn’t use copper,
bronze, or metallic brown in my trim
scheme for perhaps the fi rst time in
nearly 40 years! I instead used a color
scheme that I’d been considering for a
few years.
Several years ago, I fl ew an EU-1A
in Advanced RC Pattern at the Nats.
That model was used in the Flying
Models series, “Project Pattern.” Dean
Pappas and I joined forces in the
1980s to construct, fi nish, and trim a
representative fi berglass and foam RC
Pattern model, and then report on the
build in a step-by-step series.
That aircraft was painted in the U.S.
Air Force Thunderbirds show team
scheme, and it showed up well in the
air. I have always wanted to put that
scheme on a CL Aerobatics model and
I wanted to show my patriotism, so a
red, white, and blue scheme seemed
appropriate.
I decided that the Thunderbird
design could be modifi ed and maybe
even enhanced, so I came up with a
Sina worked with Bob to achieve the
Cross re Extreme’s Thunderbird 3000
look that Bob had envisioned.
Sina Goudarzi captured the outline of the top and side
views of the Cross re Extreme from Bob Kruger’s CAD
plans, allowing the author to try preliminary ideas for a
new trim scheme.
scheme I call the Thunderbird 3000, extrapolating what that scheme might look like in the year 3000. I’m fairly good at designing and laying out straight-line paint schemes, but this required some fancy curves and elegant graphics to capture the look I was after. It was beyond the scope of my artistic and graphic abilities.
I have come to know and admire a New York-based CL Stunt flier named Sina Goudarzi. Sina has helped some of the East Coast fliers with trim schemes. His schemes are beautiful and show an understanding of shape and form that is refreshing and original. I called Sina to see if he would be willing to help me with my trim scheme. He jumped at the chance to help me flesh out the T-Bird 3000 idea.
Sina asked me to provide him with an accurate drawing of the airplane’s top and side view. Bob Kruger made a CAD drawing of the Crossfire Extreme because I’ve had so many plans requests. Bob sent me a copy of the drawing and I forwarded it to Sina.
Sina developed a worksheet that had the top and side views of the airplane. He silhouetted the drawings against a toned background and then sent me that file so that I could print several and use them to make some preliminary sketches of the trim scheme I was considering.
From my rough sketches, Sina began fleshing out his interpretation of my trim scheme ideas. He bombarded me with potential schemes, and they all looked great! The hardest part was settling on one.
I worked with Sina over the telephone. He is so quick at working with his graphics program that I could ask him to change an element of the scheme and I would receive an updated version to review via email in seconds!
Sina provided me with an outline of what programs he uses and how he proceeds with his ideas.
Sina’s Procedure
“There are many softwares which could be utilized for this purpose. My choice is Adobe Illustrator and the process is as follows:
“1. Draw an outline of the side and top view of the plane (this could be done based on plans, PDF, JPG, or a camera shot of the actual plane moderately with zero angle of the camera).
“2. Duplicate the layer, unite the drawing by using pathfinder, and reverse the outline and create a mask for the entire page. (I usually fill the mask with an off-white color; later the white color could be viewed easier.)
“3. Lock the two mask and drawing layers as top layers.
“4. Create new layers and then begin applying color trims of choice.
“5. After getting close to finals, create a layer for typography only (this way different type treatments could be viewed in different layers).
“I normally create everything based on a letter-size page and convert it to PDF so it could be printed on any home printer. I create one layer per design; thus there are many layers on the file, so each design is never mixed or combined by the others. If there is a need for actual size drawing output, this could be easily done by measuring the actual model and enlarging the entire file to the size.
“Also, since Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based program, any design and typography could be easily adapted for a mask/vinyl cutter in a second.”
I must have driven Sina nuts with my requests for changes and updates, because he packed his computer and came to my home in Pennsylvania so that we could spend a day working together to come up with the exact look I was seeking. We found it, too!
I was so short on time to get this airplane ready for the Nats that I did not include all the features that Sina and I worked up for the trim scheme. I had to forego the stylized Thunderbird on the bottom of the wing and the creative Crossfire Extreme logo that he worked up for the top of the right wing panel and each side of the fin. I also skipped the stars and the panel lines.
Sina suggested that we get shirts made up with the Crossfire logo, but that too fell victim to the time crunch. Even with the abbreviated scheme, I received many compliments on the new scheme.
I sent a photo of the finished model to Phil Granderson who provided the computer-cut paint masks for the letters and numbers. Phil told me that he was coming to the Nats to protest the model because it was obvious to him that I didn’t build or paint it!
My two new Crossfire Extreme
Bob ran out of time to apply all of the elements that Sina had designed for the paint scheme, but the resulting model still placed well in Appearance Point judging at the Nats.
models that are under construction will
have the full scheme in place. Sina and
I worked too hard and long on it not to
see it completed on a model or two.
I hope I’ve whetted your appetite for
an equally creative scheme for your new
airplane, so let me leak some good news.
Sina is going to start doing his magic
commercially! You can take advantage
of Sina’s talents and have him design the
trim scheme of your dreams.
I don’t have the price schedule for his
work, but you can contact him via the
email listed in “Sources” to find out what
is required and what it will cost.
Sina has been flying CL since
2000 and is a regular at the Flushing
Meadows field in Queens, New York,
where he flies with Jose Modesto, Will
DeMauro, and Bob Lampione. He
worked as an art director specializing
in branding and identity systems,
publication design, and typography. He
is also an information architect (strategic
planning and conceptual design).
Sina has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in
graphic design from the Minneapolis
College of Art and Design, and also has
a master’s in arts politics from New York
University. Beyond that, he’s one of the
nicest people you will ever meet!
My thanks go out to Sina for his
involvement, his patience, and his
friendship. You will be hearing more
from him in the future.
Till next time, fly Stunt!
SOURCES:
Sina Goudarzi
[email protected]
DuPont ChromaSystems Paints
http://pc.dupont.com
Scotch Brand
(800) 328-6276
www.scotchbrand.com
Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association
www.control-line.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/11
Page Numbers: 129,130,131
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/11
Page Numbers: 129,130,131
In my last column, I related some of
the trials and tribulations associated
with rebuilding and refi nishing
my Crossfi re Extreme. Not only
did I complete the project, but the
resurrected model fl ew even better than
it had before the redo; it performed so
well that I captured a third-place fi nish
in the Open division in CL Aerobatics at
the 2012 Nats. I’m pleased with that!
I left off last time discussing the
ChromaSeal product that goes on after
the three-part auto body primer has
been sanded. ChromaSeal adheres well
to the airframe and it also grips to the
top coats of the ChromaBase paint.
This eliminates a tendency for the tape
to pull up the substrate during the
trimming process.
Sand as much of the ChromaSeal
off of the model as possible, leaving
only a thin coat of it in place to avoid
unnecessary weight on the model.
A minimal amount of white
ChromaBase paint was required to
cover the ChromaSeal on the Crossfi re
Extreme. I used the white-tinted
ChromaSeal. It also comes in light
and dark gray. After the ChromaBase
white had dried for 24 hours,
I scuffed the surface using
a 3M Ultra Fine Scotch-
Brite Pad. Don’t omit this
step if you plan to use the
ChromaBase system; the trim
colors won’t adhere properly
to the basecoat if you do not
properly scuff it.
Buddy Wieder discovered
this the hard way on his new
Ryan’s Eagle. He forgot to
scuff the basecoats of color.
When he shot on the trim,
it pulled up in large sheets
when he removed the tape.
He remasked and repainted
at the 11th hour, scuffi ng the
surface of the model as he
proceeded. He fi nally shot the
trim successfully, and he was
rewarded at the Nats with 18
points in appearance.
After I had the basecoat of
color shot and scuffed on the
Crossfi re Extreme, it was time to apply
the trim colors. I didn’t use copper,
bronze, or metallic brown in my trim
scheme for perhaps the fi rst time in
nearly 40 years! I instead used a color
scheme that I’d been considering for a
few years.
Several years ago, I fl ew an EU-1A
in Advanced RC Pattern at the Nats.
That model was used in the Flying
Models series, “Project Pattern.” Dean
Pappas and I joined forces in the
1980s to construct, fi nish, and trim a
representative fi berglass and foam RC
Pattern model, and then report on the
build in a step-by-step series.
That aircraft was painted in the U.S.
Air Force Thunderbirds show team
scheme, and it showed up well in the
air. I have always wanted to put that
scheme on a CL Aerobatics model and
I wanted to show my patriotism, so a
red, white, and blue scheme seemed
appropriate.
I decided that the Thunderbird
design could be modifi ed and maybe
even enhanced, so I came up with a
Sina worked with Bob to achieve the
Cross re Extreme’s Thunderbird 3000
look that Bob had envisioned.
Sina Goudarzi captured the outline of the top and side
views of the Cross re Extreme from Bob Kruger’s CAD
plans, allowing the author to try preliminary ideas for a
new trim scheme.
scheme I call the Thunderbird 3000, extrapolating what that scheme might look like in the year 3000. I’m fairly good at designing and laying out straight-line paint schemes, but this required some fancy curves and elegant graphics to capture the look I was after. It was beyond the scope of my artistic and graphic abilities.
I have come to know and admire a New York-based CL Stunt flier named Sina Goudarzi. Sina has helped some of the East Coast fliers with trim schemes. His schemes are beautiful and show an understanding of shape and form that is refreshing and original. I called Sina to see if he would be willing to help me with my trim scheme. He jumped at the chance to help me flesh out the T-Bird 3000 idea.
Sina asked me to provide him with an accurate drawing of the airplane’s top and side view. Bob Kruger made a CAD drawing of the Crossfire Extreme because I’ve had so many plans requests. Bob sent me a copy of the drawing and I forwarded it to Sina.
Sina developed a worksheet that had the top and side views of the airplane. He silhouetted the drawings against a toned background and then sent me that file so that I could print several and use them to make some preliminary sketches of the trim scheme I was considering.
From my rough sketches, Sina began fleshing out his interpretation of my trim scheme ideas. He bombarded me with potential schemes, and they all looked great! The hardest part was settling on one.
I worked with Sina over the telephone. He is so quick at working with his graphics program that I could ask him to change an element of the scheme and I would receive an updated version to review via email in seconds!
Sina provided me with an outline of what programs he uses and how he proceeds with his ideas.
Sina’s Procedure
“There are many softwares which could be utilized for this purpose. My choice is Adobe Illustrator and the process is as follows:
“1. Draw an outline of the side and top view of the plane (this could be done based on plans, PDF, JPG, or a camera shot of the actual plane moderately with zero angle of the camera).
“2. Duplicate the layer, unite the drawing by using pathfinder, and reverse the outline and create a mask for the entire page. (I usually fill the mask with an off-white color; later the white color could be viewed easier.)
“3. Lock the two mask and drawing layers as top layers.
“4. Create new layers and then begin applying color trims of choice.
“5. After getting close to finals, create a layer for typography only (this way different type treatments could be viewed in different layers).
“I normally create everything based on a letter-size page and convert it to PDF so it could be printed on any home printer. I create one layer per design; thus there are many layers on the file, so each design is never mixed or combined by the others. If there is a need for actual size drawing output, this could be easily done by measuring the actual model and enlarging the entire file to the size.
“Also, since Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based program, any design and typography could be easily adapted for a mask/vinyl cutter in a second.”
I must have driven Sina nuts with my requests for changes and updates, because he packed his computer and came to my home in Pennsylvania so that we could spend a day working together to come up with the exact look I was seeking. We found it, too!
I was so short on time to get this airplane ready for the Nats that I did not include all the features that Sina and I worked up for the trim scheme. I had to forego the stylized Thunderbird on the bottom of the wing and the creative Crossfire Extreme logo that he worked up for the top of the right wing panel and each side of the fin. I also skipped the stars and the panel lines.
Sina suggested that we get shirts made up with the Crossfire logo, but that too fell victim to the time crunch. Even with the abbreviated scheme, I received many compliments on the new scheme.
I sent a photo of the finished model to Phil Granderson who provided the computer-cut paint masks for the letters and numbers. Phil told me that he was coming to the Nats to protest the model because it was obvious to him that I didn’t build or paint it!
My two new Crossfire Extreme
Bob ran out of time to apply all of the elements that Sina had designed for the paint scheme, but the resulting model still placed well in Appearance Point judging at the Nats.
models that are under construction will
have the full scheme in place. Sina and
I worked too hard and long on it not to
see it completed on a model or two.
I hope I’ve whetted your appetite for
an equally creative scheme for your new
airplane, so let me leak some good news.
Sina is going to start doing his magic
commercially! You can take advantage
of Sina’s talents and have him design the
trim scheme of your dreams.
I don’t have the price schedule for his
work, but you can contact him via the
email listed in “Sources” to find out what
is required and what it will cost.
Sina has been flying CL since
2000 and is a regular at the Flushing
Meadows field in Queens, New York,
where he flies with Jose Modesto, Will
DeMauro, and Bob Lampione. He
worked as an art director specializing
in branding and identity systems,
publication design, and typography. He
is also an information architect (strategic
planning and conceptual design).
Sina has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in
graphic design from the Minneapolis
College of Art and Design, and also has
a master’s in arts politics from New York
University. Beyond that, he’s one of the
nicest people you will ever meet!
My thanks go out to Sina for his
involvement, his patience, and his
friendship. You will be hearing more
from him in the future.
Till next time, fly Stunt!
SOURCES:
Sina Goudarzi
[email protected]
DuPont ChromaSystems Paints
http://pc.dupont.com
Scotch Brand
(800) 328-6276
www.scotchbrand.com
Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association
www.control-line.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/11
Page Numbers: 129,130,131
In my last column, I related some of
the trials and tribulations associated
with rebuilding and refi nishing
my Crossfi re Extreme. Not only
did I complete the project, but the
resurrected model fl ew even better than
it had before the redo; it performed so
well that I captured a third-place fi nish
in the Open division in CL Aerobatics at
the 2012 Nats. I’m pleased with that!
I left off last time discussing the
ChromaSeal product that goes on after
the three-part auto body primer has
been sanded. ChromaSeal adheres well
to the airframe and it also grips to the
top coats of the ChromaBase paint.
This eliminates a tendency for the tape
to pull up the substrate during the
trimming process.
Sand as much of the ChromaSeal
off of the model as possible, leaving
only a thin coat of it in place to avoid
unnecessary weight on the model.
A minimal amount of white
ChromaBase paint was required to
cover the ChromaSeal on the Crossfi re
Extreme. I used the white-tinted
ChromaSeal. It also comes in light
and dark gray. After the ChromaBase
white had dried for 24 hours,
I scuffed the surface using
a 3M Ultra Fine Scotch-
Brite Pad. Don’t omit this
step if you plan to use the
ChromaBase system; the trim
colors won’t adhere properly
to the basecoat if you do not
properly scuff it.
Buddy Wieder discovered
this the hard way on his new
Ryan’s Eagle. He forgot to
scuff the basecoats of color.
When he shot on the trim,
it pulled up in large sheets
when he removed the tape.
He remasked and repainted
at the 11th hour, scuffi ng the
surface of the model as he
proceeded. He fi nally shot the
trim successfully, and he was
rewarded at the Nats with 18
points in appearance.
After I had the basecoat of
color shot and scuffed on the
Crossfi re Extreme, it was time to apply
the trim colors. I didn’t use copper,
bronze, or metallic brown in my trim
scheme for perhaps the fi rst time in
nearly 40 years! I instead used a color
scheme that I’d been considering for a
few years.
Several years ago, I fl ew an EU-1A
in Advanced RC Pattern at the Nats.
That model was used in the Flying
Models series, “Project Pattern.” Dean
Pappas and I joined forces in the
1980s to construct, fi nish, and trim a
representative fi berglass and foam RC
Pattern model, and then report on the
build in a step-by-step series.
That aircraft was painted in the U.S.
Air Force Thunderbirds show team
scheme, and it showed up well in the
air. I have always wanted to put that
scheme on a CL Aerobatics model and
I wanted to show my patriotism, so a
red, white, and blue scheme seemed
appropriate.
I decided that the Thunderbird
design could be modifi ed and maybe
even enhanced, so I came up with a
Sina worked with Bob to achieve the
Cross re Extreme’s Thunderbird 3000
look that Bob had envisioned.
Sina Goudarzi captured the outline of the top and side
views of the Cross re Extreme from Bob Kruger’s CAD
plans, allowing the author to try preliminary ideas for a
new trim scheme.
scheme I call the Thunderbird 3000, extrapolating what that scheme might look like in the year 3000. I’m fairly good at designing and laying out straight-line paint schemes, but this required some fancy curves and elegant graphics to capture the look I was after. It was beyond the scope of my artistic and graphic abilities.
I have come to know and admire a New York-based CL Stunt flier named Sina Goudarzi. Sina has helped some of the East Coast fliers with trim schemes. His schemes are beautiful and show an understanding of shape and form that is refreshing and original. I called Sina to see if he would be willing to help me with my trim scheme. He jumped at the chance to help me flesh out the T-Bird 3000 idea.
Sina asked me to provide him with an accurate drawing of the airplane’s top and side view. Bob Kruger made a CAD drawing of the Crossfire Extreme because I’ve had so many plans requests. Bob sent me a copy of the drawing and I forwarded it to Sina.
Sina developed a worksheet that had the top and side views of the airplane. He silhouetted the drawings against a toned background and then sent me that file so that I could print several and use them to make some preliminary sketches of the trim scheme I was considering.
From my rough sketches, Sina began fleshing out his interpretation of my trim scheme ideas. He bombarded me with potential schemes, and they all looked great! The hardest part was settling on one.
I worked with Sina over the telephone. He is so quick at working with his graphics program that I could ask him to change an element of the scheme and I would receive an updated version to review via email in seconds!
Sina provided me with an outline of what programs he uses and how he proceeds with his ideas.
Sina’s Procedure
“There are many softwares which could be utilized for this purpose. My choice is Adobe Illustrator and the process is as follows:
“1. Draw an outline of the side and top view of the plane (this could be done based on plans, PDF, JPG, or a camera shot of the actual plane moderately with zero angle of the camera).
“2. Duplicate the layer, unite the drawing by using pathfinder, and reverse the outline and create a mask for the entire page. (I usually fill the mask with an off-white color; later the white color could be viewed easier.)
“3. Lock the two mask and drawing layers as top layers.
“4. Create new layers and then begin applying color trims of choice.
“5. After getting close to finals, create a layer for typography only (this way different type treatments could be viewed in different layers).
“I normally create everything based on a letter-size page and convert it to PDF so it could be printed on any home printer. I create one layer per design; thus there are many layers on the file, so each design is never mixed or combined by the others. If there is a need for actual size drawing output, this could be easily done by measuring the actual model and enlarging the entire file to the size.
“Also, since Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based program, any design and typography could be easily adapted for a mask/vinyl cutter in a second.”
I must have driven Sina nuts with my requests for changes and updates, because he packed his computer and came to my home in Pennsylvania so that we could spend a day working together to come up with the exact look I was seeking. We found it, too!
I was so short on time to get this airplane ready for the Nats that I did not include all the features that Sina and I worked up for the trim scheme. I had to forego the stylized Thunderbird on the bottom of the wing and the creative Crossfire Extreme logo that he worked up for the top of the right wing panel and each side of the fin. I also skipped the stars and the panel lines.
Sina suggested that we get shirts made up with the Crossfire logo, but that too fell victim to the time crunch. Even with the abbreviated scheme, I received many compliments on the new scheme.
I sent a photo of the finished model to Phil Granderson who provided the computer-cut paint masks for the letters and numbers. Phil told me that he was coming to the Nats to protest the model because it was obvious to him that I didn’t build or paint it!
My two new Crossfire Extreme
Bob ran out of time to apply all of the elements that Sina had designed for the paint scheme, but the resulting model still placed well in Appearance Point judging at the Nats.
models that are under construction will
have the full scheme in place. Sina and
I worked too hard and long on it not to
see it completed on a model or two.
I hope I’ve whetted your appetite for
an equally creative scheme for your new
airplane, so let me leak some good news.
Sina is going to start doing his magic
commercially! You can take advantage
of Sina’s talents and have him design the
trim scheme of your dreams.
I don’t have the price schedule for his
work, but you can contact him via the
email listed in “Sources” to find out what
is required and what it will cost.
Sina has been flying CL since
2000 and is a regular at the Flushing
Meadows field in Queens, New York,
where he flies with Jose Modesto, Will
DeMauro, and Bob Lampione. He
worked as an art director specializing
in branding and identity systems,
publication design, and typography. He
is also an information architect (strategic
planning and conceptual design).
Sina has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in
graphic design from the Minneapolis
College of Art and Design, and also has
a master’s in arts politics from New York
University. Beyond that, he’s one of the
nicest people you will ever meet!
My thanks go out to Sina for his
involvement, his patience, and his
friendship. You will be hearing more
from him in the future.
Till next time, fly Stunt!
SOURCES:
Sina Goudarzi
[email protected]
DuPont ChromaSystems Paints
http://pc.dupont.com
Scotch Brand
(800) 328-6276
www.scotchbrand.com
Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association
www.control-line.org
