Radio Control Giants
Sal Calvagna [[email protected]]
How-to: Fuselage lacing on cloth-covered aircraft
Welcome back to the RC Giants column. I'll take this opportunity to wish all readers and their families a happy and healthy holiday season. Whatever your beliefs, it couldn't hurt to pass along some goodwill toward others.
Every so often I get the opportunity to share great modeling ideas with readers. Adding scale details to an airplane can transform it into an authentic miniature.
AMA member and RC Giant modeler Ron Prestin of Huntington, New York, provided the accompanying technique for fabricating scale-looking fuselage stitching/lacing found on many World War I and early fabric-covered aircraft. I have seen many ways to make scale rib stitching for wings, but little about replicating lacing on the fuselage.
To start, here are the special materials you need to accomplish this task (assumes you already have basic tools such as scissors, an X-Acto knife, and a straightedge):
- Solartex covering material (antique color), available from Balsa USA.
- 1/16-inch short aluminum eyelets, available from Volcano Arts.
- An eyelet-setting tool, available from Volcano Arts.
- Waxed cotton cord, available at craft stores such as Michaels.
Ron developed this process while working on his 1/4-scale Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a, and he photographed the sequence so he could share it. Follow the sequence to see how this detailing technique works.
You will need to modify the lacing pattern to suit your individual project. Ron used 1/2-inch spacing for his model. If you are lucky enough to have a full-scale aircraft nearby, you can take its measurements and scale them down appropriately for your airplane.
Nice work, Ron, and thanks again for taking the time to share this procedure with your fellow aeromodelers.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding Ron's technique for lacing. I'm sure he would be happy to respond.
I'll be back in the January 2010 issue! MA
Sources:
- Balsa USA (800) 225-7287 www.balsausa.com
- Michaels (800) 642-4235 www.michaels.com
- Volcano Arts, Box 1, Volcano, CA 95689 www.volcanoarts.biz
- International Miniature Aircraft Association www.fly-imaa.org
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
