Here are some more photos

Cover Me

An exciting time (for me, at least), as the airplane is really starting to take shape. Friday's class saw the kids begin the covering process. After the first coat of dope dried (on the bare "frame" of the plane), students applied a second coat, and quickly covered the part with tissue paper. The dope helps the tissue stick to the part (e.g. the tail feathers or fuselage), and then when dry it is lightly sprayed with water. I remember the first time I saw the reaction of the tissue with water -- when it dried, the tissue contracted, resulting in a nice, taut surface. While I think we have all foreseen the wonkiness of the fuselage, the most important part is the wing, and I think this should turn out properly, with a correct airfoil profile to create lift. We'll see. I hope to post some more pictures soon. Once the tissue has dried and contracted, a final coat of dope is applied to add strength. No paint, though, as the added weight will detract from the flight characteristics of the plane.