Guillows easy Cub and Ezedope Build

[scigs30]

I just used Ezedope for the first time on a small peanut and did a write up using Esaki Tissue. I don't have issues with smelly dope but I don't like the fact that no matter what I do tail surfaces warp. Also don't like the extra step of having to preshrink tissue on a wooden frame. On my peanut I used Esaki with no pre shrinking and 2 coats of Ezedope and I don't have any warping issues. Ezedope is a little pricey but I dilute it 70 percent water so it goes a long way. For attaching tissue the tissue paste did not work for me but full strength Ezedope works great for attaching tissue to the frame. Ezedope worked great for Esaki so for this Cub build I will be using Ezedope and Domestic tissue. I am building an old Piper Cub with old die crunched wood with 11lb balsa, not bad for 1/20th. As you can see I built the Cub stock using Testors Cement had it built in a matter of hours. I am at work today but will start covering tomorrow and will post the application of Ezedope. A couple words of caution with Ezedope, 1. There appears to be a bad batch of Ezedope out there, it was exposed to freezing temps and Deluxe Materials is aware of this and correcting the issue. If you buy Ezedope and it is a thick glob, then you have a bad batch and they will replace it. It should be a white liquid. You can attach the tissue any way you want, I used full strength Ezedope and it is the same as applying thinned white glue. It dries real fast and it stays put when shrinking the tissue. If you are not comfortable with applying domestic tissue with thinned glue, then this will not be any easier because the domestic tissue falls apart. I am using full strength Ezedope because I don't have to mix it like white glue, but you can also use regular dope or Glue stick to attach the tissue. Once the tissue is applied I shrink with water pinning down the fragile parts. Once the tissue is shrunk I next spray on a 5 percent solution of Ezedope in water with a misting bottle. This step is important to prevent excess slacking when brushing on Ezedope. Once that dries I brush on my first coat of 70/30 Ezedope mixture.. First coat is brushed on lightly with a stiff brush. When dry I brush on a final and heavier coat. I let it dry 24 hours and it is done. Once thing I noticed at the flying field is the morning dew does not slack the tissue as much as the planes covered and doped with nitrates. Here is the link to my first plane and write up on Ezedope.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthre ... 210&page=6

[davidchoate]

I'm currently building theLancer, and was thinking about trying easy dope for the first time. I may give it a shot now

[scigs30]

I started covering the Cub with Peck Polymers Domestic tissue using Ezedope. Attach the tissue to the frame any way you want, Ezedope does not really make a difference. I normally thin white glue to attach the tissue but this time I used full strength Ezedope so I did not have to dilute white glue. Just know if you never tried using a wet product like Elmers/water or Ezedope to apply domestic tissue, you will be disappointed in the results. I have been covering this way since the early 80s so I don't have any issues but domestic tissue has very little wet strength and will fall apart if you start tugging on it. Any way, once the frames are covered I shrank the tissue with regular water pinning the fragile parts down to prevent warps. After the tissue is nice and tight I spray again with a diluted solution of 5 percent Ezedope and water. This prevents excessive slacking when brushing on Ezedope. After tissue is dry I use a stiff brush and apply a light coat of 70/30 water/Ezedope. If I am applying tissue trim I apply that next, if not I brush on a second heavier coat of Ezedope. I will let the pin parts dry 24 hours before removing from the board. For trim I first brush on a light coat of 70/30 Ezedope to where the trim is to go then place the trim piece on the tissue. After positioning the piece of tissue I brush more Ezedope over trim tissue. Don't mess with the trim tissue or else it will fall apart. It will look ugly and wrinkly but that is ok, when it dries it dries nice and smooth. For the real thin pieces of trim I don't apply Ezedope first. Instead I place the dry trim piece on the dry tissue then brush Ezedope on the trim piece allowing the dope to seep through. Once the trim pieces are dry I brush on the second and final coat of Ezedope. I went with the old Guillows Super Cub Red Decal look for this build. The side registration numbers will be water slide decals.

[scigs30]

More pictures

[scigs30]

more pictures of Ezedope

[davidchoate]

I'm curious to your final weight. I built the same plane. Used colored tissue,no paint, and it still came close to 45g's. I also was wondering if I am supposed to double loop the motor? To get more power. You do nice work Sciggs. This Cub ( I built the 300 series too) in my opinion is one of the best Guillows kits for flying. Scale model.

[davidchoate]

Oh, and thank you for going into details on your covering. On my FF planes I have had many warping issues, and you helped me alot here.

[scigs30]

45 grams? Was that after weight and rubber? That is too heavy for a small bird like this.
I finished my second Ezedope build and I must say I am happy with this product. Unless something bad happens in the next month or so with my 2 builds, I will use Ezedope on my more fragile builds. On my bigger planes I will just stick with Nitrate dope since I don't have to worry about warps. The weight added by Ezdope does not even register on my scale so that is a good thing. All done as shown this Guillow cub weighs 22 grams, not bad for old kit wood. On the bare balsa struts I use a Red marker, much lighter than paint. I then brushed on Ezedope to give it a nice gloss finish. Normally waterslide decals do not stick to tissue, but if you brush Ezedope underneath the decal it sticks just fine. I tried adding the red and green lights on the wingtips, I'm not too happy about that but all and all a fun build. I will take her to the clubs Mooney contest on the 4th.

[scigs30]

More pictures.