Uses Of Laminating Films In Model Aircrafts

Laminating film is used to strengthen and seal different parts of a model aircraft like a vertical stabilizer and rudder. This is cost effective and less expensive as compared to colored plastic films. In fact, the laminating film has many more benefits than the colored plastic films, which would include good tensile strength as compared to the plastic films.
There are many new ways and possibilities with laminating films, as the laminating film is quite cheap as compared to regular model aircraft covering films. To laminate the aircraft surface, the required materials would be:

• Laminating film ranges anywhere between 40 microns for smaller surfaces to 80 microns for larger aircraft surfaces.
• Household iron.
• Heat gun.
• Sheet of glass 6 mm or thicker.
• Sharp knife.
• Clear tape.

The steps involved in the usage of laminating films are as follows:

Preparing The Raw Surface - The smoother the raw balsa model flying surface, the stronger the bond with the film.

Applying Hinge Bevel: If the laminating film is used as a hinge, then the parts will have to be fixed at an angle of about 45 degrees. And the tools used for this are either a razor plane or a sanding bar.

Tack Down Laminating Film: Using the iron, which is in turn set to cotton/linen, the excess film is sealed around the surface and helps to pull.

Creating An Exhaust Hole In The Film - Due to the heat from the iron and the decreasing film, the trapped air will prevent the film from effortlessly sticking to the surfaces. Therefore, a nick in the shape of ‘L’ needs to be cut to facilitate the air to escape.

Tack The Film Around The Perimeter Of The Surfaces - Before the process of final bonding of the film to the surfaces, the iron should be run around the edge of the perimeter of the surface. This helps in pulling the film across the surface quite tightly.

Bonding The Laminating Film To The Balsa Surface - Using a house iron or a heat gun, the laminating film should be used to cover the surface and instantly rub with a soft cloth in order to increase the bond.

Cut Out The Balsa Surface - A sharp knife should be used to cut out the laminating film from the balsa surface. It should be cut widely so that a small amount of not bonded laminating film would go around the edges and overlap.

Turn Over Surface And Repeat - The same process detailed above is to be repeated on the other side of the surface too.

Hinging The Tail - The excess laminating film should be removed after both the sides have been laminated. Once this excess has been cut away, one maybe able to move away from the hinged surfaces. For very light load cases, one-side hinging is quite sufficient. But it’s best to double-side the hinges.