TUTORIAL: FLITE-METAL BASICS

The following is a step by step tutorial on applying Flite-Metal.

An easy way to remove the metal from the roll without wrinkling.

Tools required.

Sand surface with 320 grit

.

Hold against flat surface while releasing to avoid curl.

Burnish/press onto surface.

Lay masking tape right up to edge of panel.

Overlap next piece onto tape.

Use ruler and #11 blade to cut, but leave tiny lap.

Burnish edge down.

Sand lap edge to remove overlap.

Now you have level butted edge.

Sand overall with 320 grit.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Use straight edge and #2 mechanical pencil to impress panel line.

Use different gauge needle/tube for rivet impression.

Here is the result after having imprinted rivets on the access panel.

A specific ruler is used to imprint panel shapes with a #2/ 0.5 mm  paper pen.

After all panels and lines are printed, sand again with 400 grit in a single direction, no circular sanding.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Use Wizard's Metal Polish on some panels.

On that example, the center panel is masked to keep it at a different grit grade.

Here is the result after buffing off the dry paste and removing the tape.

Note that the sanding and buffing paste remains start to naturally weather the panel edges.

These are the basic steps. The only requirement from you is to now sand/cut/tape till your fingers bleed.   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Here Here are a couple of old pictures from my TOP GUN jets.                                                                                                            

Enjoy, and thanks for looking.                                                                                                           

Cheers,

Joe