Are covering films (i.e. monokote) paintable?

[star-art]

It's been years since I was into R/C aircraft so I am really rusty. Can you paint any of the popular heat-shrink plastic covering films? If so, which types/brands are paintable? What do you use to paint them (special paints and/or tricks)? Will the paint come off or can it be a permanent finish?

I was thinking this would be an ideal covering for a Zeppelin scale model with a wood frame rather than the traditional and old-fashioned tissue paper/silkspan and dope. But I was also thinking most films would not accept any kind of paint, so I want to be sure. Thanks!

[han1]

Greetings star-art, monocoat can be painted if the part of the surface you wish to paint is scuffed up a bit just take some of the gloss out. I`ve have used latex on monocoat and had good results without flakeing a seal coat helps but had no problems if it was gloss base on or not exposed to fuel or such. Flats were sealed with satin finish. Have`nt tried oil based but know the results should be same. Good Luck.

Jim

[star-art]

Thanks!! I kind of found the answer to my own question when I visited the home pages for Coverite and Monokote. It's been a looooong time since I saw that stuff!

[papermache]

Star
I know this is going to sound extremely opinionated (and perhaps it is), but I have never seen a model of a WWI aircraft that looks good in Monokote. The plastic just doesn't look right.

If I could make a suggestion, look into Solartex. It's a real fabric that irons on and shrinks like monokote (although at lower temperatures). It will easily take any paint or dope you care to use on it. It's great stuff to work with.

papermache

[star-art]

Sounds good but I'm actually working on a Zeppelin model. Even though they were covered with fabric, we're talking 1/144 or maybe 1/72 scale for this kind of project and, at that scale, the texture of the fabric should not be visible. The surface should appear smooth and seamless for the most part IMO. If I used any kind of real fabric I don't think it would look quite right.

BTW, does anyone know of any sites devoted to modeling airships? There seems to be few if any posts on the popular modeling boards and next to nothing at all online about these great ships.

Thanks!

[star-art]

Something funky about this board software, it wouldn't let me edit the post! I will definitely check out Solartex though and I appreciate you pointing me in that direction. I'll see if it works. Thanks!