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Hi all,
For years I wondered how some guys create those beautiful tissue designs on F/F models. Bob DeShields comes to mind. I’ve tryed this on several occasions only to end up with wrinkled trim. I know guys who use the vinyl numbers with good results but it only seems to be made in a few colors. If there is an article on tissue trimming somewhere that anyone knows about please let me know…How about it Bob!!!
Dan A
Dan A,
My response is generic not specific, but I read all about it in a MAN
article sometime in the 50s.
Bobby D actually did a beautiful tissue job for one of my wings in ’79!The author of the article was Paul Gilliam as I recall. Had fine pix and
how-to details, too.
It involves laying newspaper, tissue multi-layers of color you desire,
wax paper then the copy of the letters in the font you choose.
Tape or soomehow hold down all the stuff, then put new Xacto #11
blade[or equiv]in your fav cutting handle. Have a beer or two to
steady your hand while you cut away. That way you won’t care when
you screw up! [Maybe that was after the 4th beer…it’s been awhile
since I did it.]Seriously, I think I gave you the how-to info above.
Ciao,
LeeperThanks Lee,
I’ll give that technique a try after I down a pint of Tetleys. I bought one of those swivel tiped knifes that draftsmen use but only made a mess of things. Over the years I see that you don’t do a bad job yourself. Must be something in the water out there in Calif.
Dan A
Hmmm, Dan A, know what you mean re swivel knives.
Am a retired design draftman myself, but never got used to those
knives, or saw many others handy with them either.The beer [Tetleys or other choice] does work to relax yourself.
Bobby D & I consumed a sixpack of Bud while he did a masterworks
job on my A2 wing as I said.I also shot pool better after a beer or two as well, now I seldom
drink anything alcoholic.
We were younger & immortal, you see. 🙄 😆Ciao,
LeeperI have a guy up here that does computer generated decals for me. Super thin and self adhering. So, I imagine if you take a little time and do some research….you’ll find someone in your area, that can do the same. And if you do find someone and you are about to put your decals down…..remember to spray a little Windex on you plane to float them into place. Then wipe away the excess and let dry. There you go.
Since this subject is about creating tissue decorations, I reckon
computer decals to be right off-topic, eh?Leeper
You need to read the first entry again Lee….I do believe I’m on target for his quest.
I thought this topic was about beer…
I read somewhere that drinking too much beer was bad for you.
-So I gave up reading.A few notes. Important things first.
I have developed a new technique for opening a beer bottle. I perfected it at Marion, Kansas.Reagarding tissue trim. I have started using a rotary knife. It never snags the tissue.
I think a lot of the west coast tissue trim-jobs were done in domestic tissue. That would add available colors and avoid the UV fade that jap tissue would have.Now then, where’d i put that beer?
My first taste of “real” Ale was after a trip around southern England after visiting the US and RAF fighter/bomber bases that still exsist. We stopped at an old tavern off the beaten path. The brew came from a wooden cask on the other side of the counter behind the bar keep. He opened one while we were there and the cask made this hissing sound. He tasted the brew and rasied an eybrow. The locals all shouted “Pint please!” We followed suit.
Good Lord I’ve never tasted any brew that wonderful in my life…and haven’t since. I make do with the somewhat passable Tetleys after a good night building in the shop.
I wonder how much it would cost to have a barrel shipped to the Nats?
Dan A
That sounds like a really great trip!
My hope is to get to England one of these years for the Stonehenge Cup. Usually in May.On the subject of tissue trim, I simply draw the pattern on white bond paper — I use printer paper these days because it’s handy — fold a sheet of tissue for the number of copies I need, and then thumbtack the bond paper over the tissue and down to a spruce board — shelving stock from the local lumber yard that I also build on.
Next, I use a fresh X-acto #11 blade and a metal straight edge to cut stars, stripes, letters etc. On the edge of the tissue I use the straight edge to cut a few quarter inch wide strips that I use to cover wing joints. It cleans up the look of the airplane nicely.
I cut freehand on the few curved parts I do. The most complex thing I cut out was the Ford script logo for a Ford Stout scale model I built many years ago.
I only cut numbers for wings about once every 10 years or so because I take an entire sheet of tissue and fold it over and over the height of the numbers plus about half and inch. I end up with an envelope full of numbers.
Tissue decoration is really dead easy and takes more to describe than to do. I do end up with a few thumbtack holes in the tissue on larger decorations, like the stars I put on all my wings, but they are not really noticeable.
My smaller gas models are covered with tissue from Easybuilt models — very nice stuff — and my larger models are covered with either silkspan or polyspan. Monokote/plastic/film covering — YECH!This is really great info. on how to cut the tissue and end up with a bunch of decorations. Excellent…!! Now…how to get them onto a model??? I’ve read about dope and thinner, etc., but are there alternatives where I can work indoors? 🙂 Could a glue stick work? What about a quick spray of lacquer or Super 77, apply the numbers, then apply the normal finish (which for me has been lightly sprayed lacquer)? Thoughts…?!
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