1/4 scale lozenge printed linen FABRIC

Dan_San_Abbott · 16 January 2002, 03:41 PM

1/4 Scale Modelers:
Monday I received from Glenn Torrance his new 1/4 scale 4 color printed linen fabric, both the dark and light patterns.
We need to tweak some of the colors to get dead on and the color printing sequence. After this you won't have to worry, it will be exactly like the real thing. Even the weave is in scale! It really looks great!!!!!!!!! As it is right now, it is better than anything else on the market. After it is tweked it will be absolutely the very best solution to lozenge fabric, yes siree!!!!!!!!
Bluist of blue skies,
Dan-San
PS It makes me think about a quarter scale Rol. D.VIa. I am wondering about the difficulty of making a quarter scale Mercedes D.IIIaüv?

Lyle · 16 January 2002, 05:26 PM

Hi Dan-San,
You are correct, this is great stuff! *I have some of Glenn's earlier batch and although the colors are a bit off, it's gorgeous! *The effect is totally scale and will look great. *Just think, no more worrying about the cockpit insides, the fabric will take care of itself in that department! *I have a batch of fabric already painted up for my D.VII in Buchner's colors, but I may just wait until Glenn has it ready for us modelers.
A Roland D.VIa would be a really, really cool one to see on the flightline...the clinker fuse would be an achievement, but that Mercedes would be something else! *;D
Happy Landings,
Lyle

Cigogne · 17 January 2002, 05:10 AM

I saw samples of this fabric at Alan Toelle's last night. It looked pretty darn good. The yellows were a bit to on the yellow/green side but need to be a bit more ochre. We were comparing a bit of original fabric that Alan had. I wonder if this could be achieved by dipping the fabric in a coffee or tea solution to shift it slightly. Still, it was very impressive to look at.

Cig

DJ · 17 January 2002, 08:36 AM

The sample I had seen appeared to be a bit on the hefty side. I would be fearful of the finished weight of the aircraft. Has Glenn found a lighter fabric?? It also appeared as though it would be rather thirsty. More dope again means more weight. Please share any additional comments and trials.

Lyle · 17 January 2002, 09:59 AM

Hi Dave,
Sure, it's definitely on the hefty side, and I mentioned this to Glenn, so maybe he has a lighter weave material. *I'll be seeing him in March in Perry, Ga for the big flea market there. *I guess my concern is more to the fact that the panels will have to be stitched together to get the required covering pattern on wings. *Of course some planes had the wings done spanwise, but if doing a Fokker D.VII then there isn't much choice.
And then, perhaps this is a new direction scale modelers need to go, the art of fabric sewing! *Iron-on fabric has made our lives far too easy...

Lyle

Dan_San_Abbott · 17 January 2002, 11:04 AM

Lyle:
The piece of top pattern fabric I have, was printed in chord wise panels joined in the printing, no sewing required. I'll be sending Glenn a sketch of how the fabric was applied to the various airframe components.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

DJ · 24 January 2002, 03:16 AM

I have received a sample and installed it on a 4"square frame. One side was covered with bottom (light) using a traditional doping approach. It was extremly dificult to get the material to stick and took a great deal of patience to go around the corners. The top was covered with dark (top) and applied using CA (med) glue. Boy, what a differance! The bottom took nabout 50 minutes where as the top was on within five. You just have to make absolutley sure that the edge is down before the glue sets or you "kick" it. I have three coats of Butyrate dope on and I think one more should be added. The fabric does not shrink much so great care must be taken that the fabric is taut when applied. It is heavy, but I believe a lightly built model will not suffer prohibitivley. I am going to receive additional samples which I will use to cover a mock section of a Fokker DVI wing to se how it comes out.

chip55 · 27 January 2002, 04:23 PM

Hello

where do I get this fabric?

Be well

chip55

27 January 2002, 04:42 PM

Quote:

where do I get this fabric?

When it becomes available, you can probably get it here:

http://www.gtmodels.com/

2 February 2002, 04:22 AM

Hi Dan San,
I have been working on this fabric with Glenn. Thru trial and errors. I have found a pretty good formula for working with fabric. First of all, the fabric must be hand washed (to avoid edges from fraying) then soaked in fabcic softener. This washes out all the chemicals used during printing process. After air drying, I then steam iron fabric flat. Application to airframe was done by using: Sig 'Stix-it' and high setting on the iron. Fabric must be pulled very tight during application. Two coats of 'Nitrate dope' thinned 40%. Brushed on. Sand in between each coat with 320 emery cloth. After 3rd coat, using 'Butyrate dope' (lightly sanding between coats). I then apply rib tapes. I used a pale blue 65% polyester 35% cotten blend for tapes. By dopping fabric first, I was able to cut fabric into tape strips. Fabric was finished with five more coats of Butyrate. Sanding when needed. The finished product strong, tight, smooth and has the appearence of full scale application.
Glenn Torrence has done a wonderful job reproducing this German covering. I am applying this to my Fokker D7 at this time. At which, should be ready for 2002 Top Gun.

Happy Landings
Tom Kosewski