How best to remove monokote? (old MK Curare 60)

[Tsunami33]

Yes, am a sucker for pain but was fortunate enough to stumble on a built MK Curare 60. The covering however could do with an overhaul. Not sure the pictures show the extent of the aging.

Condition is a mix of brittle pieces and covering which has separated from the color (clear plastic).

2 approaches come to mind 1) Heat gun 2) Hot iron and peel. I'm sure there'll be a lot of sanding involved to clear the adhesive, etc. If you've got any other techniques, I'd be grateful.

Not even sure if I can still do a good restoration job on this kit but it's darnwell worth a try before I build up the Mini eCurare and 2 Eureka Curare 60 kits.

Thanks all (And thanks Jamall for the plane).

Dave
94515300

[joe yap]

Dave,

I am in the process of major makeover for my Dash-8 and faced the same problem with the old Oracover covering.

The area affected is just way too large to use my previously mentioned method using a pencil eraser. Although solvents like paint thinner will do the job, the area is too massive to start with it. So I used a roll of 2" wide clear packing tape and press it firmly onto the Oracover paint residue before peeling it off smartly, without tearing the balsa structures. At one go, it can take away about 50% of the mess and over a few times, I'm left with a few specks here and there, which is then I use a rag, soaked with paint thinner, to remove. I have very good results so far and I'm back to the modification work.

[Tsunami33]

Joe, you're a star! Easy for me to say "why didn't I think of that earlier" but I believe this sounds like the best way for it. I was already dreading the finger nail pinch and pull technique!

I remembered this was the way I used to lift off poorly covered monokote on a wing. But that's for small areas.

Thanks heaps. Has put a smile to my weekend!

Next, will have to see if I can remove the canopy without damaging it. In any case, have a spare made already.

Dave