Quick Summary
• Master convincing surface details for scale model airplanes with these expert tips.
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Additional Context
Metal panels on full-sized aircraft are attached in a variety of ways. Some panels butt against each other with no space between. Others, like the Mustang, have noticeable gaps exposing chromate primer below. Racing planes and sailplanes tend to have putty between the panels and over flush rivets, making them nearly invisible. Major stress junctions require overlapping panels. Panels are usually outlined with flush rivets or round-head rivets, but some modern airplanes have panels glued in place.
Cal Branton’s quarter-scale FW 190A
Fabric surfaces are typically reinforced with stitches around the stringers or ribs and covered with cloth tape. Rib stitches on wings have to be strong enough to support the weight of the aircraft. Fabric on fuselages and other non-lifting surfaces generally