Frequently Asked Questions

IFO Constructions:

About Covering:
Is the Ripstop Covering any good?
This covering is incredible! Advantages:
1) very tough
2) won't split
3) can be cleaned easily
4) can be heat shrunk a limited amount without warping the airframe (Heat shrinking the covering on the tail hoop IS NOT RECOMMENDED though)
5) available in bright vibrant colors
6) light weight (0.5 oz/square yard)
7) prices are very competitive with other slow flyer covering We listened to the many IFO customers that are using it so we finally decided to carry it. It is being used on both the IFO Mk3 and Mini IFO.

How do you attach the Ripstop Covering?
Ripstop is applied with Weldwood Contact Cement. Method for attaching the ripstop covering:
1) Tape the ripstop covering tight to your work table stretching all the wrinkles out.
2) Brush on the contact cement along the carbon rods outline and across the trailing edge elevon hinge line. Try to keep contact cement away from the nylon hinges.
3) Let dry for 30 seconds or so.
4) Press the airframe down on to the ripstop being careful to line up the ripstop weave with the trailing edge.
5) Trim around the airframe leaving about a 3/8" excess edge.
6) As an option, brush on a light coat of contact cement along the 3/8" excess edge of material
7) Wrap this excess covering edge around the carbon rods.
8) Try to avoid heat shrinking the covering BUT if you must, the wing is slightly heat shrinkable. BUT I've snapped several tails trying to heat shrink the ripstop so I DO NOT RECOMMEND HEAT SHRINKING THE COVERING ON THE TAIL.
9) The covering needs to have small slices cut where the nylon hinges are in order to allow downward movement of the elevons. The way I do it is by flexing the elevons downward and cut slits into the covering around the hinges that are tight and restricting downward movement. I found an exacto knife with #11 blades works best. Keep trimming until at least 90 degrees of downward elevon movement is achievable.

What adhesive do I use to attach the Ripstop covering?
Use flexible contact cement like Weldwood brand.

Can I use CA type glue to attach the covering?
We don't recommend it, CA wicks into the fabric and stiffens it, making it subject to cracking. It also holds a little too tightly, making it difficult to remove without destroying the covering in case of a repair.

How do I replace the wing covering?
First, I would try to use CLEAR scotch tape to repair holes and rips. If the covering needs replacing, here are the steps I use:
1 Pop the vertical tail off
2 Remove the pull/pull lines from the control horns and servo arms. If you're out of kevlar thread, I would use 1/2A control line dacron from the hobby shop when the pull/pull cables are reattached.
3 Break loose the control horns from the elevons and save for reattachment
4 Pull the covering off the airframe.
5 Scrape the carbon rods with a razor or exacto to get the remaining glue and covering off the rods.
6 Remove radio equipment or protect with masking tape from the spray adhesive
7 Loosely place masking tape over front carbon hoop and landing gear leg. The landing gear is the tricky part - I drilled a hole in my workbench
8 I stretch the wing covering over the workbench covering the hole in the workbench using masking tape to hold the edges.
9 Spray the airframe with adhesive.
10.Remove the protecting masking tape from the airframe
11 Poke the top of the landing gear rod through the wing covering and through the drilled hole in the workbench. Press the airframe down onto the wing covering plastic as was done when the IFO was originally built.
12 From this point, all steps should be the same as the instructions.


Wild R/C, Inc.