The use of tissue allows high visibility and interest (above left) yet keeps the overall weight down. Broad stripes such as those found on Lee’s Mini-Hogan
Getting started Civy Boy designer, Paul Gilliam, wrote an excellent article 50 years ago called “Tissue Happy” (Model Airplane News, April 1964). The article details how numbers, letters and logos are cut from tissue. Although the basic technique of layering the tissue to be cut is the same for letters and pinstripes, it is far easier to make a tool specifically for pin- striping. Gilliam suggests that you simply place a steel ruler on top of waxed paper which has been placed over the layered tis- sue and cut two perfectly parallel lines. Un- fortunately, I’ve wasted a lot of black Esaki tissue using this method.
The easier and far more accurate method is to simply sandwich a piece of hard balsa or plywood between two #11 knife blades (think “balsa stripper” but cheaper and far more manageable). Make sure the blades are parallel to each other. If your pinstripes are really thin, a thin piece of sheet metal can be substituted for the balsa or plywood. The shape of the handle isn’t critical. Be sure to adhere your knife blades to the han- dle well. For added safety, I wrap the top of the blades with a cloth strip which is then soaked with cyanoacrylate.
Want curved stripes? Either use French curves or find an appropriate curve in the
stab (above right) are also easily produced to copy that of Denny Davis’ Hogan tissue trim pattern from the 1950s.
pantry. It’s your choice as to whether you want the shiny side or the matte side of the tissue up. Usually the shiny side is more effective. Be sure that you cut with the grain for straight stripes. Not sure about the grain? The tissue will tear easiest in the direction of the grain. Black tissue will really stand out for color separations, control surface outlines and emphasizes a model’s lines.
Lay it down
I have often been asked how I apply the tissue stripes once they are cut. There are a few simple guidelines here: pre-dope the tis- sue (or silk) you have covered the model with. A thinned coat of nitrate will do. You then brush thinner through the tissue stripe to adhere it. Accuracy is essential here and small pieces of low tack tape can help. Stripe not just right? Since it’s not yet buried under your finish coats of either nitrate or bu- tyrate, simply lift it up, re-position, and again brush thinner through it. A wrinkle? A small amount of water applied with a soft brush will help.
A final tip will help you achieve square corners and cuts over open (no structure be- neath) situations. Don’t even think about cutting your stripe to an exact length and
then applying it to the model. Rather, place one end where you want the stripe to start and then leave at least a one-inch “tag end.” Let the stripe dry a little and then, placing a double-sided razor blade lightly over the ex- act spot you want your cut, lift the tissue stripe up at a slight angle to the blade and cut. I have some pretty impressive tremors and if I can do this easily, so can you! We may never become another Von Dutch, but pinstripes can add a finishing touch to that next model you’ll be proud of!
About the Author
PHOTO: PHIL RONNEY
Lee Hunt shows off his Wasp powered Fu-barat Taft, California.
L ⁄4
ee Hunt has spent approximately 60 years building primarily stick and tissue models, beginning in the late 1940s with 10-cent Comet kits. He com- peted actively in the 1950s, ’70s and
’90s, flying all the AMA gas events from 1
Lee’s stab and wing from his Kiwi A/B showing how the red stripes help bracket the black centers, allowing the color to pop out from the overall yellow color scheme.
FLYING MODELS
A through D, as well as F1H (A-1) glid- er. His primary interests today are small scale rubber models, catapult gliders and RC slope soaring. His first published idea—using broom straws to reinforce the LE of a HLG wing—ran in H.A. Thomas’s Sketchbook column in American Aircraft Modeller, February 1957. In addition to writing several product reviews for Model Builder, his own models have been fea- tured in FLYINGMODELS, Model Aviation, Model Builder and Model Airplane News. Hunt is a USAF veteran, UCLA graduate and member of the San Valeers Free Flight club.
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