Indoor airplane models covered with microfilm seem
to have always been for a very particular, dedicated group of modelers who possess the patience, steady
hands, and eyesight (aided or not) to build and maintain very delicate structures. A directed sneeze
can literally blow them to pieces. It is an aspect of aeromodeling into which I have never ventured.
Mr. Joseph Bilgri, AMA #4393, was a contest-winning pioneer of the craft. The
AMA History Project
has a biography of Joe that is worth reading if you have an interest in indoor modeling. Of course
today, with the advent of nano-size radio controlled and free flight models, the realm of indoor flying
has increased considerably beyond wire-framed surfaces covered with bubble-thin sheets of microfilm.
This 3-part series on indoor models begins with a construction article and ends with proven methods
for successfully repairing damage.
See Part 1: Bandersnap, Part 2:
Pouring and Covering
with Microfilm, and Part III:
Bilgri Patching and Covering
Methods.
Bilgri Patching and Covering Methods
Tom Vallee
By the grapevine, author learned these two elements for serious
microfilm modeling.
The Bilgri System of microfilm covering is more suitable for lighter, more advanced models, such
as FAI (world championship) class indoor models. This system was first described in print by Joe Bilgri
in a famous series of indoor articles in 1960 and now deserves repetition. Patching techniques will
also be covered because it is virtually impossible to keep an indoor model flying very long without
them.
As the first step in the Bilgri method, take the building template for the wing or stab to be covered
and trace its outline in pencil on a building board or workbench top.
Place the wing (or stab) on the penciled outline. Then wet the surface of the building board for
the width of an inch just outside the outline. Also wet the top of the wing spars and compression ribs;
using a soft brush dipped in tap water. Be careful to get as little water as possible inside the wing
spars.

Patching starts by wetting the film around the hole lightly with water.

The patch is put over the hole and attached by touching it between two fingers.

Lift off paper gently. Smooth out the wrinkles with water. Remove excess film.


First step in Bilgri method is wetting board one inch beyond the wing structure.

Lay film over wing, then blow on it so it adheres completely to structure.

After partial drying, cut excess film away with hot wire or acetone-dipped brush.
Next take a frame of slack microfilm (several inches longer and wider than the part to be covered)
and lay it film side down over the wet wing (or stab, etc.) . Blow gently on the film as it settles
down over the wet framework, so that the covering adheres nicely to the wing outline. Use a finger to
pat down the film on the one or two spots where it has not adhered.
A few minutes later, when the wet wing has partly dried, cut the film along the outside of the wing
spars with a hot wire or a brush dipped in acetone. If using the latter, the brush must be "dry," with
just enough acetone on it to cut the film on the outside of the still wet wing spar, but not enough
to dissolve the wing covering. Most modelers will find a hot wire easier to use.
At this point, the wing tends to stick to the board or bench top. To free it, carefully and slowly
slide a razor blade between the bottom of the wing spars and the building board.
Indoor wings are covered flat and dihedral added after covering. Hold the wing down with small weights,
crack the wing spars with a sharp blade at the dihedral break and carefully block up the wing tips.
Apply small drops of glue at the dihedral joints and the wing is ready for mounting and bracing.
Microfilm is fragile and few indoor builders finish construction without poking at least one or two
holes in the covering. Does this ruin the model? Certainly not! Holes are quickly mended with squares
of microfilm patching material and the plane is ready to fly!
Making patching material is easy. Lay a frame of microfilm, film side down, on a sheet of Japanese
tissue. Lay a second sheet of tissue over the film. Cut around the inside of the frame with a sharp,
blade and carefully lift the frame and excess tissue free. The result is a sheet of microfilm patching
material, a sandwich of microfilm between two sheets of paper. From this, patches of any reasonable
shape and size easily can be cut with a pair of scissors.
Microfilm patching material is an easily prepared sandwich of microfilm between two sheets of paper
(Japanese tissue is best). Use a pair of scissors to cut individual patches to proper size. Open the
'sandwich'. The microfilm will stick to one of the pieces of paper. The patch is now ready to be applied
to your model. See photos.
To repair a hole in the wing, simply cut a patch of the right size and remove one piece of tissue.
The microfilm will stick to the other piece of tissue. This is the patch proper - a piece of film backed
by paper.
Using a soft brush, apply a few droplets of water to the film around the edges of the hole. Carefully
place the patch, film side down, over the hole. Then press the patch between two fingers, not from one
side only, against the wing. Remove the backing tissue with the aid of a moistened finger tip. Smooth
down any loose edges with a water brush and the model is ready to fly. In case of a jagged irregular
hole, the procedure is same, except droplets of water are applied to film side of the patch to avoid
spreading the tear in the wing film.
This business of being able to patch indoor models is most important because, quite often, an indoor
beginner will come to a contest with his first serious indoor model, damage the film and give up, assuming
his model is ruined. Yet, after some simple field repairs, the models could be back in the air in a
few minutes! Witness my own experience as a beginner.
About five years ago, when I first began serious indoor modeling, I showed Bill Bigge a picture of
Joe Bilgri holding what looked to be a completely demolished indoor model with a folded-up wing whose
spars were broken in several places.
Imagine my amazement when Bill said Joe Bilgri's "demolished" model probably was flying good as new
within an hour after the photo was taken. Bill's reasoning was a follows: Since Joe covered his models
with dry (non-sticky) microfilm, it would be a simple task to unfold the wing, which would be held in
place by the brace wires. Then a few drops of glue applied to the broken spars would leave the wing
strong as ever.
Bill went on to say that it would be a simple task to mend any torn spots with microfilm patches.
At that point, the model would be ready to fly and perhaps even win the contest!
I was elated at having this information! After considerable effort, I had just finished my first
serious indoor model, only to poke a big hole in the microfilm near the middle of the wing. I thought
the model was ruined and that the wing would need to be dismantled, recovered, and braced again, a considerable
project for a beginner.
After a little instruction from Bill, the wing was soon mended. Shortly after this, proudly wearing
its patch, that model was flown to a win in my first indoor meet, thanks to Bill's help. Now, when going
to a contest or flying session, I always take along a sheet of microfilm patch material for field repairs.
Any minor damage to my models can be remedied as it occurs.
My favorite model, at present, is the Snark FAI. It is two years old and still covered with the original
film. It has participated in over sixty full-bore contest flights at seven different meets and has set
several low-ceiling national records. The wing may be full of patches, but the model still flies fine.
Many outdoor modelers certainly don't get this much use out of their ships so, if it's possible to
get this many flights out of a lightweight indoor model, perhaps these flyweight ships are much easier
to build and handle than most people realize.
Certainly building good indoor models is within the ability of any serious free flight modeler. Two
previous parts in this series (Jan., Feb. 1971 AAM) have covered other necessary techniques. The first
article included full-size plans and building information for a small indoor model, the Bandersnap,
suitable for the smaller flying sites where most indoor modelers do their first serious indoor flying.
The second article covered techniques for making frames of microfilm and a simplified system for
covering indoor models with microfilm. Dubbed "The Quick and Easy System," this method is easy to master
and particularly suited for covering heavy beginners' models.
Posted May 19, 2017
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