Hi everyone, this blog post my 2023’s first new project: Minimoa mo2a 1/6, and share my method for raw wood texture fuselage covering.

   Firstly is designing work, because it based on standard minimoa which i have finished on late 2022 (017. minimoa 1/6 scale version), this two seat version haven't cost me many time. The below picture shows the difference, mo2a is 360mm longer than standard minimoa. And my 1/6 version extended 60mm.

1 Extended part

2 Comparison chart

Start to build the fuselage. Mo2a have a long canopy, very impressive. Unlike other model factory’s design, I haven't use a whole piece of blister canopy, I used the logic of the real plane and built it bit by bit from the frame state. This way the model will looks more like a real mo2a.

3 The fuselage is placed on the desktop during installation

4 Canopy open status display

Making some detail parts in the cockpit. A model with cockpit will very impressive.   We have equipped this kit with panels, seats, seat belts, and control sticks (which need to be made with the PVC thin sleeves in the kit)

5 Panel

Next, make the wings. Compared with the minimoa, it has added two flaps. This will mean it has better landing characteristics than minimoa single seater.

6 Wing parts

7 Wing structure

Next is the most exciting moment, I will update the fuselage covering. Using thin wood chips, thickness is only 0.1mm. It cut by raw wood, and the back side is non-woven fabric(cotton), to avoid chipping. I choose 3 texture to do this step

8   Thin wood chips from Our company

Step1.

Firstly draw lines on the fuselage. Try to make some reference from real plane, instead of seam from balsa sheets.

9 draw lines on fuselage

Step2

Cut the thin woof chips into a rough shape. Tips: Cover the fuselage with a layer of transparent film, then use a pen to outline the outline, then cut the sample according to the line, and finally cut the wood chips according to the sample.

Step3

Attach the wood chips to the fuselage. In this step I use normal wood glue(Titebond), and dilute it with water, then put the sheet on the fuselage. And using a model Iron to do the next step. Iron it back and forth, the wood sheet is to thick that the glue will seep through the sheet to the surface. So need sand it after the sheet glued. (need not wait for a long time, when iron it, the sheet will glued on fuselage immediately)

10 Attach the wood chips to the fuselage.

Because the chips has non-woven fabric on the back, it has good ductility and can even cover some smooth surfaces like nose part of fuselage,So In general, this process very same with covering a normal MonoKote film, It's just that the process is longer.

11 Good ductility, easily cover the nose

Step4

  Apply varnish. I used acrylic varnish and mixed it with oak colorant in advance. According to my situation, I think chocolate or other brown colors will be better. My color is a bit yellow.

12 Apply varnish

The above is the entire process for the wood chip part. I made a video to show the full process: https://www.youtube.com/embed/7pzg9g4-O-Q?wmode=opaque&start=0

For the entire fuselage, there are other non-wood grain parts. For this part, we use the normal paint spraying process, that is, first roughly fill putty to cover the wood grain of the Balsa, then spray 1-2 layers of putty, (sand after each spraying), and finally spray the topcoat.

13 Paint the non-wood grain parts

14 This step requires masking tape to cover the wood grain.

Next is the preparation of some small parts, which are masked and sprayed in advance before being installed on the fuselage

15 Painting and installing Accessories

16Fuselage finished

The final part is very simple. The wings and tail are made of ordinary plastic heat shrink film, which can be carefully worked with an iron for a day. And for the electronics parts, we need install them as manual, It is worth mentioning that its spoiler needs careful adjustment. I used two different channels to control the two servos.

17 Mo2a and DFS Weihe

18 Ready to Fly

19 Soaring