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Not sure if I mentioned this earlier but it's a tip I like to use when I have to make clean cutouts for servos or cables, and it's a method I used on the Slick throughout the build. It's why my Slick looks so slick 
First, you need to have an adjustable soldering iron, I have a Hakko FX888D that shows me temperature readouts on the unit itself. Set this between 500*F and 550*F- install your thin tip at this time.
Secondly, you need to clean the tip of the iron thoroughly to rid it of as much solder as possible. You may want to heat the iron up fully to clean it off and then back it down to the right temp range. I don't use wet sponges as I've found they tend to make the tip fail prematurely, I only use the golden scrubby to clean my iron tips.
Thirdly, locate the hole you plan on opening up and use your fingernail to outline it. Begin to remove it by poking your soldering iron tip through the covering in the middle of the edge you just outlined, and drag the tip through it. The 500-550*F range is plenty to melt through the covering quickly so you have to move quickly. Once you have melted through the covering and opened the hole up completely, run your iron around the edges once more to seal the covering up to the wood inside.
This makes a very clean, easily done cutout that doesn't need a sharp hobby knife to leave behind jagged edges or tears. It takes a little bit of practice to perfect it so you may want to iron down some strips of scrap or spare covering over a test sheet of wood to try it out before you risk your airplane. I'll get pictures of this process up later sometime, not sure when. I may make a separate thread for it.
First, you need to have an adjustable soldering iron, I have a Hakko FX888D that shows me temperature readouts on the unit itself. Set this between 500*F and 550*F- install your thin tip at this time.
Secondly, you need to clean the tip of the iron thoroughly to rid it of as much solder as possible. You may want to heat the iron up fully to clean it off and then back it down to the right temp range. I don't use wet sponges as I've found they tend to make the tip fail prematurely, I only use the golden scrubby to clean my iron tips.
Thirdly, locate the hole you plan on opening up and use your fingernail to outline it. Begin to remove it by poking your soldering iron tip through the covering in the middle of the edge you just outlined, and drag the tip through it. The 500-550*F range is plenty to melt through the covering quickly so you have to move quickly. Once you have melted through the covering and opened the hole up completely, run your iron around the edges once more to seal the covering up to the wood inside.
This makes a very clean, easily done cutout that doesn't need a sharp hobby knife to leave behind jagged edges or tears. It takes a little bit of practice to perfect it so you may want to iron down some strips of scrap or spare covering over a test sheet of wood to try it out before you risk your airplane. I'll get pictures of this process up later sometime, not sure when. I may make a separate thread for it.
