Scale The Naked Truth of Covering a Plane

[fencelake]

I have a "Build" related question, that's sort of an appendix to the recent revamp of my Great Planes Extra 300. So today I was flying and all of the sudden I saw a giant chunk flutter away from behind the plane. I immediately thought it was the rudder or an elevator, or some part of the plane, but when it kept flying and I had control to land I was puzzled... until I got it on the ground.

About half of the covering and the graphics I had just put on ripped up.
SO, THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD: What do you guys use to seal the seams when covering a plane or adding graphics to avoid this happening?

The following photos are the before and after. I flew a couple more times, and thank goodness it's an easy fix, but I don't want anyone else to work hard on a plane and have this happen, so maybe this thread will allow for that in the future.

 

[fencelake]

Here's what it looked like before....

 

[fencelake]

AND HERE'S AFTER THE FLIGHT:

 

[pawnshopmike]

Wow that sucks bro. It was a beautiful machine.

 

[fencelake]

Thanks!! Yea, it's kind of a bummer...

 

[stangflyer]

Do you know if the covering is Monokote or Ultracote? I've personally never seen this with Ultracote. I did have one experience with Monokote though. On a much smaller scale though. That really sucks. I have seen pictures of your plane before. I always thought it was outstanding.

 

[Wacobipe]

What material did you use to cover it...is the base orange monocots/ultracote? And the graphics are complex so I assume they are printed...what material is that?

 

[fencelake]

Yea, I covered it with Ultracote and then the graphics are printed vinyl. After I had started I thought maybe I should've covered the top first and the bottom second so the bottom seam covered the top, but I did it the other way. Can I seal it with something there at the leading edge?

 

[stangflyer]

I always cover bottom to top so that the seams overlap down. Can't understand why Ultra did this. I have never used a seam sealer, but I do know there is one available. Some guys use clear finger nail polish.

 

[Terryscustom]

Bottom up and back to front, that's the rule for covering.