Basic building question about preparing top wing

[AlbertD]

I'm building the WNW MVR Albatros and have a question. I plan to paint and decal and install the rigging attachment points before installation the wings. The eyelet holes are a piece of cake to drill out with a .5mm drill. Should I use some type of masking solution on the strut points before painting?

Thanks for helping a newbie with his first biplane.

[bobs_buckles]

Hi Albert,
For what it's worth, I used masking fluid on all the strut attachment points on my Sopwith Triplane. 

Good luck!

vB 

[kensar]

Doing so will make the wing joining task easier.  I usually forget to do that and end up having to scrape paint out of the holes in the wing.

[AlbertD]

Thank you both very much. I've gotten my wings cleaned up and ready to prime but will use some masking fluid first.

[bobs_buckles]

Thank you both very much. I've gotten my wings cleaned up and ready to prime but will use some masking fluid first.

Hi Albert,
Another little tip (Applies to how I model) before priming, give the plastic parts a wash in warm soapy water. It helps clean any releasing agent left on the plastic, thus greatly helping with adhesion.

vB 

[AlbertD]

Thank you both very much. I've gotten my wings cleaned up and ready to prime but will use some masking fluid first.

Hi Albert,
Another little tip (Applies to how I model) before priming, give the plastic parts a wash in warm soapy water. It helps clean any releasing agent left on the plastic, thus greatly helping with adhesion.

vB 

Thanks Bob, I absolutely will.

[maddog]

Albert, I have on occasion used the struts themselves to 'mask' the holes. This has worked fine but I usually forget.

Good luck with the installation; mounting the top wing remains stressful even after quite a few builds.

[Gisbod]

I tend to use the struts too, or tiny blobs of Blu-Tack.

It’s worth the small effort.

Guy

[lcarroll]

   I use the Blu-Tack solution as well, but like many here I often forget! It's an important step as the stronger glue joints on strut connections are crucial. Like the string knotted around a finger I have settled on having a "blob" of Blue-Tac on my bench in plain view as a reminder when I set up for a Build; the older I get the better it works!
Cheers,
Lance

[AlbertD]

You guys were a big help. Thank you all. I used Humbol masking solution and mounted my upper wing this morning. It was stressful but worked very well and seems very solid. I installed my Bob's Buckles eyebolts on both wings, installed the struts in the lower wing pre-rigged the upper wing. I then put the upper wing upside down on the work surface and got all the struts inserted into the upper wing and put a bit of weight on the bottom of the lower wing and glued away. I now have my first biplane. You'll be seeing pictures in the finished gallery probably some time later next week.

[bobs_buckles]

That is great news, Albert.
We look forward to those pictures.

Cheers!
Von B