This page is packed with some usefull hints and tricks (not only for Sea Venom) 

1.) Glassing wing skins

I have often been asked how to cover wing skins.There is a method that is extremely easy and fast ,even for the beginner: Cut the glassslightly oversized, clean the wing surface with a brush and place the glass on it. Mix slow curing epoxy - if you do not know how much, just measure the weight of the glass piece and add 10-20% ,for example glass weighs 60 gramms,then mix about 70 gramms of epoxy. Apply some little drops of epoxy on the surface just to fix the position of the glass.Now the trick : you need an old credit card or something similar with a clean,straight edge. Put 80 percent of the resin on centre of the wing and use the credit card to wipe it outwards to root ,tip,nose and trailing edge. If you just press slightly, you will have too much epoxy in the glass ,giving a shiny surface.If you press very hard you will have a very dry surface with a minimum of resin.It is very easy to regulate the correct amount of epoxy with this method , but best of all is it is extremely fast ! The Venom wings can be glassed in just 15 minutes ( both wing panels,one side)

1b.)Filling glassed wings

I often had pinholes in the surface after I applied filler with the spray gun, that required a second run and additional sanding. Now I apply the filler with a brush,the filler reaches even the tiniest hole.A good side effect is that I do not have to clean the gun and the whole workshop. I use the cheapest brushes and throw it away after the work is done - give it a try

2.)Fixing wing tanks

There are several methods, an easy one is to glue a ply tongue in the tank and to have a slot in the tip-rib in which the tongue fits. The tip rib should be made of good quality multi ply to avoid demage when the tip tank is ripped off. The tank is secured by a single screw through the lower side of the wing and through the tongue.

3.)  Sealing wood surfaces

A fast way to seal fuselage formers is to thin 5-minute epoxy with alcohol and apply it to the wood surface with a brush

4.)Noseleg servo saver

When the noseleg is linked by wires, the servo has to take a lot of load on rough airfields.A simple way to save the servo is the method that is used on the Venom noseleg. There is a ring around the leg with an M6-thread. Take a servo arm and screw it to the ring. Fix the wires in the holes of the servo arm.The servo arm is flexible and takes all the load. It can easy be replaced when broken.

5.) Adjustable noseleg servo

When noselegs are linked by wires it is not easy to adjust the right tension of the wires.A good working method is to put the servo on a self made “rail”, giving you the opportunity to adjust the tension.This is also helpfull ,when a wire has to be replaced.

6.) Super shiny surfaces

When your model has been painted/sprayed, you often find dust or flies in the surface, some areas may have this awful “orange skin”. I always sand my surfaces when the paint has dried with very fine sandpaper ( 1000 - 2000 grit ) and then polish it over.This takes some extra time but the result is outstanding !

7.)Time saving finish job on wings

Many wings like those of the Venom are strong enough and do not need a glassed wood surface, but for a later paint job with automotive paints you need to glass the wings before - I say no. I have often covered wings with solar film (high quality product reccomended) and applied a“plastic adhesion agent” ( thats how we call it here in Germany) .This is available in spray cans. It creates a very dull surface and is super thin. Then I apply primer and colour. Together with the above mentioned method of polishing the paint, you can achieve a super quality surface and you safe time. When using a silver solar film  you can add some extra realism by sanding away the paint in some areas to simulate weathering. Try this on a cheap model first until you have found the correct film - some wrinkle in sunlight.

8.)Wheel door closing device

Most wheel doors on noselegs can be closed by the noseleg without the need for a separate servo/ doorsequencer. This can be achieved by using a piece of 1mm wire.

Glue a self made “horn”to the door,very close to the hinge axis.

Take a peace of thin wire (has to be flexible) and bend it to fit the hole in the horn. The wire runs from the one side of the door opening to the other side.

Cut a U-shaped piece of ply to support the wire on the opposite side and glue it to the inside surface of the fuselage.Remember :the wire has to be long enough, because it gets shorter when the leg retracts and bends it.

The door is automatically closed by the leg that touches the wire while retracting.Use a rubber or metal spring to create a preload on the wire so that the door stays open when the leg is out.

9.)Detecting leaks in airlines                                                                                                                       It is often found that retract air lines leak. Sometimes the leaks are big enough to hear which connection it is, but mostly this method is not usefull. A very easy way to detect ANY leak is to apply soap water with a brush on all nipples or Festo connectors. Even the smallest leak will cause bubbles in the applied water.       

If you have any useful hint , then share it with others and send it to me.It will be published on this page. Write to     grumania@web.de