Surface finishing

A method of smoothing the surface of an article adapted for relative motion with a fluid environment, said surface containing surface irregularities therein, comprising the steps of:

• (a) coating said surface with a fluid adhesive/filler material;
• (b) covering said adhesive/filler material with a preformed flexible, substantially inelastic film of a controlled uniform thickness;
• (c) applying tension to said film by pulling its edges with a force less than that which would result in any effective stretching of the film in a direction along the surface such as to allow said film to be pulled over said surface without conforming to said surface irregularities, said pulling serving to enhance the stiffness of said film and causing it to serve as a smooth outer straightedge optimally conforming to the desired contour of the surface and further to act as an automatic gauge to simultaneously redistribute and control the flow and positioning, and thus minimize the quantity of adhesive/filler material so as to result in an inner layer of varying thickness from an amount just sufficient to act as an adhesive to an amount just sufficient to fill in said surface irregularities;
• and
• (d) setting said adhesive/filler material while maintaining tension on said film whereby said tensioned film is bonded to said surface by said adhesive/filler material, providing a smooth uninterrupted finish thereto.