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Glider Wraps, Gelcoat Refinishing
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Herbert kilian
Sep 11, 2012, 2:33:42 PM9/11/12
to
Soaring Cafe has published an article I wrote about the subject:
http://soaringcafe.com/2012/09/whats-your-pleasure-turkey-fajita-or-glider-wrap/
I would be interested what this forum thinks about the points made and
what the potential downsides are of wrapping a glider in plastic.
From my research, it should be a viable alternative to total
refinishing.
Herb Kilian
http://soaringcafe.com/2012/09/whats-your-pleasure-turkey-fajita-or-glider-wrap/
I would be interested what this forum thinks about the points made and
what the potential downsides are of wrapping a glider in plastic.
From my research, it should be a viable alternative to total
refinishing.
Herb Kilian
JohnDeRosa
Sep 11, 2012, 5:58:36 PM9/11/12
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Herb - I am betting that you read the same Sunday Chicago Tribune article "And that's a wrap" I did about wrapping a car in vinyl. It never occurred to me to use that on a glider. I now have visions of wrapping my wings in tiger stripes!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/used/sc-cons-0906-autocover-wrap-it-20120908,0,314744.story.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/used/sc-cons-0906-autocover-wrap-it-20120908,0,314744.story.
soa...@gmail.com
Sep 12, 2012, 12:58:26 PM9/12/12
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On the bottom wing surface one could put all kinds of fun stuff, also fuselage.
On a refinish the hard labor to remove the gel coat would still apply? Weight
would not be a problem?
Dieter
On a refinish the hard labor to remove the gel coat would still apply? Weight
would not be a problem?
Dieter
Brad Alston
Sep 12, 2012, 12:03:52 PM9/12/12
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JohnDeRosa;823597 Wrote:
> Herb - I am betting that you read the same Sunday Chicago Tribune
> article "And that's a wrap" I did about wrapping a car in vinyl. It
> never occurred to me to use that on a glider. I now have visions of
> wrapping my wings in tiger stripes!
>
Yes, this is an interesting concept. My son does wraps and he has
wrapped portions of his car. What I've noticed is that the areas wrapped
tend to accumulate dust a LOT more than those areas that are not
wrapped.
My assumption is that the static electricity build up on the vinyl is
what keeps the dust particles attached more readily...but I'm no
scientist! What that may mean in glider terms is that you may need to
spend more time dusting the glider before take-off and, maybe after
flying a while, any static build up may attract particles you don't want
hanging around attached to the glider. This sounds like a great
opportunity for some field experimentation!
Brad.
--
Brad Alston
mag...@bellsouth.net
Sep 12, 2012, 9:43:08 PM9/12/12
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Herbert kilian
Sep 13, 2012, 2:41:18 PM9/13/12
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On Sep 12, 8:43 pm, magn...@bellsouth.net wrote:
> On Tuesday, September 11, 2012 1:33:42 PM UTC-5, Herbert kilian wrote:
> > Soaring Cafe has published an article I wrote about the subject:
>
> >http://soaringcafe.com/2012/09/whats-your-pleasure-turkey-fajita-or-g...
> On Tuesday, September 11, 2012 1:33:42 PM UTC-5, Herbert kilian wrote:
> > Soaring Cafe has published an article I wrote about the subject:
>
>
> > I would be interested what this forum thinks about the points made and
>
> > what the potential downsides are of wrapping a glider in plastic.
>
> > From my research, it should be a viable alternative to total
>
> > refinishing.
>
> > Herb Kilian
>
> I would call Dick Butler he can tell you about that.
Dick Butler's Concordia has - from the reports I've read - some
> > I would be interested what this forum thinks about the points made and
>
> > what the potential downsides are of wrapping a glider in plastic.
>
> > From my research, it should be a viable alternative to total
>
> > refinishing.
>
> > Herb Kilian
>
> I would call Dick Butler he can tell you about that.
control surfaces wrapped in Monocote, a shrink film used for model
airplanes. This was done solely for mass reduction reasons, no gel-
coat on those structures. Car wrapping films are quite different.
I'm contemplating starting a field study by wrapping the (short)
winglets on my LS8-18 in white glossy film and to apply it myself
since I have some background. This is a non-structural component and
mine are like the rest of the glider in immaculate condition. The
material is available on-line and would cost around $50 for the two
winglets. That's cheap enough to remove the film after 1-2 years and
see what's underneath (if it holds up that long).
Herb
Bob Whelan
Sep 13, 2012, 3:18:04 PM9/13/12
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On 9/13/2012 12:41 PM, Herbert kilian wrote:
> On Sep 12, 8:43 pm, magn...@bellsouth.net wrote:
>> On Tuesday, September 11, 2012 1:33:42 PM UTC-5, Herbert kilian wrote:
>>> Soaring Cafe has published an article I wrote about the subject:
<Snip...>
> On Sep 12, 8:43 pm, magn...@bellsouth.net wrote:
>> On Tuesday, September 11, 2012 1:33:42 PM UTC-5, Herbert kilian wrote:
>>> Soaring Cafe has published an article I wrote about the subject:
>>> Herb Kilian
>>
>> I would call Dick Butler he can tell you about that.
>
> Dick Butler's Concordia has - from the reports I've read - some
> control surfaces wrapped in Monocote, a shrink film used for model
> airplanes. This was done solely for mass reduction reasons, no gel-
> coat on those structures. Car wrapping films are quite different.
> I'm contemplating starting a field study by wrapping the (short)
> winglets on my LS8-18 in white glossy film and to apply it myself
> since I have some background. This is a non-structural component and
> mine are like the rest of the glider in immaculate condition. The
> material is available on-line and would cost around $50 for the two
> winglets. That's cheap enough to remove the film after 1-2 years and
> see what's underneath (if it holds up that long).
> Herb
>
qualify in this neck of the woods) another area to consider wrapping might be
(part of) the tailboom aft of the main wheel where - in my experience - rock
damage accrues...an easy wrap, no laminar flow there to be disturbed, possible
reduction in "gravel damage"...
Regards,
Bob W.
Tim Taylor
Sep 13, 2012, 11:35:09 PM9/13/12
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No need to run the experiment. Just look under contest numbers on gliders and trailers. If I had a new glider with gel coat I would really look at wrapping the whole glider. I did the numbers a few years ago and total weight was only about 30 pounds or less for the wrap.
Dave Nadler
Sep 14, 2012, 7:13:44 AM9/14/12
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I suggest wrapping the canopy.
It would reduce all that annoying glare
that makes PDAs so hard to read.
See ya, Dave
It would reduce all that annoying glare
that makes PDAs so hard to read.
See ya, Dave
Paul Remde
Sep 14, 2012, 12:46:45 PM9/14/12
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Maybe wrapping the pilot would lower injury rates... :)
Paul
"Dave Nadler" wrote in message
news:e2753a9b-976a-4a83...@googlegroups.com...
Paul
"Dave Nadler" wrote in message
news:e2753a9b-976a-4a83...@googlegroups.com...
Tim Taylor
Sep 14, 2012, 2:35:29 PM9/14/12
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Dave Nadler
Sep 14, 2012, 2:50:27 PM9/14/12
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On Friday, September 14, 2012 2:35:29 PM UTC-4, Tim Taylor wrote:
> An example:
> http://blog.aopa.org/lgfsweeps/?p=110
Darn, I was hoping for an example wrapped pilot.
> An example:
> http://blog.aopa.org/lgfsweeps/?p=110
Darn, I was hoping for an example wrapped pilot.
Craig Funston
Sep 14, 2012, 3:42:56 PM9/14/12
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On Friday, September 14, 2012 11:35:29 AM UTC-7, Tim Taylor wrote:
> An example:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> http://blog.aopa.org/lgfsweeps/?p=110
Looks like he's got three years on it now. Might be worth contacting him to see how it worked long term.
> An example:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> http://blog.aopa.org/lgfsweeps/?p=110
Craig
Ramy
Sep 15, 2012, 2:04:59 AM9/15/12
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Ramy
Muttley
Sep 15, 2012, 7:42:16 AM9/15/12
to rfwh...@_nospam_greeleynet.com
Hi Bob
For your particular problem you do not need a full wrap but the following
could help
http://www.streckenflug.at/shop/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=800
For your particular problem you do not need a full wrap but the following
could help
http://www.streckenflug.at/shop/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=800
rlovinggood
Sep 15, 2012, 8:34:44 AM9/15/12
to rfwh...@_nospam_greeleynet.com
Wrapping an aircraft isn't new.
Back in 1983, I saw several F-104 Starfighters in white shrink-wrap material. They were to be shipped from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, to Taiwan. The F-104's were at Luke for training German pilots. However, in the early 80's, the Luftwaffe was changing over to Tornado's and the training program, run not by the U.S. Air Force, but by Lockheed came to an end.
Herbert, how's your project coming? If you want to increase the scope of the project, just shrink wrap the Cobra with LS8 inside and ship to me. I'll continue the test and you can go and get yourself a self-launcher that you've would like to have!
Ray
Back in 1983, I saw several F-104 Starfighters in white shrink-wrap material. They were to be shipped from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, to Taiwan. The F-104's were at Luke for training German pilots. However, in the early 80's, the Luftwaffe was changing over to Tornado's and the training program, run not by the U.S. Air Force, but by Lockheed came to an end.
Herbert, how's your project coming? If you want to increase the scope of the project, just shrink wrap the Cobra with LS8 inside and ship to me. I'll continue the test and you can go and get yourself a self-launcher that you've would like to have!
Ray
Herbert kilian
Sep 16, 2012, 8:03:55 PM9/16/12
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Ray, I would gladly comply and ship my LS8 to you! Problem is, you
wouldn't know what to do with it!
(You had it coming)
Herb
Chip Bearden
Sep 16, 2012, 9:36:48 PM9/16/12
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I rubbed off portions of my old contest number on a glider years ago
to convert JB to JE for the new owner. The otherwise crazed gel coat
looked perfect where the numbers had been. It was kind of eerie to see
how much protection had been provided by that thin layer of gray
lacquer.
Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
U.S.A.
to convert JB to JE for the new owner. The otherwise crazed gel coat
looked perfect where the numbers had been. It was kind of eerie to see
how much protection had been provided by that thin layer of gray
lacquer.
Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
U.S.A.
dbra...@gmail.com
Sep 26, 2012, 7:53:51 PM9/26/12
to
> I would call Dick Butler he can tell you about that. Dick Butler's Concordia has - from the reports I've read - some control surfaces wrapped in Monocote, a shrink film used for model airplanes. This was done solely for mass reduction
I could see Monocote(high heat film) and Oracover(low heat activated film) being used in this capacity but it depends on what is underlaying. Generally RC films work well and easily with balsa and obeechi sheeting. They can be applied on raw, clean (parting wax removed completely) fiberglass but that's not as easy and really hard if the surface is a curved or of complex shape. And films often have to be tempered meaning the first few times in the sunlight they can bubble/relax and sag from heat and have to be reheated/re-shrunk. The car wrap technology sounds interesting and appears to work well on complex surfaces. It would be interesting to see how it is done.
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