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-   -   Video of my RV Vinyl Wrap (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=113316)

Infidel 05-30-2014 10:20 AM

Any insight when Aircraftwraps.com's website will be active instead of "coming soon?"

AircraftWraps 05-30-2014 06:32 PM

We just finished Titan Aircraft Engine's RV8. Titan pushed us into some really amazing graphics and new install requirements. Throw in a 2 week time constraint to get the aircraft heading toward Reno for Pylon race school!:eek:

Sorry, It's been a "all hands on deck" couple of weeks. Long hours and the website has taken a backseat to our backlog of current clients.

Please email us at info@aircraftwraps.com and we will answer any question.

Titan's RV8 Photos: They will be posted on VAF after their representative views the aircraft tomorrow morning.

Also: AircraftWraps will be giving a presentation at KLEE in central Florida tomorrow around 10-11am to the local EAA chapter. We will have 3 aircraft arriving for display and discussion. Please join us if you can. (we will be the amazing looking flight of 3 RV8s :D

Captain Avgas 05-30-2014 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmccoy (Post 882414)
It's been a few weeks since I finished my Vinyl Wrap, so I thought it was time to post a quick video of the process.

The results look great. The cost was much less then paint, and the process was completed much faster.

There are lots of places on an RV that would normally be painted but which might not be suitable for vinyl wrapping. I refer specifically to areas adjacent to control surfaces.

For instance how is the rear spar of the wing treated where the flaps and ailerons attach. And how is the rear spar of the vertical stabiliser treated where the rudder attaches. And likewise for the rear spar of the HS where the elevators attach. There are lightening holes, brackets, doubler plates etc in these areas so presumably it would be difficult if not impossible to apply wrap in there.

With painted planes these areas are normally painted because you can see in to these areas. If they're not painted they look very ordinary indeed.

How did you deal with this problem. I'm guessing that if the aircraft was vinyl wrapped with the control surfaces in place then these areas have simply been left as primer or bare metal (or a mixture of both).

BruceEicher 05-30-2014 09:39 PM

You are right Bob
 
My rear spars are primed only. Cheap and quick, then back in the air...keep her moving and no one will notice. :)
Cheers!

pmccoy 05-31-2014 06:14 PM

Agreed. The rear spar is just primer. You don't notice unless you are snooping in looking really close.

You can stand 3 feet away and think it's paint. 1 foot out you know it's vinyl. Yes, if you look really close, there are a few spots that have pulled or stretched to tight and you know for sure it vinyl. In the end....

- it was way faster then getting a paint job, and they came to my hangar
- I didn't have to remove the control surfaces
- The cost was much less then paint (although, cost will vary. I had some quotes that were almost as much as paint. None were more then paint)
- I am happy.

The big question is, will I still be happy several years down the road?

AircraftWraps 05-31-2014 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmccoy (Post 884561)

You can stand 3 feet away and think it's paint. 1 foot out you know it's vinyl. Yes, if you look really close, there are a few spots that have pulled or stretched to tight and you know for sure it vinyl. In the end....

Peter,

Very sorry to hear that! :(

Looking at the video raised our eyebrows to what they were doing?

Your statement above is completely counter to what anyone has said viewing our product and installs in person.

I'm loading photos and video now. I'll provide Hi Def photo and video to counter and represent AircraftWraps' install and service specifically designed for the aircraft community.

While I load, Please hit our instagram link for Titan's aircraft.

Hopefully, Titan will speak first hand regarding our working together.

Snowflake 06-01-2014 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmccoy (Post 884561)
The big question is, will I still be happy several years down the road?

One massive plus to this process... If you're *not* happy several years down the road, you're only a hair dryer away from being back to bare aluminum.

scrollF4 06-02-2014 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Avgas (Post 884371)
There are lots of places on an RV that would normally be painted but which might not be suitable for vinyl wrapping. I refer specifically to areas adjacent to control surfaces.

I'm also interested in knowing how you resolve this issue. Y'all discussed the spars. Now, how do you wrap the end ribs on the flight controls, flaps, horizontal stabilizers, vert stabilizer, aileron recesses, etc? Photos would be great (I just couldn't pick out these details in the videos....which are AWESOME, I might add).

AircraftWraps 06-02-2014 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmccoy (Post 884561)

You can stand 3 feet away and think it's paint. 1 foot out you know it's vinyl. Yes, if you look really close, there are a few spots that have pulled or stretched to tight and you know for sure it vinyl. In the end....

Peter,

We took this specifically for you. Up close and within 1 foot. Very sorry to hear about the "over-stretching" and appearance from close you received from your auto-wrap installers.

As you can see we do take Wrapping to another level...

Wish we had been able to provide you with our service. From your quoted price-range, it sounds like we would have been within your desired range.

https://vimeo.com/97088128

https://vimeo.com/97087775

On the other hand... you dont have to deal with us having your contact info. We'd just bother you about flying formation with us some place for food!:rolleyes:

AircraftWraps 06-02-2014 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrollF4 (Post 884961)
I'm also interested in knowing how you resolve this issue. Y'all discussed the spars. Now, how do you wrap the end ribs on the flight controls, flaps, horizontal stabilizers, vert stabilizer, aileron recesses, etc? Photos would be great (I just couldn't pick out these details in the videos....which are AWESOME, I might add).

Honesty...

We spent several years and hundreds of flight hours developing these details. There is a reason we omit them. Ask our former clients... they are all very vocal about our service. They can confirm that we contend with all issues regarding our aircraft. We are creating a Wrap Mafia!:D

scrollF4 06-02-2014 08:55 AM

Let me rephrase
 
"Issue" was a poor choice of wording on my part. I just want to know if you wrap those areas or leave them unwrapped like the spars? I am 100% sold and will wrap my aircraft...I'm IN for the wrap mafia.

I just want to know if I'll need to paint those areas on the flight controls and flaps, or do you wrap them too?

Rhino889 06-02-2014 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrollF4 (Post 884979)
"Issue" was a poor choice of wording on my part. I just want to know if you wrap those areas or leave them unwrapped like the spars? I am 100% sold and will wrap my aircraft...I'm IN for the wrap mafia.

I just want to know if I'll need to paint those areas on the flight controls and flaps, or do you wrap them too?

Yes,

Prime or paint them. We work in that area, but only to a degree.

"Wrap Mafia"!!!! :cool: Once you are in... You'll never leave!;)

scrollF4 06-02-2014 09:36 AM

Count me in (some time after Phase 1). :D

Snowflake 06-02-2014 09:30 PM

I'm sold on the wrap, but unfortunately i'm not going to fly diagonally across the country to do it (Vancouver, BC to Florida). When you have a satellite office in Seattle let me know. :)

AircraftWraps 06-03-2014 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake (Post 885238)
I'm sold on the wrap, but unfortunately i'm not going to fly diagonally across the country to do it (Vancouver, BC to Florida). When you have a satellite office in Seattle let me know. :)

Seattle and Phoenix are our current areas of focus as we build out our network.

AircraftWraps is already in place! We started this process months ago. Our network of "Aviation" qualified installers will come to your hangar.

We provide 2 options for the "Distant-Places" Wrap:

1. We can fly a "Director" to your location and supervise your install during the entire process to include disassembly and reassembly. Price varies based on travel and hotel cost... MUCH cheaper then owners flying their RV here and roundtrip airfare to Florida!

2. Pilot/Owner Assisted Wrap:We come to you. The pilot/owner signs a NDA regarding our process and becomes a "AircraftWraps Director" for his own aircraft. Pilot/Owner will handle disassembly and reassembly. Our qualified installers will receive ALL direction from AircraftWraps regarding install and required process to AircraftWraps Aviation Installation Standards. The owner will not be charged for any travel or Hotel expense. His involvement and assistance with aircraft hardware specifics will be compensated through a reduced AircraftWraps price.

Again... WE COME TO YOU!

Think about having your plane never leave your hangar and being completed within the week. Zero 100LL cost to the AW client! The saving for our customers will be staggering!

AircraftWraps is the only company offering this service. With environmental concerns over painting products, it's just not an option for that system of aircraft color scheme.

Option 2 was created after MANY of our pilot/builders/owners requested to be involved in the process. We developed this "Distant-Places" wrap program in an effort to involve our clients in their wrap (as requested). We believe this program allows our clients to be involved while protecting the hard earned flight testing data and our install process procedures.

Snowflake,

When would you like us at your Hangar Door!?:D Your location is prime installation summer weather climate!

Our Phoenix installation... see you in a few months;):eek:

Air-conditioned/climate-controlled Hangar (Don of Texas), we'll even bring coffee and donuts!:)

esco 08-23-2020 12:20 PM

Long-term perspective on vinyl?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by pmccoy (Post 882473)
... I guess the big question will only be answered with time. How will it look a couple of years down the road? Right now it looks every bit as good as paint. Only time will tell if I am still this happy in a few years. But hey, if not, the vinyl can be pulled and I would have a clean aluminum plane ready for paint, or new vinyl.

Pete:

I'm mulling over exterior options, and found this post.
It's 6 years on- how is the vinyl wrap holding up?

Thx

edclee 08-23-2020 01:19 PM

Vinyl Wrap Wrap up?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by esco (Post 1456524)
Pete:

I'm mulling over exterior options, and found this post.
It's 6 years on- how is the vinyl wrap holding up?

Thx

You would think in 6 years we would be hearing more about this. I got a local quote a month ago from a wrapping outfit that has NOT done a plane. They quoted $12,000. VIrtually identical to a nearby aircraft painter to paint in three color imron. Mine is polished so no paint to remove except fiberglass parts.

How about it OP, is the vinyl holding up?
Ed

Oops, I just googled aircraftwraps.com and it appears they are kaput!
Ed

Bevan 08-23-2020 01:39 PM

I suspect it’s so easy for a home builder to wrap for themselves, there’s little money in it for the pro’s. My self-serve wrap is five years old now, 250+ flight hours and holding up well. The plane is always hangared. I would say the Canadian cold winter flying may be the hardest on it as it gets brittle with extreme cold temps. I avoid flying in the rain so maybe that helps too.

Not sure how to post a picture here anymore. Can anyone tell me how the new VAF picture posting procedure (VAFPPP :) works? A quick search didn’t yield anything useful.

Bevan

esco 08-23-2020 04:01 PM

[pic posting, as of July 2020]
 
Bevan:

Bottom Line: your picture(s) must be hosted on another site, then you can embed the link to the site here on VAF.

see: https://vansairforce.net/articles/Im...ums/images.htm

JoopSJ 08-23-2020 05:27 PM

1 Attachment(s)
No, you don’t need external photo anymore.
Just use the attach file feature when you post. See pic.

scrollF4 08-23-2020 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esco (Post 1456524)
Pete:

I'm mulling over exterior options, and found this post.
It's 6 years on- how is the vinyl wrap holding up?

Thx

Joop,
I wrapped KELLI GIRL in the fall of 2015. Here's the story of how I got her wrapped (the job was done by AircraftWraps.com, which has since stopped doing wraps):
https://vansairforce.net/community/s...d.php?t=132000

After 5 years and just over 1100 Hobbs hours in VFR and IFR, here are my lessons learned:

- Durability: Less durable than paint, particularly against hangar rash and IFR rain. I found the wrap quite durable for VFR flight, but flight in IMC (rain, etc.) really does wear away at the wrap on the nose around the big air intakes. The wing leading edge wrap shows vinyl surface erosion where rain hits the leading edge, discoloring the white invasion stripes in particular.

- Reparability: Easier than paint, but the repair is easy to find. A well-done paint repair will be tough to find. For example, consider fuel tank rivet tank ProSeal bubbles under the vinyl. They happen, just like with paint. However, with vinyl, you just lightly puncture the bubble with a pin or needle, then apply some light heat gun while carefully pressing the air out of the bubble and spreading out the vinyl. You won't know it was there. As for hangar rash, it's really easy to lightly trace an area outline with a hobby knife and remove that area with some heat gun. Then, apply a new piece over the cut-out area and affix with gun heat. From 5 feet, you won't see the difference.

-Cleanability: WAY EASY. Per AircraftWrap's recommendation, I use a spray bottle with a water/rubbing alcohol mix. Spray it on, wait a few, then wipe it off. There are better cleaners for bugs, but this approach has zero surface risk to the vinyl. No waxing, meaning DO NOT WAX. Or buff.

- Water intrusion at the vinyl sheet seams: This was one of my concerns voiced earlier in this thread from 2014. IT IS A TOTAL NON-ISSUE.

In short, the wrap still looks pretty good after all this last 5 years' worth of flying.

HAVING SAID ALL THAT, I think if KELLI GIRL was still a VFR-only airplane, she would look better in this wrap than she does now. If I had it to do again, knowing my airplane was destined for IFR flight, I would have painted her rather than wrap her. I fly KELLI GIRL a whole lot, but I'm not that rough on her.

My 2 cents. YMMV.

Captain Avgas 08-23-2020 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intothinair (Post 1456642)
I wrapped "May" in the spring of 2018 using vinyl from AeroGraphics. 300+ flight hours later, and a flight around the world, she still looks new.

The vinyl held up well to extreme heat, cold, dust/sand, ice/hail, monsoon rains and 65 hours in hard IFR conditions. The vinyl graphics were applied over a base coat of Imron paint. The only sign of wear is at the fuselage/cowl interface incurred during maintenance.

Photo credit: Vin LK

John, we don’t want to get bogged down in semantics but I very much doubt that what you have done is a “vinyl wrap”. To most people a wrap job is the use of vinyl directly applied to the aluminium in large areas in lieu of painting. What you have is the application of decorative vinyl decaLs over Imron paint....different thing.
If I was “painting” again I’d seriously consider doing decorative vinyl decals over a base paint job....but I wouldn’t consider a complete vinyl wrap for a number of reasons.


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