Flap tape question
 

I’m heading out to pick up the RV7 from the paint shop. I wanted to apply the flap tape before installing the flaps. I have both the vans 3 inch that I heard yellows and gets brittle. I also have the 4 inch 3M from flyboys that is better and will not yellow and get brittle. My question is, am I better to install under the trailing wing skin and trim the excess or install it on the flap itself? Also I bought enough to do the trailing skin and the flap itself. What would be the best way to go about this? Do both the underneath of the skin and the flap or just one or the other? I’m also leaning towards using the flyboys 3M tape.

Thanks...

You will still get some markings on your flap if you install it under the wing skin, I had the same thing and even though my color was silver, still had markings on it. I end up reinstalling on the flap.

on my new plane, I have installed felt tape under the wing skin and seems to be working better.

Tape
 

I?ve seen what looks like carbon fiber tape on the flap area. It worked well and looked great, but not sure where to get it.

You want the 3M clear paint protection tape. The stuff they use on cars in rock chip areas. It is relatively soft, doesn't wear and won't yellow and dry up like the stuff in the kit. It is better to put it on the flap. If you put it under the wing skin, dirt can get trapped between the surfaces and cause scratching of the paint on the flap. If you use a masking tape guideline to apply, you can't even see the clear tape with the flap retracted.

Be carefull of thumbprints. Any touching of the adhesive side becomes very obvious when applied.

Larry

I tried a suggestion found in a previous post, and applied a strip of Velcro (fuzzy side) to the bottom of the wing skin that contacts the flap. 200 hrs. later- not a scratch or mark. When it eventually wears out, I plan on peeling it off and replacing with new.

See my post here, post #28, http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...23#post1277423

I tried many things and the solution that has lasted the longest and continues to work well is paint protection film on the flap and Teflon tape on the underside.

+1
 

I found 3/4 inch felt tape works best on the underside of the wing skin. Tried all the others.

felt tape
 

Anyone have a suggestion for a good brand of felt tape?

flap tape
 

I found it very difficult to get the 4" wide paint protective tape on my flaps without wrinkles and finger prints. I threw it away and put a strip just under the wing trailing edge.

However, I think I'm going to swap it for felt tape. I think I'm seeing lines on the flaps from the clear tape, although very slight. The felt idea just seems better