VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #1  
Old 08-12-2015, 07:41 AM
scrollF4's Avatar
scrollF4 scrollF4 is offline
Moderator, Asst. Line Boy
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Posts: 1,473
Question Painting ribs before wrapping

Looking for your thoughts:
I'm having AircraftWraps wrap my RV-7A. Aside from all the great things they do when they wrap the airplane, they don't paint anything. That means:
- The ribs on the ends of the ailerons, flaps, elevators and rudder counterweight arms, and horizontal and vertical stabilizers will be exposed.
- Same goes for the rear spars on the horizontal and vertical stabilizers as well as the wings' recesses for the ailerons and flaps.

My question: So what? Is it that big a deal? I have primed these areas, and lean toward not painting them in the interest of weight savings. The rivets in there are naked, and I like the look.

Is there any overwhelming reason to paint these areas before the wrap? Or is it just cosmetic?
__________________
Scroll

Sid "Scroll" Mayeux, Col, USAF (ret)
52F NW Regional/Aero Valley Airport, Roanoke TX (home of DR's Van Cave)
"KELLI GIRL" N260KM RV-7A tipper
Catch her on YouTube's "Because I Fly!" channel

Exemption waived.
Proud and grateful 2020 -=VAF=- Contributor
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-12-2015, 12:45 PM
tomkk's Avatar
tomkk tomkk is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Port Orange, Fl
Posts: 931
Default

It's been 7 or 8 months since I talked to them but, at least at that time, they said they had worked with a local painter for color matched paint they used on (I think) the prop spinner and wheel fairings. Has that changed?
__________________
Tom
Port Orange, Fl
EAA #51411
RV-12 N121TK ELSA #120845; first flight 06/10/2015; 700 hrs as of 02/2020
RV-12 N918EN ELSA #120995 Eagles Nest Project; first flight 05/18/2019
SPA Panther N26TK; First Flight 03/13/2020
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-13-2015, 05:55 AM
scrollF4's Avatar
scrollF4 scrollF4 is offline
Moderator, Asst. Line Boy
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Posts: 1,473
Default

They'll have to answer that question, Tom. I haven't gotten that far in the process.

So can anybody provide comment on my question please?
__________________
Scroll

Sid "Scroll" Mayeux, Col, USAF (ret)
52F NW Regional/Aero Valley Airport, Roanoke TX (home of DR's Van Cave)
"KELLI GIRL" N260KM RV-7A tipper
Catch her on YouTube's "Because I Fly!" channel

Exemption waived.
Proud and grateful 2020 -=VAF=- Contributor
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-13-2015, 08:22 AM
BruceEicher's Avatar
BruceEicher BruceEicher is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Wilsonville/Aurora KUAO Oregon
Posts: 746
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by scrollF4 View Post
Looking for your thoughts:

- The ribs on the ends of the ailerons, flaps, elevators and rudder counterweight arms, and horizontal and vertical stabilizers will be exposed.
- Same goes for the rear spars on the horizontal and vertical stabilizers as well as the wings' recesses for the ailerons and flaps.

My question: So what? Is it that big a deal? I have primed these areas, and lean toward not painting them in the interest of weight savings. The rivets in there are naked, and I like the look.

Is there any overwhelming reason to paint these areas before the wrap? Or is it just cosmetic?
My airplane is just primed in the locations you describe above.
My paint scheme is military which allows some roughness or unfinished I believe.
Then some of the skins are polished aluminum, so I guess corrosion protection is not a concern. I hangar my plane, like most.
My goal with wrapping was to get'r done, make her pretty, and keep flying. I did mine myself over a three week period and flew almost anytime I wanted in the process.
It's been almost three flying seasons now with the wrap. I still get compliments that think it's paint.
Bottom line; I know that this will not be the last finish my airplane will have, for a few reasons...so my advice, don"t sweat the details at this point.
__________________
Bruce, Katie, Hana and RV-8 HulaGirl
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-13-2015, 02:07 PM
scrollF4's Avatar
scrollF4 scrollF4 is offline
Moderator, Asst. Line Boy
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Posts: 1,473
Default

Bruce,
I know how nice Hulu Girl looks: This is really great feedback. Thanks!
__________________
Scroll

Sid "Scroll" Mayeux, Col, USAF (ret)
52F NW Regional/Aero Valley Airport, Roanoke TX (home of DR's Van Cave)
"KELLI GIRL" N260KM RV-7A tipper
Catch her on YouTube's "Because I Fly!" channel

Exemption waived.
Proud and grateful 2020 -=VAF=- Contributor
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-23-2015, 06:01 PM
AircraftWraps's Avatar
AircraftWraps AircraftWraps is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: West Palm Beach, Florida
Posts: 167
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tomkk View Post
It's been 7 or 8 months since I talked to them but, at least at that time, they said they had worked with a local painter for color matched paint they used on (I think) the prop spinner and wheel fairings. Has that changed?
Tom,

This is still our process. We can wrap 100%, however we like to color match paint the spinner and wheel pants. Labor required being the driver for that course.

These are the only items painted. The internals and exposed ends should be prepared to the owner/builders desire. Some prime and some other paint. (I personally went with flat grey primer.)

Sid,

The design is looking great and I've been keeping up to date on your 7s progress.
__________________
www.AircraftWraps.com
Replace paint with performance.

Have a paint price? Send it to me and see what we can do!

Please visit and Like us on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/AircraftWraps
Check our our Instagram photos - here

Please note, emails sent to hotmail are being delivered to Junk .
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-24-2015, 03:21 PM
jbtierney jbtierney is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 6
Default just had my RV7 wrapped by aircraft wraps

I primed all my surfaces that showed during assembly. Had my wrap done by Scott, and it looks amazing. If I knew how to post pictures I would post some. You will not be sorry with the work. the color match on the spinner and wheel pants is excellent. they even wrapped the ends of the counter weights on the rudder and elevator.
yesterday when I took off at KCRG the tower complimented me on the paint job, said it looked great. I told them it was a wrap, which started a conversation with several other planes in the pattern. My plane looks like a different plane now.
__________________
Joe Tierney
RV7 N887PJ- Flying, Phase 1 complete
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor, INST/COMM

www.mykitlog.com/jbtierney
www.EAA1379.org
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:20 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.