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03-01-2019, 01:33 PM
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Moderator, Asst. Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Posts: 1,473
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Here's KELLI GIRL's wrap journey
http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=132000
Note that AircraftWraps.com is no longer in business (he simply moved on to other exciting chapters of his life), but the wrap is a viable full-aircraft solution. The only things painted are the prop spinner and tire fairings: They're too much of a compound curve for the wrap to sit.
Some questions I saw in the previous threads:
- Alodine or priming? Nope, not required. The surface does get cleaned, but I don't know the process used.
- Fiberglass prep? Yes, you need to make the surface prep complete, because the wrap shrinks down into imperfections and accentuates them. However, pinholes need not be filled (yay!).
- Weight of the wrap? About half the weight of paint.
- Do rivet cracks show up under the wrap? I suspect no. The wrap shrinks down quite nicely to the rivets to show significant rivet detail, but I can't swear it'd reveal a cracked rivet (but I've never heard of that...is that really a thing?).
After 3+years and 700+ hours, I have these observations regarding the wrap:
- The wrap is not as hardy as paint against hangar rash. However, it is far easier to repair a wrap.
- It is easier to clean, but also easier to scuff.
- KELLI GIRL gained about 4-5 knots with the wrap. It gained 3 of those knots from aerodymanics, and 2 knots on flat-out good looks.
Am I glad I wrapped KELLI GIRL? Heck yes! 
__________________
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
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03-01-2019, 01:50 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Bell, FL
Posts: 387
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Weight
Quote:
Originally Posted by scrollF4
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I really want to get to the bottom of this.
Did you mean "About half the weight of a similar elaborate paint job and primer"?
Not having painted any vehicle or plane, I certainly would prefer wrap.
How about cost of paint vs vinyl for a real simple one-color job?
Finn
__________________
N214FL RV-4 -- Building
N46AZ RV3-B Mazda 13B EFI -- Bought -- Flying
N993FL RV-3A Mazda 13B NA 575 hours
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03-01-2019, 02:31 PM
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Moderator, Asst. Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Posts: 1,473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FinnFlyer
I really want to get to the bottom of this.
Did you mean "About half the weight of a similar elaborate paint job and primer"?
Not having painted any vehicle or plane, I certainly would prefer wrap.
How about cost of paint vs vinyl for a real simple one-color job?
Finn
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My wrapper told me that the weight of the material actually applied to my aircraft weighs about half of what such a paint job would have weighed.
This wrap job cost me $9500 in 2015. The 2015 estimate from Brandon at GLO Custom Paint for the same design was $13500. I did not price ?real simple one-color jobs.?
__________________
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
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03-01-2019, 03:00 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Hilton Head Island
Posts: 1,089
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My RV-8 has a 7 color paint job that is very close to the P-51 Gun Fighter paint scheme.
Those 7 colors added 19lbs to my -8
My friend told me that 19lbs of paint is nothing! Compared to the weight I added priming the inside parts! 
__________________
John Mastro
RV-8
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03-01-2019, 03:19 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 44
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Just one data piont
I painted my plane with PPG Omni, 2 colors, base white, yellow second color on half the airframe. The surface area was 482ft^2 (not an RV). The paint weight came out to 20.8lbs. (.69oz/ft^2). I did try to keep it light but I am an amateur. At the 3M vinyl number of .5oz/ft^2 I would have weighed 15.3lbs.
I unfortunately don't have the total bill but I spent about $1400 for all the painting fluids (primer, paint, thinners, solvents,etc) and probably another $1200 for the paint guns, sanding gear, masking supplies, respirators temporary paint booth construction, etc. Looking at the pricing of the 3M vinyl it looks like about $3/ft^2 for the material. So it would be $1450 in material to cover my plane, assume I scrap half of the material learning and pattern waste ($725) for a total of $2175.
I have been playing with the vinyl on some airplane type parts and it seems not too difficult to work with. (famous last words..)
I am going to try vinyl on my upcoming project, less exposure risk to toxic substances, less mess and cleanup, something new to learn and I may even save a few bucks and a couple of pounds.
YMMV
Gregg
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03-01-2019, 03:29 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 1,005
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Vinyl wrap 6A
For the low cost of materials, I decided to experiment with installing the vinyl wrap myself for this last plane. Turned out great!
I did decide to prime the aluminum first though - 9 cans of Rustoleum rattle can primer = $45.00 (note not all brands of rattle can primer sticks well to vinyl, experiment with one can first before you buy a bunch)
Vinyl (3M 1080) & materials $3200
Time to apply with 2 guys that didn't know what they were doing at first - 48 hrs x 2 = 96 hrs. I should note we got the cowl, wheel pants, spinner, & intersection fairing painted for $1300
So including the painted parts total DIY outlay for the job was $4545.00 (thats $3408 usd!) & includes some wasted vinyl for the learning experience
So would I do it again? For my own planes- Sure. For my customer planes - Na, their investment warrants going for a good quality primer/paint job.
__________________
Ralph
built a few RVs, rebuilt a few more, hot rodded some, & maintained/updated a bunch more
Last edited by Ralph Inkster : 03-01-2019 at 03:40 PM.
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03-01-2019, 03:34 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 3,947
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Vinyl
For what it's worth, my plan is to wrap myself. To that end, I wanted some light protection so the exterior was scuffed and Alodined. Actually no weight added. I plan to paint fiberglass parts rather than fight with wrapping curves. The rest will be a solid color. Boring but light.
__________________
Larry Larson
Estes Park, CO
http://wirejockrv7a.blogspot.com
wirejock at yahoo dot com
Donated 12/03/2019, plus a little extra.
RV-7A #73391, N511RV reserved (2,000+ hours)
HS SB, empennage, tanks, wings, fuse, working finishing kit
Disclaimer
I cannot be, nor will I be, held responsible if you try to do the same things I do and it does not work and/or causes you loss, injury, or even death in the process.
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03-03-2019, 10:01 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BC
Posts: 1,674
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A local painter who painted a friend?s RV (primer, base, clear) confessed it probably added 55lb after a couple minutes of figuring. I didn?t want a single stage basic paint job so this it what I was comparing to. I weighed the vinyl on my gram scale and multiplied by the estimated square footage of the complete airframe and added 10% for overlap and errors, I estimated 17lb, 20lb tops.
I did not alodine as the skins are alclad already and I?m trying to avoid chemical exposure.
The vinyl is not perfect (my paint job would be far from perfect) but it?s holding up well and I can replace it in the future.
I may have spent $2500 on vinyl (I have lots left over), and $3000 for the painter to paint the cowl, wing tips, pants and leg fairings. He also filled all the pin holes.
I?m very saticefied. Bevan

__________________
RV7A Flying since 2015
O-360-A1F6 (parallel valve) 180HP
Dual P-mags
Precision F.I. with AP purge valve
Vinyl Wrapped Exterior
Grand Rapids EFIS
Located in western Canada
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03-03-2019, 10:55 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 5,297
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bevan
A local painter who painted a friend’s RV (primer, base, clear) confessed it probably added 55lb after a couple minutes of figuring.
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I am sure that estimate is the shipping weight of the paint. Most of my paint / primer weighs about 8+ pounds per gallon, not including the container, and expect something in the neighborhood of 3 pounds once dry. Some stuff evaporates more, some less. If a painter puts 55 pounds of dry paint on your plane, he is either a really bad painter or trying to sell you more paint than you need.
Don't forget that most guns are about 65% efficient, so 1/3 of the paint used ends up on the shop floor or exhausted out of the shop for the neighbors to enjoy.
Larry
__________________
N64LR - RV-6A / IO-320, Flying as of 8/2015
N11LR - RV-10, Flying as of 12/2019
Last edited by lr172 : 03-03-2019 at 11:02 PM.
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03-04-2019, 04:37 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 1,628
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-1
The effects of fuel on vinyl have not been discussed.
A small leak or overflow that is not wiped up immediately
will destroy vinyl. I have found that oil stains vinyl as well.
I have used vinyl for insignia and lettering but will not use
it on the belly or near the fuel filler.
__________________
Ron Schreck
IAC National Judge
RV-8, "Miss Izzy", 2250 Hours - Sold
VAF 2021 Donor
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