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/showthread.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.