PIREP: Clear Wing Walk

[humptybump]

Not all wing walk is black. As a matter of fact, I have now seen white and clear.

Clear Wing Walk is available from Aircraft Spruce. I chose the clear since my wing has is both silvervand black where the wing walk goes. I looked at what would happen if I used black and it really messed with the paint design.

The clear goes on just like the black but, unlike black, every single bubble will show. Since there are a lot of rivets in this area, they all creat a round pocket. If the paint is dark, they show just like air bubbles.

• If you have a solid light color, the clear wing walk may work OK.
• If you fill all the rivets and smooth out the area, clear wing walk should work better..
• If you have dark color or high contrasts and can see your rivets, you should avoid clear wing walk.

FYI - If you have a light color and think white wing walk would look nice, find an ambulance maintenance supply shop or an emergency vehicle paint and repair shop. They can probably get some white wing walk. Alternately, call Aircraft Spruce apolish if they can special order it or if they would give the name of their supplier of the clear. The company that supplies the clear also sells the white but Aircraft Spruce does not stock it. I know, because they accidentally shipped me the white because their supplier accidentally filled a clear order with white.

[DanH]

I too tried the clear wing walk, over an off-white pearl. I could not eliminate the bubbles, so I removed it and applied standard black.

[humptybump]

Thanks Dan. I appreciate the confirmation of my experience.

It looks "OK" over my silver. I suspect I will get annoyed by the visible bubbles and will split my wing walk with "black over black" and "clear over silver".

[humptybump]

UPDATE: in certain lights, the clear really shows bubbles, rivets, etc. I may follow Dan's lead and seek another path.

[RV7Guy]

My neighbor and I were talking about this this morning. I know you can get a multitude of colors at a skateboard shop. They've got it all.

What about a clear "paint on" wing walk? There's got to be something out there.

It definitely behooves to take the wing walk situation into consideration on the paint design.

Great topic. Hopefully more answers coming.

[hydroguy2]

I used the "clear" wing walk on my yellow wings. When I applied it, I was disappointed at the bubbles I could not remove. BUT now 18months later, I don't notice the bubbles, but HATE the dirt and scuffs. The clear shows every smudge.

[Vlad]

Can you just puncture the bubblies with needle and squeeze the air out? Those microscopic holes will close tight.

[hydroguy2]

Originally Posted by Vlad

Can you just puncture the bubblies with needle and squeeze the air out? Those microscopic holes will close tight.

yes....but can't seem to eliminate the tennis shoes scuffs

[aerhed]

I put the clear on the 10 and before I even did the fairings, I hated it. The dirt is terrible, even dust. Tore it off 3 days ago and put Vans on. Much happier.

[humptybump]

Well, I live. I learn.