WSBuilderHM
Member
Before a design change, the F-35 was going to use applique instead of paint. If you don't know what applique is, it's window tint, the (usually) exotic graphics on the entire sides of buses and airliners and was the cool hood decoration on 70's era Firebirds. Applique has several advantages over paint such as it's easy to apply/repair using low skill level, can be done/redone progressively in a hangar environment without safety equipment and it eliminates health hazards and toxic waste. Affixed with pressure sensitive adhesive or water-borne adhesive and made even more aggressive with adhesion promoter, 3M can make the substrate bullhide-tough or designed to tatter. Generally not as long-life as paint but easier to install/repair. I don't know the cost, but it would be less than premium paint. It would seem ideal for the homebuilt market. So the question here is: how many would consider using it if it were available?