Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul Sanders on February 28, 2012 at 2:14pm

I've been strongly considering vinyl wrap, if I can find someone willing to take it on, but had not thought of foil wrap. Interesting.

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Permalink Reply by Roger Wibbels on February 28, 2012 at 5:43pm

This looks very promising.  Anyone know of a good outlet.

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Permalink Reply by Fred Stratman on February 28, 2012 at 7:11pm

Jan:

I think you mean film wrap.  If so, the product of the following company was discussed on a forum several years ago: 

http://www.flxpaint.com/welcome.htm

 

I would also be interested in getting feedback from users of these paint films.

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Permalink Reply by Jan van 't Schip on February 28, 2012 at 7:46pm

Yes, I think film wrap or vinyl wrap, it is all the same. On YouTube there is a lot to see under "car wrap".

I think 3M and Avery are the big ones supplying film. They have a number of different films, for different applications. Removable or not removable, white (to be printed), or colored, flat surfaces or multi-curved, riveted etc. Found an interesting selection program of 3M: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Graphics/3Mgraphics/Pro...

I think 3M Schotchcal Electrocut Graphic Film Series 7125 and Series 7725 are the types to go for.

I am really considering applying film instead of paint. To my belief it could be more easy to apply, but I have to try of course. Also I like the idea of working without wet paint and solvents. All rivets and seams will be sealed. I think the weight of film is also less than weight of paint, especially if there is a single layer of film. If artwork is printed on the film, the print should be protected by a transparent film, which is an extra layer.

I will try to get some film to do some testing.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Sanders on February 28, 2012 at 7:58pm

If you search the forums you'll find a few people who have used vinyl wrap on part or all of their plane. One guy in particular did his whole plane in a vinyl wrap using a Deere-green colour scheme. He had a few pictures and quite a few posts on the process.

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Permalink Reply by John Austin on February 29, 2012 at 6:55am

I wonder about some practical aspects ... although I suspect the vinyl might be less "sticky" to bug residue, etc., I wonder how durable it is when you have to scrub something off that's really stuck well? On a painted surface, you can use one of those plastic scrubbers and it doesn't scratch or harm the paint - would the same be true for vinyl?

 

How tolerant is the film to 100LL when you accidentally overfill and splash some out?

 

For the off-airport types, how scratch resistant is it vs. paint?

 

Although it would seal a surface well, looks like it might be tough to get it down into crevices where seams meet - paint and primer usually go into those areas. Would bridging-over a seam actually create a "trap" that retains moisture and doesn't let the metal dry out? Autos are only wrapped on the top and sides - airplanes have a considerable surface area on the bottom of wings and the fuselage - I'm wondering if moisture might find a crevice, run down beneath the film, and just sit there on the bottom/dependent surfaces for a long time? 

 

Not knocking it, but something "early adopters" might want to find out.

 

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Anne Shipman on March 1, 2012 at 11:13am

There is a "paint protection" film that is an abrasion resistant clear urethane.  It is highly resistant to wear - often used as an additional layer on rocker panels and fenders.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Pustell on February 29, 2012 at 12:11am

If a rivit is loose or gets loosened in service, will the vinyl film break around the moving rivit (as paint does, usually) so that you can see the black streak that a loose rivit produces? Or, would the evidence be hidden under the film? I believe some of the fancy paint schemes on cargo and transport aircraft are actually wraps, maybe the records of those operators could be searched for possible "down sides" to the stuff, if any. I am reluctant to be the first kid on the block to try anything in aviation. The discoveries can be be very scarey, sometimes.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Sanders on February 29, 2012 at 3:28pm

Here's a picture of the "John Deere" plane with the vinyl wrap

http://www.zenith.aero/photo/wrap-design-paint-scheme

Maybe we can get Rod to answer the questions, give his opinion on how it went/goes.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Aysen on March 1, 2012 at 7:16am

I like the suggestion someone made on a post several months ago. A painted white background and use vinyl to add accents.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Anne Shipman on March 1, 2012 at 10:54am

I work for 3M, and am familiar with some of the films.  Most of the films we make are either "graphic" films (like the films that cover semi-trailers, can be printed or not), and "paint films", which are intended to replace paint on autos.  We used to make "drag reduction film" that was supposed to maintain the boundary layer longer on the surface - some was on an America's cup yacht, don't know if it got into aviation.

The graphic films come in either removable or permanent.  They are made to conform to rivets tightly - so you might be able to tell it the rivet is loose, but maybe not for our little A4's and A5's.  They can be repositioned on the surface until you press them hard to the surface.  There are air bleeds to get rid of bubbles.  

The permanent adhesive is tough to remove - the best method is with a heat gun.  You want to not quite melt the PVC, but soften the adhesive.  Ethyl Acetate is a decent solvent for removing the adhesive also.  This class of adhesive has what we refer to as "grim death" adhesion to Aluminum.

3M also makes the protective films for helicopter blades (desert operations), and paint protective films that are used to protect car finishes during transit but are easily removable.

I guess that's my 5 cents.

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Permalink Reply by Jan van 't Schip on March 1, 2012 at 7:40pm

Thanks, that is interesting information!

I searched on the 3M websites a little further and think I should choose the Scotchprint wrap film Series 1080. These films are for solid color vehicle detailing, decoration and full wraps without the need of additional graphic protection.

Now I am looking for a place where to buy it. I can't find that too easily on the websites. I am living in Michigan. Do you know where I should go?

Also I couldn't find a color chart so far. Possibly available through the distributor?

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