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Advice please on best material to install an aircraft tail
Hi all i have been doing the normal vinyl lettering using cast vinyl and edge sealing on this company’s aircraft for some time now, but they have just obtained a sponsorship deal and require some decals making for the tail of the aircraft, as you can imagine im unable to post the design up as its all top secret stuff at the min but basically the main logo will need to be printed as there is some fading involved in the colour scheme which is not a problem i can print that in house, i normally use metamark and have some MD7 and matching laminate in stock,but one of the aircraft require a change in colour to the tail as it is red at the moment and needs to be white for the background colour so would you more experienced guys out there have any preferred vinyl you would use for the colour change or would you agree that MD7 would be suitable to basically do a flood coat on the tail prior to the design being installed, if there are more suitable vinyl out there that is more suitable for the purpose please let me know , The aircraft are not going to great heights or speeds i.e. only about 10 to 12 thousand feet, so the aircraft will not be meeting the extreme temperature changes that you would be getting on the larger aircraft, any advice on this would be greatly appreciated ,
Many Thanks
Kev -
11 Replies
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Hi Kev
A subject that has been covered many times here before…..
We did Virgin, BA, Thompson, Easyjet to name a few but as you stated your project isn’t going to the extremes their aircrafts go to!
We used/use 3M aviation vinyl. It’s perforated almost like contravision to allow for expansion and ‘cracking’. Obviously edge sealed after fitting.
Just my opinion but I wouldn’t risk using cast vinyl on a tail/fin and I’m sure my insurers wouldn’t either!
Matt
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Give Gill a call at William Smith because if they do not have the relevant person in-house to advise, they will pass you onto the correct person within 3M. My recent inquiry was for a specific Military application and she was extremely helpful.
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As Graeme says, Gill’s the one to talk to!
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Thanks for the help guys, Matty you have really confirmed what i was thinking to be honest and i know you will have done more than 1 or 2 of these jobs i was a bit unsure of the ability for the vinyl to be stable on this occasion in such a location as its not a totally flat surface I’m worried about the ability of the vinyl to stay put, and as you can imagine i don’t want any issues like that not really ideal the next plane behind getting a screen full of vinyl 😕
Any further input would be greatly appreciated
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The only other input would be…
Check your insurance…Does it cover you for such jobs? I’m not trying to be funny or disrespect you in any way but PLEASE check! I had to take separate insurance out, albeit on bigger planes, to work on such aircraft.
Although you say jokingly about vinyl hitting the next planes windscreen the reality is quite frightening! If the vinyl separates, gets stuck in the rudder, pilot has no control…..
Vinyl on a van is one thing, vinyl on a plane, be it private or commercial, different ball game.
I hope I don’t come across too negative, not my intention, just want you to see the pro’s and cons of aircraft livery!!
Matt
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To back Matty up, 99% of standard insurance policies do not cover working on Airfields never mind covering you for working on the aircraft. Check with your policy provider.
Also cover your back side and have the work signed off by a suitably qualified aeronautical engineer, as the last thing you want to do is compromise the airworthiness of the craft….easy done :lol1:
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Cheers Graeme
i should sleep well now ha ha, as mentioned before ive done maybe 20 or so aircraft now with there reg details and vinyl lettering which has been done in the main with grafityp cast and had no issues but im not so sure about this one to be honest i dont think at the altitude that these aircraft go i will have any issues with cast and edge sealing it but im up for taking advice thats for sure im a good listener when ive a lot to loose ha haKev
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I might be wrong, but sure that 3M will not sell you their aeronautical vinyl unless you have done their installation training.
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Our company specializes in aircraft painting and decals, and we use 3M BMS 10-26 VS7704……… Its made for air crafts.
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Aug 18th-feb 13th
Bit of a late reply Roche’
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Yeah Yeah, rather late then never!!! :wedgey: javascript:emoticon(‘:wedgey:’)
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