Vinyl Applied Graphics Over Composite
09-04-2005, 05:01 PM
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Vinyl Applied Graphics Over Composite
Last winter I used Vinyl graphics on my Impact since I was apartment bound and am painting challenged at best. The vinyl has held up well over the season of a couple of contests and some practice. A couple of areas that lifted were some very sharp points on the graphics pattern and I had some fuel drip from my vent when the plane was on the stand that just slightly caused some of the vinyl to lift, but it stuck back down when the fuel dried. A few air bubbles that I trapped at installation went away over the summer. Im very pleased with the way this turned out and also with the durability of the vinyl. The fuel used is 30% nitro.
Pics I took today are attached.
Pics I took today are attached.
09-05-2005, 02:23 AM
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RE: Vinyl Applied Graphics Over Composite
How do you cut the vinyl? Do you draw it first in autocad or corel and then go to the plotter? How do you draw it considering the 3D shape of the fuselage?
Regards
DV
Regards
DV
09-05-2005, 02:27 AM
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RE: Vinyl Applied Graphics Over Composite
impressive, nice alternative to filming.. i only use vinly for my graphics on my planes, but the smaller words tend to bend out of proportion after about 2 years..
09-05-2005, 07:32 AM
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RE: Vinyl Applied Graphics Over Composite
I designed the graphics in Autocad and exported a file to an EP format for the vinyl cutter, then gave him the length of a couple pieces so the vinyl shop could correct scale if necessary.
I avoided compound curves or made small pieces to cover those areas, such as the yellow in the area of the nose, and the purple on the top ahead of the canopy is two pieces.
I hope it will hold up for at least a couple of years, right now most guys cant tell it from paint without a close look.
I avoided compound curves or made small pieces to cover those areas, such as the yellow in the area of the nose, and the purple on the top ahead of the canopy is two pieces.
I hope it will hold up for at least a couple of years, right now most guys cant tell it from paint without a close look.
09-05-2005, 08:39 AM
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RE: Vinyl Applied Graphics Over Composite
I love vinyl covering. Here's what I did with my Yak. Took me a while to find the covering I needed to use though. This is just a measure, cut and slap on method. No cadd.
