Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

Welll i havent Waxed an Rc Airplane Yet, But i'm thinking about it just for the heck of it thinking may get Some more flight time out of it before it runs out of gas. If anything will make it look Good. May help keep the dirt off or may make it easier to clean after flying. All I know is that Real Airplanes are waxed and is part of there regular maintence.

I was also thinking that a wax could cause the Covering to lift, if it were to get under the monokote or whatever iron on covering is on the plane. So Hence the poll to kinda find out some information before i go spraying the plane and flying it and having a disasterious Crash..

But would waxing a model plane be a benifit at all? or is it just Nonscence. Something to not even bother with unless your boared and have nothing else to do.

I'm considering using this to Wax my Rc airpanes with was wondering if anyone else has tried it. Suppose to be good stuff. [sm=lol.gif]

http://www.eagleone.com/pages/produc...=1121&cat=5010

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

Just use regular furniture polish on them. It adds a nice shine and makes the oil residue easier to wipe off after. Quick and easy too. Prepare to get some ball busting though about how 'clean and shiny' your planes alway's are. Just jelousy I guess....;)

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

racers always wax, it goes hand in hand with bench racing all the the pre-race BS before the flag drops.

I knew someone who worked the flight line when F-4's were king and pilots would pay cash to have there planes waxed

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

I have'nt, but it does seem that it would make it easier to clean

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

I have done it, makes it look good and bunch easier to clean.

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

Cool like the replies and the poll is informative too.. I'm going to wax mine if anything making it easier to clean off is a plus..[sm=thumbup.gif]

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

Tried it many years ago. It didn't hurt anything but I don't recall that the product (probably turtle wax) held up well to glow fuel residue. On an electric or a large gas model that stays relatively clean it might be worth the effort. On the down side it might interfere with repairs. I know from painting full size cars that a wax remover is required to prep the surface before any attempt to repaint. I would bet that new monokote doesn't adhere well to a waxed surface.

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

I wax my race planes as well. I use automotive spary wax on my planes and while I don't know if they really go any faster, at least they have a little bit more shine when they take off. Clean up seems a little better.
Jimmy Skids

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

I've been using Lemon Pledge for a long time and it works great.It also puts a protective coat that helps protect the monokote.

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

Well i havent been to the auto parts store yet to get the eagle one stuff. but i do have some lemon pledge i think around here Some were. But i thought it was an oily wax for furnature. have to go see itf i can find it have a palne that is pretty dirty from flying today. wipe it down and see if that pledge is any good.

Still gonna get some eagle one and make then shine like a hot rod. I'm hoping it helps keep them a little cleaner and easier to wipe off mainly that castor oil is some sticky stuff.

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

I think you'll like it.Once you begin to wipe it off keep using a dry cloth or soft paper towl and it will really shine!!It really takes the grey film left from the fuel and brings back the color of the covering.

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

COuldnt find the pledge so i went and got the eagle one Gonna try it out here in a little bit. See how it goes then i can reply to the poll lol

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

Racers Glaze Polish.

Good stuff, easy to apply and remove.

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

Oh Dang i bought the eagle one nano wax today and applied it and wiped it off kinda left a haze maybe i have to rub it more.:eek: guess its ok. Racers Glaze have to look for that the next time i go into the autoparts store. try it too. Think i'll just use the nano stuff on the car. I wasnt impressed with it.[sm=thumbs_down.gif]

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

If your finish is hazy you haven't rubbed off all the dried wax yet! :)
I do it on my nicer models and recommend it. The wax shines and protects the finish.

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

Unlikely, a really smooth surface actually causes more drag.

This is why golf balls are made with dimples.

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

So we should all put dimples in our wings So we can go faster. :D I used my Eagle one wax again on another plane and this time rubbed it real good OH yea baby and it came out all sparkling shiny. and even after a full day Dead sticking it in the field it's still shiny looking and the dust just wipes away oh yea.:D

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

Did a little race testing this weekend and I have to believe that the effect of the wax was beneficial in improved performance. I waxed before the first round and fourth round and noticed lower overall lap times for those two heats.

I don''t have much information on golf balls and dimples, but I had always believed that the dimples effected lift, spin speed and speed of flight. My planes aren''t round and I haven''t ever really felt the need to pull out my driver to get my plane air borne so I''d have to pass on adding information regarding the "dimpling" of airfoils. I have observed that a new sleve of balls has a very "slick" feel to the surface of the ball......... somewhat like a newly waxed wing........ maybe the combination of dimples and wax may be a way to go for ultimate speed. :D:D:D

Jimmy Skids

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

I believe this has been done on some real planes...

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

I wonder if anyone has ever done some actual measurements of the coefficient of friction, in air, of a smooth surface (Monokote) vs. a smooth waxed surface. It would need to be done in a wind-tunnel to eliminate variables in wind speed and direction. I''ll bet there''s less than 1% of difference.

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

I''m sure its been done. They wax real planes and most real planes before they go into production have a model that is tested in a wind tunnel. So i''m sure somewere there is information on it. Maybe not in the Rc field but in the Aviation field i''m sure there is data on it. I''m waxing mine just so it easier to wipe them off after flying. the Goo Doesnt stick to the plane as much i''m noticing . Makes cleaning up the plane alot faster job. I could care less if its going to go faster really.

I guess if you have a pylon racer or race plane then a 1% gain in airspeed Could mean the difference between winning and loosing. But i''m not competing with anyone i just fly them and hate cleaning them after so if it shaves a few minutes off my clean up time i''m all for the wax. Granted it takes some time to wax the plane But is something to do when you have nothing better to do and makes the plane look nice .:)

RE: Waxing an Rc Airplane
 

The juice I use to clean my planes is a mixture of alcohol, water and ZIP WAX. Works fine last a long time. I''ve been using it for years. I also use the Blue shop towels instead of paper towels. ENJOY !!! RED