Hi Everyone

I just got started building my first kit tonight. So far it's been a lot of fun. I am still trying to decide what color and pattern to use on the plane. I want something easy to see with some kind of pattern on the bottom of the wing to aid in knowing what the plane is doing at all times. I saw a 4* 60 Saturday that was bright yellow with Black stripes under the wings. It was really easy to see and I'm kind of leaning toward that.

Does anyone have any suggestions, do's, don'ts or better yet pictures of planes with color patterns that you would recommend for trainers.

Thanks

Mike

Here's how I did mine, and yes it was a bit of work but you sure can see it in the air.

another shot.

I have an LT-40 that is cub yellow with broad black bands under the wings toward the wingtips. Its very easy to see as long as the sun is out. The top of the wing is bright in the sunlight and the bottom looks dark, so it is very obvious which way the plane is banked. The black bands help a little but you really can't see them unless the plane is pretty close.

However on a cloudy day, or near dusk, the whole plane looks dark and its not obvious which side is which. I avoided flying too close to dusk until I got to know it well. I have since used contrasting colors- bright on top, dark on bottom, and my newer planes are much easier to see under these conditions.

You will be OK with your plan and it does simplify the covering process (which is good for a first-time builder), but if I were to do it again I would probably use white bands with maybe some 1/4" black trim on each side of them to dress them up.

Here is a pic of my yellow LT-40 and one of my newer planes on an overcast day-

Thanks for the replies

GrnBrt

That checker board looks cool. Are each of those squares ironed on separately? Man that would be alot of work.

Build-N-Flyer

I would have thought the cub yellow and the black bands would be contrasting enough, even when overcast. So far, all my lessons have been in bright sunlight. The LT-40 pretty much has the colors shown on the box and your right, the sun makes the top bright and the bottom dark. The markings are not very distinguishable (especially 4 mistakes high).

Mike

Use BIG markings. For example, 3 black bands 6" wide and 6" apart on a yellow wing show up nicely. But 3 black bands 1" wide and 1" apart will just look blurry in the air.

GrnBrt

That checker board looks cool. Are each of those squares ironed on separately? Man that would be alot of work.

Yup they are but not that much work really, did it in one evening. Made a template for the size I wanted and then cut a bunch out on a pane of glass. Started at the leading edge/center and put the first one down and then used the template to space them staggering the 2 different colors. It really is visable and looks good in the air. The plane is set up with the CG way back and it's my 'Let's have some fun' plane.