Airplane Cozys? (Preventing Sun Damage)

LAST EDITED ON Aug-17-04 AT 03:01 PM (CDT)
 
I also didn't have a problem
>until the plane sat in the sun for a bit. The bottom of the
>plane still looks like it did when I built it, so that lends
>some credence to the idea that it has to do with some
>interaction between the finish materials and direct
>sunlight.

I took the above quote from the thread Curt Nixon started concerning the blistering of his PC finish, apparently due to sun exposure.

I've been tempted to suggest this before, during the many discussions about fading problems for tissue/dyed silkspan. Everybody agrees that sitting model airplanes in the sun is really bad for the finish. Causes fading. In this case, worse--blistering. Makes $kote and other films blister, wrinkle, etc. Probably damages cockpit details under the influence of the green house effect caused by the clear canopy. And so on.

So the obvious question arises: why don't you *cover* your airplanes to keep the sun off of them?

What I have in mind is just to cut a piece of an old white bed sheet large enough to drape over the entire airframe and lay it over the model while it is sitting in the sun between flights. Have your wife hem the edges to make it nice, if you like. This is by far the majority of the sun exposure. Often models will sit out for several hours during a contest or fun fly while spending less than 15 minutes airborne that day (two flights). Clearly the damage is being done while sitting in the ready area with the hot sun beating down.

I would suggest that this is not commonly done simply because we love to look at our airplanes, and hate to cover them up where they cannot be admired. I feel the same way, but consider the cost of letting your model bake unprotected under the hot sun for hours, just so you can admire it.

Full scale soaring pilots often do what they can to cover their gliders when sitting in the sun to minimize the UV damage to the gel coat. Sun kills plastic airplanes, and with what they cost it makes sense to limit the damage whenever possible. Particularly so when airworthiness and safety can be adversely impacted.

The next obvious step is to sew covers which slip over the wings and stab. RC soaring guys often use wing bags to protect their models, including their use as sun shields.

But the simplest solution would simply be to drape a clean, bright white cloth over the model to prevent the sun from shining on it. If the woman in your life is into needle point, have her decorate it with your name and maybe a rendition of your model.

Airplane Cozy anyone?

Andy

I actually have such a sheet andy. I use it alot on my purple-dyed profile since the RIT dye fades.

But one of the advantages of auto paint is that it doesnt fade. and the clear is resistant to UV.

It is best to keep them cool tho.. Someone is advertising a nice Silver lemaize (sp?) material made up with your plane name and such embroidered onto it. BoB McD. uses one from time to time.

I'm actually making up some fleece-lined, posterboard travel skins for the big plane to keep the loading and unloading damage to aminimum.

Good idea tho..

My wife (who I will say is quite a seamstress when in the mood) once made a fitted cover for my plane. It was made of some quilted white material (have no idea what it was) and she embroidered my name and AMA number on it along with a couple of diagonal blue and red stripes.. It really was like a "cozy". Had a handle in the middle and was airplane shaped. Very slick.

It met with an accident when my son used it for something or other and it was pretty much destroyed (hey, he was about 10 at the time). Maybe I can talk her into another one.

Bob Gieseke's daughter makes and sells them. You can reach Bob at 972-541-1409. He can direct you to her. They are just what the doctor ordered.

The material that Christy Gieseke uses is special cloth that reflects sunlight. Tent type canopies with the silver reflective material lower the temperature underneath by 20 degrees F and this does the same. She has washers sewed into the hems to keep them from blowing away. Hmmm....maybe this should be in product review, too. Highly recommended. dale gleason

I think that The World Model Co. makes a shade that is a kind of stretchy material( sort of like loosley woven spandex) that is supposed to cover planes. The nice thing about that product is that when not on the plane it un-stretches into a pretty small size and tucks away in the old flight box nicely. Here is a link to the sunshades: http://www.theworldmodels.com/para/products/accessoriesdetail.php?id=1&subcat=2

>I think that The World Model Co. makes a shade that is a
>kind of stretchy material( sort of like loosley woven
>spandex) that is supposed to cover planes. The nice thing
>about that product is that when not on the plane it
>un-stretches into a pretty small size and tucks away in the
>old flight box nicely. Here is a link to the sunshades:
>http://www.theworldmodels.com/para/products/accessoriesdetail.php?id=1&subcat=2

Perfect!!! Too bad I didn't know to pick some up when I was last in Hong Kong (1994).

Is there a US distributor for these?

Way Kewel!

Andy

I wonder if it'd work for canards...

Even though a white bed sheet was U.S. Senator Robert Byrd's (D) choice for keeping those nasty moon rays off his skin years ago, I'm not so sure use of same for our CL models is the best of ideas.

Swordsman... Your LHS probably carries their products in the form of RC ARF's listed under Airborne models. Ask them if they can get them in? If not these guys will hook you up.
www.debbiesrcworld.com
Ask for Buddy.. tell him Brad said to order it for you. They are closed on wed and thurs. I used to work there until I moved to the west coast.

>Even though a white bed sheet was U.S. Senator Robert Byrd's
>(D) choice for keeping those nasty moon rays off his skin
>years ago, I'm not so sure use of same for our CL models is
>the best of ideas.
>
>DAN
DAN I like your observations.

dick byron:+

:) This would be an excellent way to get the missus involved with your hobby. While judges are scoring apperance points for PA Aircraft the women are scoring points for the nicest embroydery on the model covers (takes apperance points to another level). While your flying a competition they are off on the sidelines exchanging ideas with each other on how to make a better airplane cozy. I could even picture the scene where the pilots are over getting tips at the flying field to get that extra point for a particularly difficult stitch or pattern.

Why not? And, you have to admit that it is good for the plane and would give your support crew something to work on while your building your next world beater.