Marc Ramsey wrote:

I had another trailer with a sandwich top, gelcoat outside, thick
dark gray paint inside, it was totally dark inside. I had yet
another trailer with glass on steel frame, the gelcoat deteriorated,
so I had it sanded and repainted in white automotive acrylic. Within
a year or two it was obvious which parts of the glider were facing
upwards in the trailer, as those parts were distinctly yellower.
I've seen a glider which had badly crazed gelcoat just in those areas
that face upward in its fiberglass top trailer.


This discoloration and crazing might also be caused the heat and
dampness in the trailer. The upper foot or so inside a trailer can be
very hot in the summer sun, much hotter than the outside air temperature.


Except one could also make out the shadows of the wing saddles, etc.,
which is why we concluded it was UV damage.

What glider was this? Discoloration from two years exposure indicates a
really poor quality gel coat. The exposure during flying must have
caused considerable yellowing, too.

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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA