On 9/13/2012 12:41 PM, Herbert kilian wrote:
On Sep 12, 8:43 pm, wrote:
On Tuesday, September 11, 2012 1:33:42 PM UTC-5, Herbert kilian wrote:
Soaring Cafe has published an article I wrote about the subject:

Snip...

Herb Kilian

I would call Dick Butler he can tell you about that.

Dick Butler's Concordia has - from the reports I've read - some
control surfaces wrapped in Monocote, a shrink film used for model
airplanes. This was done solely for mass reduction reasons, no gel-
coat on those structures. Car wrapping films are quite different.
I'm contemplating starting a field study by wrapping the (short)
winglets on my LS8-18 in white glossy film and to apply it myself
since I have some background. This is a non-structural component and
mine are like the rest of the glider in immaculate condition. The
material is available on-line and would cost around $50 for the two
winglets. That's cheap enough to remove the film after 1-2 years and
see what's underneath (if it holds up that long).
Herb


If you ever fly from "gravelly strips" (e.g. WW-II concrete airbases tend to
qualify in this neck of the woods) another area to consider wrapping might be
(part of) the tailboom aft of the main wheel where - in my experience - rock
damage accrues...an easy wrap, no laminar flow there to be disturbed, possible
reduction in "gravel damage"...

Regards,
Bob W.