Decal Protection

Micablue10 · 08-01-2014, 06:09 PM

Hello, I've been reading the posts dealing with the infamous decal issues and I have a question for everyone. I bought my 2010 Loredo used and the decals are still in great condition. The previous owner took impeccable care of it. It's as though it's still brand new. Anyway, I would like to try and protect the decals as best I can. Are there any suggestions a to how to do this? I do have a cover for it but for the next year I will be spending a lot of time in it for work so using the cover isn't plausible. Is there a sealant that can be used to protect them from the sun? Someone mentioned a glue but I think that's more for peeling decals. I live in the southwest and our sun can be brutal. Any suggestions will welcome! Thank you!!

hankaye · 08-01-2014, 06:16 PM

Micablue10, Howdy;

When I was in the Navy, we used to apply a thin schmear
of silicon to the edges to keep the decals from curling on
our F-14's. Worked great kept them from peeling at Mach 1+.

hankaye

Festus2 · 08-01-2014, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hankaye

Micablue10, Howdy;

When I was in the Navy, we used to apply a thin schmear
of silicon to the edges to keep the decals from curling on
our F-14's. Worked great kept them from peeling at Mach 1+.

hankaye

hankaye -
Just recently, I've noticed that one of the lower decals on the passenger side of the Cougar (the stripe that starts near the front edge of the storage door, goes back across the RV, across the door and ends near the mid rear section is both fading and starting to peel.

It does face the south and is subject to our West Coast "prolonged dry and hot spells". Since we have identical units, I was wondering if you had noticed any fading or peeling of the decals on your unit, which would be subjected to much more intense and longer time in the sun than ours could ever be.

Tried various waxes, polishes and even 303 but none seem to work. Maybe a smear of silicone might prevent any further peeling. The Cougar isn't moving as fast as an F-14 either.

hankaye · 08-01-2014, 06:50 PM

Festus2, Howdy;

Hadn't really noticed... But I'll give it a good look-over in the daylight tomorrow.
I just moved mine from one spot in the Park to another. That changes my exposures
as well. My curb side has been on the North side now it's on the East. So, I'll check-out
the road side as well. All I've done with mine is a wash, twice a year, nothing special...

hankaye

Micablue10 · 08-01-2014, 08:20 PM

Hankaye,

Thanks for the insight on the silicone. I might give it a try. Any particular brand you recommend? I've it before on many construction and remodeling jobs but not so much on the Loredo's exterior.

By the way...I grew up a Navy brat! My dad was a pilot!

Thanks again for the info.
MicaBlue10

bsmith0404 · 08-02-2014, 04:30 AM

The good ol' F-14 Tomcat. Good plane for the Navy, of course, I'm a bit partial to the F-15 Eagle since that's what I worked on in the Air Force. They have similar avionics packages with the same companies designing many of the components. It's too bad the Tomcat has been retired, it was a nice plane, a little on the heavy side though which really hurt the thrust to weight ratio.

hankaye · 08-02-2014, 08:00 AM

Micablue10, Howdy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micablue10

By the way...I grew up a Navy brat! My dad was a pilot!

We referred to Pilots (Aviators as the Navy and Marines preferred
to be called), as 'Job Security'.

hank

bsmith0404 · 08-02-2014, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hankaye

Micablue10, Howdy

We referred to Pilots (Aviators as the Navy and Marines preferred
to be called), as 'Job Security'.

hank

They are good at breaking a perfectly good aircraft. One of my favorite failures was when the so called "intelligent" pilot complained that the HUD did not work in OFF mode....

hankaye · 08-02-2014, 06:21 PM

bsmith0404, Howdy;

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

They are good at breaking a perfectly good aircraft. One of my favorite failures was when the so called "intelligent" pilot complained that the HUD did not work in OFF mode....

For which the maint. sign-off would be ... "Works 4.0 in ON position."

hankaye

Festus2 · 08-02-2014, 06:27 PM

hankaye -
Have you had a chance to look at your exterior (the RV's exterior) to see if you have signs of the decals peeling or fading?
Tks

hankaye · 08-02-2014, 06:38 PM

Festus2, Howdy;

Quote:

Originally Posted by Festus2

hankaye -
Just recently, I've noticed that one of the lower decals on the passenger side of the Cougar (the stripe that starts near the front edge of the storage door, goes back across the RV, across the door and ends near the mid rear section is both fading and starting to peel.

It does face the south and is subject to our West Coast "prolonged dry and hot spells". Since we have identical units, I was wondering if you had noticed any fading or peeling of the decals on your unit, which would be subjected to much more intense and longer time in the sun than ours could ever be.

Tried various waxes, polishes and even 303 but none seem to work. Maybe a smear of silicone might prevent any further peeling. The Cougar isn't moving as fast as an F-14 either.

I should hope your Cougar isn't competing in any footraces with military
aircraft...

Gave my graphics the once-over today, none the worse for wear, except for
the one on the nose cap. Probably due to running in a few rain storms

Just may be the batch that they were run or application differences... lots
of things could be the cause.

hankaye

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