I've used Gap Seal tape on a couple of planes, (and *plenty* of hinge
tape)
Problem is, Gap Seal tape and hinge tape eventually peel
up, especially at the edges, and get unseemly, untidy and downright
unaerodynamic.
Removing the tape leaves residual adhesive on the wing, which
in turn attracts dirt. One particularly unfortunate example of
this was with a glider that had pre-painted wings (white).
(Bird of Prey). Not sure if it was spray-painted or gel-coated.
In this case I removed the hinge tape from the ailerons to replace
it with what I (still) believe to be far superior: silicone hinges. When
I tried to clean the residual adhesive off the wing with rubbing alcohol,
the paint dilluted and rubbed off!
Questions:
(1) Has anyone refined a gap-seal technique for bagged planes
that is superior to using Gap Seal tape? Is there some good
way to implement 'wipers' on these planes, similar to what
you get on molded gliders?
(2) What safely removes wing tape adhesive without ruining
various kinds of paint jobs?
One guy I know suggested mineral oil, but he's not a glider
guy, and I wouldn't know where to get mineral oil...
A vitamin shop?
He said the alcohol in my case was a solvent to the paint
and not the adhesive, and the adhesive was only coming off
with the underlying coat of paint.
Thanks,
Paul
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