Since crossing the ADIZ requires 12-inch numbers, I wanted to ask what ideas you all have to put temporary numbers on a fabric plane?

Given it's fabric, very weak adhesives would be ok; something less than masking tape that is. A water based paint that is easily rinsed off would work too as long as it doesn't stain white urethane.

Any thoughts, ideas, or recommendations?

Thanks,
Blackrock

Where are you going that requires an ADIZ x-ing?

Mexico is the only crossing where I'll need them, at least as far as I know. Tucson to Nogales to clear customs, then on to Rocky Point. Or perhaps a Baja trip. Planning ahead, but the plane and I are in Tucson often.

blackrock wrote:Mexico is the only crossing where I'll need them, at least as far as I know. Tucson to Nogales to clear customs, then on to Rocky Point. Or perhaps a Baja trip. Planning ahead, but the plane and I are in Tucson often.

Ahhh! Sounds nice.

What about that blue painters tape?

Blue painters tape or black electrical tape. Or maybe some greasepaint, or whatever it is that car lots use to write on the windshield with. Don't know how well that would wash off the fabric finish though.
Worst case, get a set of 12" number strips from Spruce, about $60. They should come right off after your trip with a heat gun.

Go to your local vinyl sign shop. Should be an easy and cheap job, plus they will peel right off and wont hurt the finish on the fabric. They will stay on as long as you want them to.

piperpainter wrote:What about that blue painters tape?

Good idea - especially the 2-inch wide stuff. I'm concerned that the adhesive may be too strong and pull some of the paint off. It is unlikely, but enough of a risk that I'd like to avoid it. Maybe they make some with a weak adhesive; I'll look into that.

hotrod180 wrote:Blue painters tape or black electrical tape. Or maybe some greasepaint, or whatever it is that car lots use to write on the windshield with. Don't know how well that would wash off the fabric finish though.
Worst case, get a set of 12" number strips from Spruce, about $60. They should come right off after your trip with a heat gun.

I like the greasepaint idea. Didn't know that's what the stuff car dealers write on windshields with is called. I'll find some and try it out.

Crzyivan13 wrote:Go to your local vinyl sign shop. Should be an easy and cheap job, plus they will peel right off and wont hurt the finish on the fabric. They will stay on as long as you want them to.

Vinyl is a good idea, too. That is what the color stripes are on the plane now. They stick really well; the concern is the same as I have for masking tape, the adhesive is too strong. Especially after they are on for a while in the sun. There is something called temporary vinyl, but people tell me that adhesive is pretty strong, too.

Maybe I'm overly cautious, but paint over fabric, while durable, doesn't seem to me that it is bonded well enough to resist pulling off with a strong adhesive, and damn, it's a lot of work to fix/patch; yes, I'm lazy.

It's good to be cautious. A failure would be expensive. On the blue painter tape, remember that the whole point of its design is to not lift paint. You might want to make sure it sticks enough to not blow off the plane.

It's been over 10 years since I've been to Mexico. At that time the big numbers were only required on the return to the U.S. We used water soluble poster paint, and applied them slopily freehand prior to the border crossing. It wasn't pretty with drips and runs, but was in compliance. Washed them off immediately after customs. Sometimes the customs agents bitched about the appearance. Rain can be an issue. Have a great time.

I've cut a fair amount of vinyl and I would think vinyl would work well. There are many different types of vinyl for different applications (check out OraCal's website if you want to see all the types). I'd go to a vinyl shop and tell them it is temporary. A lighter weight "indoor" vinyl should work fine, it doesn't have the adhesion of the heavier duty outdoor-rated stuff but would still be fine for temporary use.

All great comments and ideas; thanks to everyone who replied. The vinyl is intriguing so i'll see about getting some, but options here in BFE (not an airport identifier) are limited at times. Following up on the poster paint and grease pen ideas, I went to the local WalMart. All they had was tiny containers so that wasn't going to work. Then I noticed the dry erase markers. For urethane paints, that might be easiest and cheapest overall so I ordered these on-line:





I'll test them on some other painted parts first, but they might do the trick.

Delicate surface painters tape is on the way, too. I'll try all 3 methods out and indoor vinyl too if I can find some and report back in a week or two after it all arrives and is tested.

Everyone provided great ideas so far so we'll see what happens. I like scruisers method of paint-on/wash off and this is pretty close and a non-drip product. We'll see. Good point too about only needing 12-incher's coming back.

How about some Plastidip? Not sure how it would work on aircraft paint, but it holds great on everything I have ever put it on and it peels right off with no residue. Should be easy to find, even in BFE. Home Depot, lowes, and Ace Hardware all carry it in spray cans.

scottf wrote:I've cut a fair amount of vinyl and I would think vinyl would work well. There are many different types of vinyl for different applications (check out OraCal's website if you want to see all the types). I'd go to a vinyl shop and tell them it is temporary. A lighter weight "indoor" vinyl should work fine, it doesn't have the adhesion of the heavier duty outdoor-rated stuff but would still be fine for temporary use.

x2

A little heat will help with stubborn areas upon removal.

Prosaria wrote:How about some Plastidip? Not sure how it would work on aircraft paint, but it holds great on everything I have ever put it on and it peels right off with no residue. Should be easy to find, even in BFE. Home Depot, lowes, and Ace Hardware all carry it in spray cans.

That is intriguing. I 'll add that to the list of the other items to try.

Thanks

Don't know about fabric. Used blue painters tape several times on the Cherokee. Worked well.