AIRFRAME
graphic has been pressed to the mounting surface, there is no way to remove the graphic without damaging it. This means that more care must be taken in the placement and application to ensure that your graphic is straight and free of bubbles.
Preparing to Apply the Graphic Now that you’ve properly cleaned the area surrounding the mounting surface, spray a light mist of Pro-Bond to each rivet head. This enhances the bond and minimizes tenting over the vinyl graphic. “Applying vinyl to aircraft is similar to applying vinyl to ve-
hicles,” Duchinsky says. “The biggest issue on small aircraft has to do with all the rivets. You need to do some additional prep work to get the adhesive to set up and bond to the surface than you would with an automobile.” Next, position the vinyl. Sharpline recommends position- ing the vinyl graphic in place on the aircraft with masking or application tape. As an aid for aligning and registering the graphic on the mounting surface prior to application, make register marks on the side edge of the surface with a lead pen- cil, a marking pen or small pieces of masking tape. Once you’ve done this, remove the liner and lay back one half of the vinyl graphic against the aircraft. Remove the liner by sharply flicking the graphic edge toward the face of the graphic with the ball of the thumb or a fingernail. A small bend at a corner or edge will cause the liner to separate from the graphic. Pull the liner away in a continu- ous motion at a 180-degree angle. Duchinsky warns to always remove the liner from the vinyl graphic rather than the vinyl graphic from the liner.
Applying the Vinyl Graphic Now comes the fun part. Align the vinyl graphic to the reg- ister marks and tack it to the mounting surface with thumb pressure at the corners. (For larger graphics, use one or more additional tack points along top edge.) Using a felt squeegee, begin application at the vertical center of the vinyl graphic and apply all the way to one edge. Then return to center with overlapping strokes and repeat the procedure, applying to the opposite edge. If you’ve ever applied vinyl before, then you know you
want to avoid bubbles and wrinkles in the vinyl graphic at all costs. That’s because bubbles and wrinkles allow some tenting of the vinyl. Whatever you do, do not squeegee vinyl down around rivets until paper masking has been removed.
Removing the masking You’re almost done. The next step is to mist the application masking with a water solution. Then allow this to soak for a minimum of two minutes. This will release the bond between the application masking and the face of the vinyl graphic. Then, remove the application masking from the face of the vinyl graphic by pulling the masking back upon itself — al- ways at a 180-degree angle. If you have your air release tool handy, this is a good time to get it out. Use the air release tool to puncture the graphic several times around the rivet head, then warm the vinyl
graphic and form the vinyl over the rivet with a felt squeegee. Also, inspect the graphic in the flat areas for air bubbles. To eliminate these bubbles, puncture the graphic at one end of the bubble with an air release tool and press out entrapped air with a felt squeegee, moving towards the puncture. You are almost done. When the entire graphic has been ap- plied, re-squeegee the entire graphic using a felt squeegee.
For Cleaning Graphics with an Over Laminate Film
Use a cleaner designed for high-quality painted surfaces. The cleaner must be wet, nonabrasive, without strong solvents, and have a pH value between three and 11 (neither strongly acidic nor strongly alkaline.)
Hand Washing Exterior Graphics • Flush the graphic with clean water to remove loose dirt particles. A trigger-type hose nozzle is convenient for this purpose.
• Use a mild liquid detergent and water solution and wash the graphic with a soft brush, rag or sponge.
• Wash thoroughly from the top down. • Avoid abrading the graphic by scrubbing unnecessarily. • After applying the cleaning solution, keep steady streams of water flowing on the graphic to wash away dirt particles.
• Rinse the entire graphic thoroughly with clean water, and allow the graphic to dry naturally.
Removing Difficult Contaminants Some contaminants might remain after following the normal cleaning procedures. Most contaminants can be removed us- ing one of the methods listed below. Other cleaning products and methods should be used only on a customer test-and- approve basis.
To Remove Tar, Oil, Diesel Smut or
Bituminous Material • Wipe with a rag dampened with kerosene, mineral spirits, heptanes, or VM&P naphtha. Do not use other solvents.
• Wash immediately with detergent and water, and then rinse with clean water.
• Avoid abrading the graphic by scrubbing unnecessarily. • Wipe the graphic with a water-soaked brush, rag or sponge to wash away the detergent and dirt. • Dry the graphic with a lint-free clean towel.
Thanks again to the team at Adnormous Graphics for sharing their expertise on the installation and maintenance of vinyl graphics on helicopters.
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HelicopterMaintenanceMagazine.com April | May 2014
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