What Color(s) are Easiest to see???/

[mclarkson]

I grabbed a sample pack of "Holographic Glitter Sequin vinyl" for a few dollars on eBay. Put a red vertical strip on one side of the vertical stab, and a blue strip on the other.

Pretty much invisible beyond a few hundred feet, unless it happened to catch the sun just right, and then it'd flash for a fraction of a second, but no so's you could tell the color.

:thumbs down:

[SARG5]

Try HOT PINK
I did suggest this color, but no one gave a reply

I put the HOT PINK on the last 16 in of the wing tips on my EasyStar. I am still learning.
It works great.
I also used ORANGE AND YELLOW on the bottom of the wing tips, last 16 in. of my Easy Star. I can also see this quite well.

SARG5
FLYHING AND SEEING THE COUNTRY WE DEFEND

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by SARG 5

Try HOT PINK
I did suggest this color, but no one gave a reply

I put the HOT PINK on the last 16 in of the wing tips on my EasyStar. I am still learning.
It works great.
I also used ORANGE AND YELLOW on the bottom of the wing tips, last 16 in. of my Easy Star. I can also see this quite well.

SARG5
FLYHING AND SEEING THE COUNTRY WE DEFEND

Thanks Sarge, I've always liked orange and yellow. Hot pink would be a great stand-in for orange.

[Saddlebum]

MClarkson and Sarg5... Do you two guys realize you are only 2 hours apart (through Salina) ???

[mclarkson]

I did realize that. I hardly ever leave my basement, let alone the city, but if I'm ever out Salina-ways...

[FlyWheel]

I agree with what a lot of people have said on this thread, in that what is most visible is what is most visible for you; it's a very individual thing.

For example, the single most visible plane I have ever seen is a tiny woody owned by Elfi-Flyer (I think it's called a Lil Rascal). It cant have more than an 18-24 inch wingspan. It has a solid white fuselage and V-stab; the leading edges of the wings are also opaque white. The rest of the wings are, and I kid you not, transparent blue.

Yet this tiny plane is simplicity itself to see and orient no matter how high it is. Regardless of whether the background is clear blue sky or puffy white cloud, I have never once lost sight or orientation of this little bird.

[SARG5]

Flying colors
For 10 years, WAY BACK WHEN, I flew the SPY IN THE SKY aircraft for the Kansas HP
We called the violation vehicle in my COLOR AND LOCATION in ref. to other vehicles at the time.
We found that WHITE, had many different colors. Make, Modle even a dirty vehicle changed the color of white. Remember one time while in court I was calling the stoped vehicle green.
The driver took the stand, telling the court that his vehicle was not green, it was something like sea breeze blue with a whatever.
But the judge was not having any of that, Judge asked the driver where his vehicle was parked. We were on the second floor of court house. We all walked to a window overlooking the parking lot.
The driver pointed out his vehicle to the judge. To which the Judge said "you mean that GREEN CAR IN THE 3rd row'?? case over!!!
Just wanted to talk about color changes.
SARG5

[mclarkson]

I painted the wings of my Radian with pearlescent paint in bright colors. 95% of the time, it makes no difference whatsover; it's rare that you can see the colors at all.

I think black would have worked better (or at least as well), especially combined with a large pattern.

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by mclarkson

I painted the wings of my Radian with pearlescent paint in bright colors. 95% of the time, it makes no difference whatsover; it's rare that you can see the colors at all.

I think black would have worked better (or at least as well), especially combined with a large pattern.

I agree. I've learned its more about the pattern than the colors.

[FlyWheel]

C'mon, Patterns? Do you really think that when you're plane is a dot in the sky the size of a green pea held at arm's length that you're going to see any pattern? You'll be lucky enough just being able to determine what direction it is drifting in! Personally, I think the best bet if you're going to let your testosterone push your bird that high is a good distinctive shape.

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by FlyWheel

C'mon, Patterns? Do you really think that when you're plane is a dot in the sky the size of a green pea held at arm's length that you're going to see any pattern? You'll be lucky enough just being able to determine what direction it is drifting in! Personally, I think the best bet if you're going to let your testosterone push your bird that high is a good distinctive shape.

Back in the mid 1980's I flew several 10 foot wingspan models that were covered with transparent yellow monokote. The sun lit up that transparent wing covering like a stop light, even at high altitudes.

[AEAJR]

Bottom of my wings are black, dark blue or dark red. They all look black at altitude. I don't put any stripes on the bottom.

Top is always a light or bright color. Whilte, cub yellow or a color would be most common for me.

The white wings of my Radian have dark blue tape running root to tip to darken the bottom of the wings.

Supra and Thermal Dancer have black/carbon weave bottoms and white tops with a color on the tips just for show.

I have a 3.4M Graphtie that is all transparent red. I have orientation problems with it at low heights and low angles of view. I added white covering to the top of the "D Box" area for contrast. Now much easier for me to read the plane's position and orientation.

[josephcharles]

Theirs a guy on the sail planes for sale thread over at RC-Groups selling Reflective Tapes**Rainbow **Snake Skin**Gold***. These are great for helping see your ship when its way out their sailing! just copy and paste this -- http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1453734

[mclarkson]

I've tried prismatic tape with marginal success. I still like black on the bottom. However ... I got some Model Master Racing Red for a scratch build and that stuff lights up the sky. It's really bright.

[Larry3215]

Yeah, Ive had no luck with those tapes either. The reflective effect stops working before they get out very far unless the sun is hitting them at just the perfect angle. Even then, it not worth the extra weight. They are heavy!

[TM4197]

I have to agree with Larry, Rainbow tape is good to a point, but at altitude, its ineffective. AEAJR claims dark colors work better. I have to agree with that as well. That might be why I dont fly my scale sailplanes as much..THEY BE WHITE!!!! all white!!!

[AEAJR]

Originally Posted by TM4197

I have to agree with Larry, Rainbow tape is good to a point, but at altitude, its ineffective. AEAJR claims dark colors work better. I have to agree with that as well. That might be why I dont fly my scale sailplanes as much..THEY BE WHITE!!!! all white!!!

Leave the top white. Darken the bottom of the wings. White top, dark bottom. The best combo.

[TM4197]

I understand you completely....BUT..something about a beautiful DG-300 and other scale sailplanes all dressed up with the correct markings look so fantastic in the air. When you put the dark tape under the wings...kinda takes away from the beauty of the bird! BUT..there is a balance there...on one hand..you want to see her....on the other, I love scale. Maybe someone has specal glasses to wear that would only show the dark colors under the bird if your wearing them. eeemmmmm?

LETS GO ENGINEERS!!!

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by TM4197

I understand you completely....BUT..something about a beautiful DG-300 and other scale sailplanes all dressed up with the correct markings look so fantastic in the air. When you put the dark tape under the wings...kinda takes away from the beauty of the bird! BUT..there is a balance there...on one hand..you want to see her....on the other, I love scale. Maybe someone has specal glasses to wear that would only show the dark colors under the bird if your wearing them. eeemmmmm?

LETS GO ENGINEERS!!!

Back in the mid 1980's I was a small part of a group that went to South West Chicago to do cross country sailplane racing. The course was 45 miles, and had to be flown without landing.

Most of those 14 foot plus giant sailplanes had solid black on their underside. A black spot is easier to see when those planes were spec'd out. And, that happened often.

[CrimzonRider]

Maybe I have worse eyesight than I thought, because above 600' on a couple different a/c I have the underside always looks black. I did this to my Blaze, I can see it pretty good from 400' to 500', but above that I can only tell orientation by the "shadow" of underneath the wing. Waste of tape!!
If I use yellow on the bottom side...Does the underneath show up not so black? Maybe just the outside half of the wings, or different colors on either wing like was said in earlier posts.

have a good one
cr

Enter

http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/show...220#post823220

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by CrimzonRider

Maybe I have worse eyesight than I thought, because above 600' on a couple different a/c I have the underside always looks black. I did this to my Blaze, I can see it pretty good from 400' to 500', but above that I can only tell orientation by the "shadow" of underneath the wing. Waste of tape!!
If I use yellow on the bottom side...Does the underneath show up not so black? Maybe just the outside half of the wings, or different colors on either wing like was said in earlier posts.

If you can find one, try out an Amber colored clip on pair of sun glasses. They really work well for some folks, not so well for others.

As for me, I've got a prescription pair of amber colored sunglasses, found that Pennys Optical could provide them.

[kenchiroalpha]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

If you can find one, try out an Amber colored clip on pair of sun glasses. They really work well for some folks, not so well for others.

As for me, I've got a prescription pair of amber colored sunglasses, found that Pennys Optical could provide them.

Hi Denny
I use a pair of these
http://www.blublocker.com/
Have never lost sight or orientation of any of my air vehicles
Take care dear friend
Yours Hank

[CrimzonRider]

Thanks guys

have a good one
cr

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by kenchiroalpha

Hi Denny
I use a pair of these
http://www.blublocker.com/
Have never lost sight or orientation of any of my air vehicles
Take care dear friend
Yours Hank

Hi Hank
Those Blue Blockers look to be sort of an amber color!

[bluzjamer]

Put flesh color Circles with redish brown centers on the bottom of your wing.
You can go to any beach and see all kinds of colored bikini of all shades of the spektrum.
Have one top drop and see how fast you can find it. I guess I'm just a DOM.