Author Topic: Market Study -- Wing Pants? (Read 1972 times)

Paul Taylor · « **on:** October 19, 2007, 06:54:33 AM »

All,
I have a sister-in-law that is a wiz with a sewing machine, and is in need of work. I was wondering about asking her to make up some “Wing Pants” to protect wings while planes were being transported.
The details will have to be worked out, and would welcome ideas.

Is there a need for something like this?
Hit the vote buttons and or leave a comment.

Thanks
Paul

john e. holliday · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2007, 08:21:36 AM »

When I take a bunch of planes to a contest, I use old blankets, peices of foam and sometime and old jacket to put between the planes. The small heavy planes on the bottom and the larger, lighter and pretty planes on top. Have fun, DOC Holliday

Ron King · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2007, 09:30:07 AM »

I've been using wing covers for years, starting with my Formula One RC racers, my RC Pattern ships, sailplanes, and now back to my CLPA ships. My wife sews them out of quilted fabric and they work great to minimize the hanger rash in cars.

I'm sure the guys who don't have sewing services available would love them.

Ron

SteveMoon · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2007, 09:55:45 AM »

I think it's a great idea, and it has been common practice in RC for many
years. The problem here is the notorious cheapness of so many CL fliers.
Having worked in hobby shops for years, I know this firsthand.

Steve

Randy Powell · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2007, 12:30:25 PM »

I suppose it would depend on the cost, but I'd certainly be interested.

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2007, 05:42:17 PM »

Quote from: SteveMoon on October 19, 2007, 09:55:45 AM

I think it's a great idea, and it has been common practice in RC for many
years. The problem here is the notorious cheapness of so many CL fliers.
Having worked in hobby shops for years, I know this firsthand.

Steve

..and I thought we had never met...!

Paul:
Just make sure that the covers be light (like the quilted material Ron mentioned) and washable.

Tom Perry · « **Reply #6 on:** October 19, 2007, 10:56:47 PM »

Paul,

I made some by lightly gluing cotton flannel (diapers) on both sides of some 1/4" foam rubber. I wrapped the results around the models wings, fastened the seam with stapples and trimmed of the excess. Maybe sewn would be better but mine were quick.

Geoff Goodworth · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2007, 04:44:01 AM »

I know this is not what Paul was looking for but in Oz, we have a company called Pack & Send that sells a plastic bubble wrap with hard brown paper on one side. It makes great wing covers and all you need is a stapler and a pair of scissors.

Cheers, Geoff

frank carlisle · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2007, 07:29:37 AM »

I could use some wing pants. But I've already seen them at the LHS and at the field. There is a market for them.

See below how I got my plane to Illinois.

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2007, 11:58:25 AM »

I will need to talk with my sister-inlaw to see if this is something she would be interested in.

I will post an update once I talk with her.

Thanks
Paul

Ron King · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2007, 07:15:54 AM »

Paul asked me to post a few pictures of my wing covers. The idea is not proprietary - I first got the idea from Bob Violett when we were trying to figure out how to protect the super fragile RC Pylon Racers during transit. My first wife made up a few for me in 1972 and I've been doing these ever since.

The design is simply a padded pillow case, using cheap quilting material from the local dry goods store. I attach a velcro tab to go across the fuselage to keep the covers from slipping off and that's about it. I also had to cut a slot into the sets for wing mounted gear (never had to do that in RC.

).

As Steve Moon mentioned, some CL guys are very cheap. The materials for these covers is inexpensive, but to get the labor done, it usually costs me a nice dinner at a nice restaurant - about $75+.

Hope these help,

Ron

Bill Little · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2007, 09:26:12 AM »

The first ones i saw for C/L stunt planes were simply bubble wrap which was "wrapped" around the wing, trimmed and taped up. Worked absolutely fine! I would like more "professional looking ones" like Ron shows.

(hey, Ron, wish we had spent more time together over the weekend! Where were you???)

Ron King · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2007, 09:34:02 AM »

Quote from: Bill Little on October 22, 2007, 09:26:12 AM

(hey, Ron, wish we had spent more time together over the weekend! Where were you???)

I also wish we could have spent some time together. There's a lot we need to discuss for next year.

I was there all day Saturday and managed to splash the Shocker on my first flight, then had to save my Cardinal during the Horizontal Square Eight on the second flight. Steve Fitton and I tried a few other things after the contest, but nothing worked, so I scored big time brownie points with my wife by leaving early Sunday.

As I mentioned on the other thread, nine months of RC rotary wing UAV flying pays very well, but is not good practice for CLPA.

I'll be back.

Ron

Ward Van Duzer · « **Reply #13 on:** October 22, 2007, 01:55:03 PM »

As a side benefit, wing covers will prevent fading of colored tissue, and silk covered wings.

W.

proparc · « **Reply #14 on:** October 25, 2007, 02:11:10 PM »

The problem here is the notorious cheapness of so many CL fliers.
Having worked in hobby shops for years, I know this firsthand.

Steve
[/quote]

This could be true but, I don't want to spend the money for the survey.

PatRobinson · « **Reply #15 on:** October 25, 2007, 02:27:26 PM »

Hi Guys,

I seem to remember Wynn Paul using wing covers that duplicated the full size paint scheme on the wing. I can't remember if they were knitted or sewn by his wife but they were a well done and classy custom job.
Wow, I hadn't thought of that in years. "Matching wing covers" just the thing for the guy who has everything, but probably not a choice for someone who wants to create a larger volume of sales.

Pat Robinson

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #16 on:** October 25, 2007, 02:47:53 PM »

Well for those C/L that are not cheap, might want a custom set.

I hope to talk with my sister-inlaw this weekend.

Paul

john e. holliday · « **Reply #17 on:** October 26, 2007, 08:00:52 AM »

Surely more than just 36 members on this forum. Or is this going to be like other polls and voting? A small minority telling the majority of how things will be done. There's PAMPA, AMA, clubs and rules proposals. Lets all vote, I did. Have fun, DOC Holliday

PS:Yes I am a cheap skate. jeh

Bill Heher · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2007, 07:07:32 AM »

In my case they would get more use keeping the fly specs and dirt off the wings as they hang patiently in the garage - month after month - wondering when they will get to go out in the sunlight and fly. Sighhhh.

So there you have a another marketing angle- "Wing transportation and storage covers"

Shultzie · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2007, 12:04:25 PM »

Thats a reeeeeeeeeeeeaaaallly great looking model...and deserves more than just wing panties to keep that looking so purty.
The roads around here in winter are so filled with sanding gravel and de-icer....

HOW BOUT A COMPLETE "BODY-BASKET!!!

~^Seriously though...a nice light weight canopy top on that purty pick-up sounds like a really good idea though?