Oratex?
Moderators: John Dean, Moderator
Oratex?
Hi all.
At last year's Rally I saw The Light Aircraft Company's Sherwood Ranger, which was covered with a material called Oratex. It looked good.
I would like to re-cover my Avid Speedwing. I have ordered a sample pack of Oratex UL600 from TLAC and looks OK.
Before I commit to a purchase, it would be helpful to hear if anyone on here has any first-hand experiences of covering an aircraft with it?
Many thanks,
James
At last year's Rally I saw The Light Aircraft Company's Sherwood Ranger, which was covered with a material called Oratex. It looked good.
I would like to re-cover my Avid Speedwing. I have ordered a sample pack of Oratex UL600 from TLAC and looks OK.
Before I commit to a purchase, it would be helpful to hear if anyone on here has any first-hand experiences of covering an aircraft with it?
Many thanks,
James
James Lipman
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Hi James, the only person I know to have used it is Terry Francis of Reality Aircraft, though there are of course others. Terry will be exhibiting at the Rally so you can check out his Oratex covered aircraft and chat with him as an independant user of the material. He has always come across to me as enthusiastic about the material, application wise it does what it says on the tin so to speak, though he also comments that it does work out quite a bit more expensive than a doped ceconite finish.
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I was going to cover my Avid Hauler with this fabric , but the factory really let TLAC down by sending tapes and cloth of different types .
The adhesive for mk11 tapes has only just been tested , and now having used polyfibre to cover the aircraft , Oratex seems some what translucent in comparison .
The adhesive for mk11 tapes has only just been tested , and now having used polyfibre to cover the aircraft , Oratex seems some what translucent in comparison .
Thanks Colin.
I got a sample pack from TLAC and had a play with it last night after a chat with another LAAer who used it to cover part of his VP1.
It's dead easy to use. My only criticism is that it didn't seem to tighten-up as much as Ceconite does. It's also way more expensive - am just trying to weight up the costs vs Ceconite + paint etc...
I got a sample pack from TLAC and had a play with it last night after a chat with another LAAer who used it to cover part of his VP1.
It's dead easy to use. My only criticism is that it didn't seem to tighten-up as much as Ceconite does. It's also way more expensive - am just trying to weight up the costs vs Ceconite + paint etc...
James Lipman
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I saw the Oratex demo last year where they covered a small "picture frame" sized sample. After taughtening they battered the sample with a fist, causing quite a serious deformation in the fabric. On treating the affected area with the iron the defect came out returning the fabric to its original condition. I doubt that a doped example would tollerate that treatment. Another advantage in the material is that it has a matt finish which can mask many imperfections. A glossy finish shows up these like a sore thumb. The only major disadvantage of course is the price of the stuff - or maybe it has come down a bit since then.
I'm considering using Oratex for my Boredom Fighter project, mainly to save weight and time. The matt finish is also more appropriate for the “BF”. Fuselage and tail unit are nearly ready for covering now, but I’m holding back until I can be sure it is suitable.
This process seems promising, but not yet widely used in the UK. Perhaps an item in the magazine sometime soon would be useful, looking at and testing the system objectively? I understand that the relative ease of application and not requiring any further finishing/ doping/painting may well offset the extra cost of the material quite significantly.
Ian
This process seems promising, but not yet widely used in the UK. Perhaps an item in the magazine sometime soon would be useful, looking at and testing the system objectively? I understand that the relative ease of application and not requiring any further finishing/ doping/painting may well offset the extra cost of the material quite significantly.
Ian
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- Location: Caithness
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Hi James, the European distributor is based in France, see www.stewart-systems.eu
I have known Frank Vogels for some years, he is actually Dutch but lives in France, speaks very good English though. He is currently building a new facility (probably now completed) in North Burgundy about 100 miles south of Paris where you can do a course on covering with the Stewart System. I have been invited down for a course and hope to find the time to attend soon.
I could probably get him to come over and hold a seminar in the UK if there is sufficient interest and we can find a suitable location. I know he is keen to break into the UK market. There would need to be a charge but I think it could be done for a reasonable cost per person. The system has a US STC so should not present a problem with UK approval for Permit aircraft, though Engineering would need to be consulted.
I have known Frank Vogels for some years, he is actually Dutch but lives in France, speaks very good English though. He is currently building a new facility (probably now completed) in North Burgundy about 100 miles south of Paris where you can do a course on covering with the Stewart System. I have been invited down for a course and hope to find the time to attend soon.
I could probably get him to come over and hold a seminar in the UK if there is sufficient interest and we can find a suitable location. I know he is keen to break into the UK market. There would need to be a charge but I think it could be done for a reasonable cost per person. The system has a US STC so should not present a problem with UK approval for Permit aircraft, though Engineering would need to be consulted.
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