Color Combination for RC Planes: Orange

by WizzyWiggs | July 8, 2012 | (12) Posted in Projects

Post your comments and feedback below. Let me know what you like or don't like and why, any feedback will be appreciated and taken into consideration. Ultimately, I plan on creating a Cloud resource with generated color themes for planes for anyone to access if they want to take their planes a step further in the presentation. 

Short information about Orange Color: Orange ranks as #1 in Visibility Chart of RC planes in the sky from 20 other colors, based on the article from RC Modeler, it has more visibility percentage than blue, yellow, red or black by about 20%.

I will be posting a special video later that covers that chart.

The Checker Tape was bought from Tapebrothers.com: 
http://www.tapebrothers.com/Checkerboard-Packing-Tape-2-in-x-15-yds-p/vic-cs-pt011-bk.htm

The Orange Tape: 
http://www.tapebrothers.com/2-0-mil-Orange-Carton-Sealing-Tape-2-x-110-yds-p/opp20cor2.htm

The White Tape:
http://www.tapebrothers.com/2-0-mil-White-Carton-Sealing-Tape-2-x-110-yards-p/opp20cwh2.htm

Gold Reflective: Other cool options to consider for reflective stripes:
http://www.tapebrothers.com/REF-5DB-2-in-x-1-Yard-Gold-Reflexite-p/ref-5dbgd2x1.htm

Orange Reflective: http://www.tapebrothers.com/REF-5DB-2-in-x-1-Yard-Orange-Reflexite-p/ref-5dbor2x1.htm

Yellow Reflective: http://www.tapebrothers.com/REF-DBF-2-in-x-1-Yard-Yellow-Reflexite-Tape-p/ref-dbflye2-1.htm

Thank you!

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

COMMENTS

TaPeMaStEr153 on July 21, 2012
Not sure if th checkerboard bottom is the best, good in clear skys but could be harder in gray skys or evening flights. maybe a white bottom with checker strips running perpindicular to the wing might be more visible.
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WizzyWiggs on July 21, 2012
Right on man.

I totally agree with you. I actually advised people who have the low contrast colors, or even just White planes to put visible markings on the bottom of the wing in high contrast (usually opposite colors but not always). For example simple shapes, like stripes, circles, even stripes of pattern (like checker) or even better reflective stripes. In my case, I knew that using plain color white would be redundant and also making just parts of the wing be stripes would be what has been done before. I am trying to research and see if there are other fun ways to add visibility than what already has been done. In the case of checker pattern, you are right, in the grey sky it will probably blend in in the grey color, but hey, that's why we need to take it in the field and see for ourselves, heh? :)

Appreciate your feedback!
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RedBaron1 on August 14, 2012
My 30+ years experience has found that Yellow, Orange and white are the best. Checkerboard is only 50% one colore, so not the best, but th contrasting colors CAN work out good. Stripes are good, as you can make them as wide as you want. Go tip-to-tip onone side, then leading edge to trailing edge on the bottom.

Hint - Chrome and silver are stealth colors as they reflect and become whatever color is around them...like a blue sky!
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Hamdhan on July 9, 2012
Very cool! Thanks! Great for helping beginner like me see the plane in the air.
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WizzyWiggs on July 9, 2012
Yeah, no problem. The easiest thing anyone can do if they have hard time differentiating bottom from top is to put 2" or 3" stripes of bright color on the bottom of the wing, usually it's white or yellow. There are also other cool options, like reflective tape which is even more awesome, but it's more expensive, of course :)
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Color Combination for RC Planes: Orange