Cheers for the support fella's.
The test is now only 1 hour away, and I'm hoping to get both done within the next fortnight (practice test and real one that is!).
I have to admit I've seen rime ice before when in the military, but this was definately clear ice. On the windscreen there was an odd mix which basically looked like a clear frost that wasn't shifting. I'm guessing that as the cockpit heat was on and we were not that far below freezing anyway, the screen would not have been that cold and this caused the slightly odd effect.
The clear ice was evident on the wing struts and looked like drips of water which had been blown back from the leading edge before freezing. With such a poor performing aircraft to begin with I would have thought the effects of the added weight and drag would soon become a problem, but we didn't hang around that long. We didn't collect enough to notice any handling or performance deficiencies and none was shed by the prop etc. to give any vibration.
Once in the warmer air it only took a couple of minutes to clear from the visible areas, but the cold metal towards the wing tips may have taken slightly longer, dunno as I copuldn't see.
Anyways, I am alive and well and back in the saddle, so the end is nigh for all of those out there tracking my every move (or lack of it recently)
Obs cop