Best way to clean tail boom 412
If the 'soot' has become ingrained so as to render most 'normal' detergents ineffective then you may have to concede that, at some point in the not too distant future, the boom may require a re-spray (depending on how long the soot has been allowed to accrue).
As a temporary measure (in order to 'restore' the whiteness) mix a tin of Brasso metal polish (liquid form) into a bucket of warm detergent - the soot will be removed! But .. with it will go much of the clear coat (if you have any on your craft). Once you've used Brasso you will need to keep the tail clean on a regular basis in order to avoid further applications of the 'gritty' solution.
Good luck .. and send us a photo once your tail is clean!
As a temporary measure (in order to 'restore' the whiteness) mix a tin of Brasso metal polish (liquid form) into a bucket of warm detergent - the soot will be removed! But .. with it will go much of the clear coat (if you have any on your craft). Once you've used Brasso you will need to keep the tail clean on a regular basis in order to avoid further applications of the 'gritty' solution.
Good luck .. and send us a photo once your tail is clean!
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Does the 412 have the 'strait' exhaust ejectors or the 'upturned' ones, the latter are almost essential to keeping the tailboom clean and free of heat damage (from extended periods of hovering and slow speed).
409 followed by lots of good soap and brushing!
What ever you use DON'T use TeeCut or any abrasive cleaner. It looks great for a wee while but the paint has lots of micro scores in it that fill with soot and you have to teecut again and in no time there's no paint. Magnasol (spelling?) and water wash early, don't wait until it really needs it, if you need a one off shine, wd40 rags and elbow grease.
The best way is to have someone else do it for you....
Realistically speaking, unless you need to have it cleaned for a photoshoot or to sell.... don't bother. It will be black within a week of flying!
I've wasted quite a few sun burning hours sweating my
off to impress the boss to no avail 
Realistically speaking, unless you need to have it cleaned for a photoshoot or to sell.... don't bother. It will be black within a week of flying!
I've wasted quite a few sun burning hours sweating my
off to impress the boss to no avail
First, a good quality aircraft soap and scrub with cotton towels by hand....followed by a second wash with standard cleaning brush and hose off all soap residue.
Second, obtain AeroGloss cleaner/wax, or similar product...apply and buff by hand or use buffer...two times if really dirty. This will get the T/B as clean as you're going to get it...if still show signs of exhaust then only a paint job will fix it.
Finish up the first 2 steps with a final coating of Rejex...a teflon based product. Re-apply monthly or as needed to maintain smooth sealed surface on paint...its worth it even on old dirty paint.
Main key is to wash aircraft on regular basis...even by hand with bucket.
As stated above...word of caution on Simple Green, etc type of cleaners that are alkyd based cleaners...they will promote corrosion on aluminum structures. There have been numerous studies on this which resulted in several standards created to classify cleaners as aviation safe. But all is not lost...several mfg's to include Simple Green, I think, have produced a version of their cleaners that meet those standards and plainly state on the exterior of the containers such approval...
Second, obtain AeroGloss cleaner/wax, or similar product...apply and buff by hand or use buffer...two times if really dirty. This will get the T/B as clean as you're going to get it...if still show signs of exhaust then only a paint job will fix it.
Finish up the first 2 steps with a final coating of Rejex...a teflon based product. Re-apply monthly or as needed to maintain smooth sealed surface on paint...its worth it even on old dirty paint.
Main key is to wash aircraft on regular basis...even by hand with bucket.
As stated above...word of caution on Simple Green, etc type of cleaners that are alkyd based cleaners...they will promote corrosion on aluminum structures. There have been numerous studies on this which resulted in several standards created to classify cleaners as aviation safe. But all is not lost...several mfg's to include Simple Green, I think, have produced a version of their cleaners that meet those standards and plainly state on the exterior of the containers such approval...
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Best way to clean tail boom 412
On the Aberdeen 225s they tried cleaning recently with ordinary sea water. Pictures I have seen of the floating machines proves them successful, could not see any black stains on the Tailbooms. :-)
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For really ingrained soot our pilots, (and some of us engineers, if there are no pilots watching 
), use HEMPEL'S CUSTOM MARINE POLISH 67445. It requires a bit of elbow grease but works really well on the B3 tail booms..
For every day cleaning we use a PH neutral truck wash and those microfiber broom heads.
), use HEMPEL'S CUSTOM MARINE POLISH 67445. It requires a bit of elbow grease but works really well on the B3 tail booms..For every day cleaning we use a PH neutral truck wash and those microfiber broom heads.
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DO NOT use Simple Green 409 or anything else with any chlorine or chloride fluorine or fluoride in it on any aluminum surface. It forms HCL/HFL and causes hydrogen embrittlement. This has brought down Chinooks, see the US Army's memo on simple green. or the FAA memo on hydrogen embrittlement.
409 says right on the bottle not to use on aluminium for this reason. Simple Green makes an "Aircraft Safe" cleaner with different ingrdients for this puropse.
409 says right on the bottle not to use on aluminium for this reason. Simple Green makes an "Aircraft Safe" cleaner with different ingrdients for this puropse.
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The only thing for helicopter turbine soot is Hempels Aero Gloss. It has a Mil spec, cleans the soot off even old soot behind cowlings. Will not cause corrosion and its safe on composite materials. This is a cleaner polish, designed to be waterless and has no abrasive components so will only take off the soot and oxidised paint only. If it will not come off with Aero Gloss re paint it because it will be stained through to the primer.