With any luck I'll be able to try TiredIrons gear fix this weekend? No machinists tools here! Just a Jewelers saw and a drill press. My replacement nose gear and a couple extra pins, just in case? from RC Castle was here in seven days! That's probably the fastest that I've ever had an order from China make it to my door. Crossing my fingers. ;)
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Well mine bit the dust today, it flew apart like a mini Erma! Takeoff roll and just broke ground before the edge of runway then the uncut edge grass grabbed it and spun it in.
So how does EPO foam react to steam when trying to repair the compressed areas for repair?
The fuse broke right in front of the wing, ripped the front of both gear sponsons off, and pulled all the connections off the mixer board.
I never had to do any heavy depot level repairs/rebuilds on EPO till know. All advice and thoughts on how to proceed welcomed!
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When I broke the nose section off mine,I just used the glue that was in the kit and some Tpins to hold it all in place. After letting it dry for a few days,the repair feels very solid. Not sure the type of glue it is,but I'm guessing contact cement? I'm holding off until the winter and just getting a new front and rear fuse pieces.Comment
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Use Foam-Tac...start with the smaller pieces and just stretch the pieces out by pulling on them over and over working them back into shape as you do.Originally posted by sam51401 View PostComment
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Happy Saturday! Would anyone happen to have a spare set of ordinance and racks they might sell? My A-10 had a battery failure and crashed. Broke at the wing root like others have. I repaired and added 2 carbon fiber tubes into the channels on the inside fuse (looks like they intended to add something here for strength). The repair is very hard to detect.
Thanks!!Comment
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REPLACEMENT NOSE GEAR PINS:
I just received two replacement nose gear pins from RC-Castle that I ordered. Before they got here I found a solution (see my post 6433), so I don't need them. I paid $12. for the two of them (with shipping). If anyone wants one for $6, send me a private message with your address and I will drop one in the mail for you. You can pay me to my Paypal account.Comment
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A video of todays flight with Model Sounds Inc system. My first flight I over extended the batteries and had a flame out but made it back to the runway with gear down. Since I had no throttle to cushion the landing it did the bunny hop 5 times down the runway. I was lucky nothing broke. :Whew:Yup, I was hot dogging the B1RD. Timer set for 3.5 and only got 3. :(Tightened up the nose gear plate and got in a second flight with this video as a result. Still a little hot on landing but I'll take it. You can see the wing tip strobes I installed work well also.
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Nice mateComment
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Colt, any landing..... How is Noah? Been praying for the little guy!!! Still believing for total healing Bro!!! :-)Comment
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Was very windy yesterday and didn't think I'd get a maiden in, but I lucked out and the wind died down before sunset. I trimmed all surfaces after assembly, but for some reason the flaps got out of trim after plugging in the flight packs at the field. No biggie as I fixed it before flight. But, my mistake was not checking the elevators, since they got out of trim too!
Spent most of the flight fighting the elevator and getting it trimmed out. Has some roll tendency as well so the flight was a bit of a handful.
First landing attempt was a bit hot and got a solid bounce back into the sky. Powered back up and came around for a second try and got it down safely. A big thanks to dlxpkg2000 for all the help with pre-flight checks and acting as co-pilot during the maiden flight.
Here is an onboard video with a Mobius action camera.
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Noah gets to go home next week. He can't have any visitors for awhile because of his suppressed immune system. Happy little camper today rash almost totally gone. Still has a lot to go through as my daughter gets to do all the medical stuff including changing the tube through his nose and the machine that pumps the food through it. Quick lesson in nursing. Still has eye issues too.Originally posted by Hardway View PostComment
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Flaps help a lot to slow down and get a better flare. Great video.Originally posted by Dirty Dee View PostComment
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My elevators were the same. I forgot about trimming them up as per manual. I forgot to setup my radio so I get automatic trim by flipping a switch while holding the plane level in the airOriginally posted by Dirty Dee View PostComment
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Yea I'll be using flaps next time now that I shouldn't be needing to focus on trimming.Originally posted by ColtPilot View PostComment
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I had a similar first flight trimming experience. Takeoff and landing was great but everything else in between was pretty terrifying. I've never used expo before and I thought I'd try it. Well I learned there is a big difference between positive and negative expo on a JR radio. I had 40% negative on elevator and ailerons and it was so sensitive I'm surprised I was able to land it. After I calmed down I flew one more flight and it was worse because I added in more expo. The next day I researched expo on JR radios and learned about the difference and made the changes now the plane flies like a dream. I used full flaps on the two nerve racking flights and honestly believe that's the only reason I was able slow it down enough to get a good landing. So flaps are very helpful.
i flew the plane yesterday at our clubs first EDF meet and had a blast. Took 2nd place. Sorry no videos yet.
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Picture from yesterday's meetComment
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I got two flights on mine today. Not sure if it's just me being use to it? But it doesn't seem as fast as it was the first few
flights on it.
I haven't modified my landing gear at all yet,because it's more I need to learn to land it better. My first flight landed it like butter and kissed the runway. Second flight today,I got one hard 4'high bounce,but just punched it and went around for another try. The second try, I flared too early,it got more
alltitude,I added a hint of power and just got a little almost nothing bounce. Figures whenever I'm getting a video takin,I screw up. I'll try to get a video up soon.Comment
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Well, I must say that the flying event this weekend i started out on Friday didnt fair well at all.......................................
Major ouch!!!!! Just as i broke ground i was too near the edge of the runway and the tall grass grabbed the right gear and in a blink of an eye, it spun around and then slammed into the ground. Parts flew everywhere. So first thought is, not repairable!!!! Order a new fuse, front, rear.............not in stock at MRC, RC Castle has them but shipping showed high, nearly $100. Well went out the next day after looking at youtube videos and getting feedback from two members here back a couple post, i proceeded to fit it back and most damage was clean breaks. I was very surprised to see how well it did fit and then i started with Foam 2 Foam glue from Delux Materials. I have not used Foam Tac ...yet! but this stuff is great. I never have done a major foam repair on EPO put this stuff worked very well. Some pins, tape and careful fitting, it went back together.
I found another net trick on removing/expanding back the foam after it gets crushed. Boiling water, yea but i cant boil water in big enough container to hold this thing. Several videos showed a guy using a covering iron but his foam planes were covered in a film that is available from A Loft Hobbies but i didnt have that stuff and wasnt going to cover the planes in it.
So, take the iron and set it to about 2-2.5 on the setting scale of the iron, dampen a paper towel and place it over the area that your trying to expand. Let it sit for a few seconds, keep checking and watch it closely for the foam to get the alligator effect and the part starts to form back to original shape almost.
Its not pretty but it gets the form back to close enough to glue it back together.
To better support the fuse at such critical junction, I installed 5mm carbon tubes in the channels on each side using 30min epoxy and micro balloons as a slurry and it held up to six flights today and one bronco landing/go-around. The Foam 2 Foam i assume is just like Foam Tac as it dries clear, semi flexible but given 24 hrs to dry, it firms up.
The other tip i have is a filler called Foam Putty, found in the model train scenery section of your LHS or even a Hobby Lobby if you have one near you. That will be used to fill and clean up the surface this fall after my flying season comes to a end.
A big shout out to my friend who came up from Alabama so we could fly at the Fall Jet Classic this weekend and practice our formation training sorties. Sean, aka, EDFJetPilot here on the forums, thanks for staying around today and encouraging me to fix it. Our flights together worked out great and i look forward to more sorties and formation training.
Seems we flew more today than all weekend since the turbines thinned out greatly.
My suggestions
Have a tube of Delux Materials Foam 2 Foam on hand or Foam Tac
Break out your old monokote iron and remove those unsightly wrinkles
If you are flying with heavy batteries, ie RT 6250ma or similar, By all means, install some 5mm or 6mm tubing in the channels of the forward fuse. Tip: RadicalRC has carbon square tubing with the round inside just like the main aft reinforcement rod is and will fit like a glove in those slots.
My Depot level maint crew came through and chief pilot confirmed that all worked as it should.
SamAttached FilesComment
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Here's a video of my botched up landing. I still love flying it and it looks sooo good up there. Just need to get my friend to zoom in a bit on my iPhone. It seems so far away from me.
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