toto

Seen as progression. ..... hey ..... you may even get someone asking for advice ..... now ..... there's a scary thought.... the blind leading the blind. Toto

Eh...... I think you mean shoes, jeans, shed floor and anything else that could possibly get in the way .... .... oh and my very best M & S Teeshirt. Never mind .... it looks so much more convincing down the field when you have some clothing with war medals on them. Paint , glue, burns etc etc..... a proper modeller. Toto

I thought that it would run down into the puncture marks that I made through both the micropore and the foam. Also I brushed the whole of the surface of the micropore with the same mixture and did not want a big thick heavy coat. Just an idea ...... I'm full of them .... Toto

Checked the repair .... drying nicely. Still a little tacky but expected due to the fact the epoxy was diluted with IPA. Should reach its full strength by late tomorrow or certainly by the time that I have returned from Sellafield on Tuesday evening. Hopefully a nice strong repair. Fingers crossed. Toto

Will do Ron. I like to keep a mixture of lotions and and potions for every eventuality ..... Toto

No worries good Sir. It's all pinned and glued now and the outside given a bit support / protection. Hinges next. Stay tuned Toto

Don't count your chickens just yet. I still have the hinges to go yet .... Confidence is high though. This should have been attempted before noe but I was not really happy tackling it before now. Today I developed a sloppy so wot cavalier attitude about it and just got stuck in. .... in for a penny ....... Once all the strengthening and hinges are complete I may be able to tackle the cosmetics to at least pass the 3 metre rule. .... although I'm not to fussed about that as once in the air .... its all more or less out of sight. Toto

Just thinking .... the hinges will have to be midweek at the earliest as I am off to Sellafield tomorrow not returning until Tuesday evening at the earliest. .... never mind .... no rush at it won't be in immediate use or any time soon that I can see so no drama's. Good to get it back into a serviceable position though. Cheers Toto

Hi Grump, No worries ..... diluted epoxy was used. The micropore will do the job. The repair will always stand out to a certain extent even once painted. The main thing is strength and fitness for purpose I suppose. I have completed the application of the epoxy and will let it fully cure ... I'll give it at least 24 hours before tackling the hinges. As you can see, a good soaking ... As I mentioned, it will hopefully take a light sanding and a bit coverage with white paint once finished. It's not quite as messy as the camera makes it look. Next....the hinges ..... tomorrow for that .... so far so good I think ... for someone that was crapping it to have a go. Not the most cosmetically sound job but I think it will have the required strength. Cheers Toto

OK..... I've went with micropore ..... wrapped around the piece with the fracture centred beneath it ..... And ..... And ...... You get the picture. My next step was to make a series of puncture marks all over the surface area of where the micropore covered using a sharp scalpel. ..... not digging holes .... just puncturing the micropore and just into the foam. The idea being to let the diluted epoxy ( which is what I am going to go with ) penetrate the micropore into the foam to help key the materials together. The diluted epoxy ( diluted with IPA ... Isopropyl alcohol ) will run into the puncture marks through to the foam for a better grip. We will see what the end finish is like and if necessary, the surface may be good enough to take a light sanding. The epoxy will be brushed on then left to set. This will just leave the two pieces to be mated with the hinges. More later. Away to mix the epoxy. Toto

Next up is looking at strengthening the surface cracks. I have found the micropore to be a bit on the thick side although not ruling it out. I hade thought of some kind of bandage or gause impregnated with CA or watered down epoxy using IPA to thin it out. The bandage ( typical first aid box variety ) is really just a sort of thin netting to take the adhesive ( whichever variety ) and bridge the surfaces giving a hard finish a bit like cataloy. ..... Not sure. If I applied the bandage ( whatever ) I would put little pin pricks through the bandage into the foam to give channels for the watered down expoxy somewhere to flow and grip the foam ..... ideas on a psotcard .... another 5 or 10 minute intermission. toto

What a time for the laptop and the camera to have a fight. OK here is what I have done .... rightly or wrongly. Using .... Apologies for the slanty photos. I'm using my pad for the first time and have not quite mastered it in termsof changing photo orientation. Still .... I'm sure you get the picture. Back soon Toto

So, I have drilled two initial pilot holes really just as it will be easier to penetrate the plastic with a thinner drill for the first time. I will have to redrill them with a thicker drill to match the chosen wood section diameter. I could maybe get away with a third hole. I'll think about that. maybe one at more of a diagonal attitude. To give an idea how far the drill has penetrated .... and the other. I will need to go an see what other drills I have as I want the wooden sections to be a comfort fit once the glue or epoxy has been applied. ( still undecided ) I am still leaning towards the epoxy since I dont have the gorilla brown glue. more as it happens. toto.

OK ......... In the shed ....... here is what I have in my armoury for today .... so far. First up ..... the all important dremmel .... a selection of various types of potential stiffeners from cocktail sticks .... upwards .... some glues ... but no Gorilla brown .... some epoxy if favoured ..... some micropore ...... and to give you an idea of the sectional sises of the wooden sticks ..... and the areas that I intend to utilise the micropore for .... and the other side .... I would also like to fill in the slots where the wing hinges previously were ..... and ..... I'd fill these in as using the fresh areas of foam in between, may weaken the entire edge of the foam. so my intention is to cut the fresh slots for the new hinges and fill in between as I go. I'll have to think what I will use to do that. maybe just neat epoxy itself as when it hardens, it will be as good as anything. I will be spending about 10 minutes before starting to think out my plan of action but think I will start with drilling a couple of holes through the plastic former along the wings length to insert the wooden strengthening sticks. So ...... if you want to chip in telling me why this approach is wrong ..... better make it fast. now ..... for a coffee and a ponder. cheers toto

Hi Ron, I have gorilla glue but can't remember if it's the brown variation. I'd need to check. If not ..... it may need to be epoxy. I'll probably post up what I have when I hit the shed in a wee while. Drinking copious amounts of coffee whilst trying to come to and contemplate a shower at the moment. Nothing ever happens fast on a Sunday unless I'm getting ready for a flying session. Cheers Toto

OK... I don't have carbon rod / strip at hand. I did have a bit kindly donated by a club member some time ago but I've stored it " somewhere safe ". So .... I think I'm going to go with this idea....... Bore a couple of holes through the plastic end joiner up through the middle of the wing and insert cocktail sticks impregnated with 2 part epoxy. Put a thin layer of micropore to cover the external ( previously made ) joints and apply a layer of thin foam friendly cyno. Also apply some micropore along the join between the foam and the plastic where it joins and again, apply some Cyno. What do you think ...... Worth a bash ? Toto

I like the idea of using the micropore tape to reinforce the plastic to foam joint as the break is in that region and ... to me... its the most vulnerable point. I may just nip out for some of that. I do have cocktail sticks at hand as well. Heating up epoxy just to get it a bit more viscose and making it easier to place ( hopefully without leaving a goey mess ) also sounds good to get maximum penetration into the joint and the foams honeycombed like nature. I may just at least have a reccy overthe job and see if I can come up with a planned approach to doing a decent fix. Thanks for the ideas grumpy. Toto

Not nice at all today ...... overcast and a bit blowy. Don't feel so bad about not having a flying window. I'll get the Cub packed away into the shed now. I stored the batteries in the shed last night as if they went up in the car for any reason, I'd imagine it would be a case of insurance is void. Which leaves me with the dilemma of how I'm going to entertain myself today. If I'm seen to be at a loose end , SWMBO may well try to resolve that. Hmmmmm I had a bit of carbon rod given to me some time ago that would have let me attempt the repair on the Beavers horizontal Stabilisor but can't for the life of me find where I put it so that's out. Not that my confidence is that high in undertaking the repair anyway but I might have given it a bash. I think I may use the link provided earlier to buy a few lengths for future requirements. I'll visit the site again anyway. So for now, it looks like something to eat and then ...... make myself look busy before SWMBO takes advantage. Hope others are having a more fruitful day of flying. Cheers Toto

Hi chaps, Back from the field a bit earlier than expected. Nice sunny weather but was windy ..... too windy. Around 20 - 25 mph. I got a flight in with relatively calm conditions then the wind picked up. I done a second in the wind and landed early as somehow my rates were not kicking in when I tried to reduce from 100% to 60 %. Somehow the settings must have been upset. Took off again with 60% rates and all was good. Done my third landing of the day and my mentor decided to take his Savage Bobber up. The Bobber took the wind conditions quire well but a dead stick forced a premature landing for him. By this time the wind was picking up further so we decided to call it a day rather than risk the models. Still a good day but just a little shorter than expected. No big deal ...... here's to next weekend. Toto

Yes ...... its looking good. Car packed and ready to go. Just need to pick up a lunch from the shops on the way and I'm all set. Hoping this is the start of a nice spring / summer with loads of regular stick time. Have a great day all Toto

So ..... here we are again ..... Friday .... the weather has been favourable for most of the week with some lovely blue skies .... albeit with a degree of light wind. Battery charging duties are complete with my tranny's being done last night and Lipo's the night before. A quick look over my Supercub and all is good. Wind forward to Saturday morning ..... what are we going to get ? So far all is good. I have a date for eleven o'clock at the East Fortune flying field with my mentor, Cub and no less than eight suitable battery packs ....... the big question is ..... how many will I get to use. Circuits, circles, figure eights, aborted approaches, landings ........ the big question is ....... Will I be able to improve enough to enable a questimate as to how far I am to achieving my first attempt at a solo flight. ..... Its that challenge and mindset that forges me on and provides the target / goal I need to make me try to push myself and improve ..... we all need a goal. Stay tuned in for my field report on my success or failure. Hope you all have a great flying weekend. Toto

I did think of that. Just need some carbon rod. I'll look into it...... still a very weak joint ... given the position. Toto

I decided to go out into the shed and have another look at the Beaver damage. Took the damaged half of the horiontal stabilisor off .... leaving the undamaged half on .... here is where it broke off. Couldn't have been in a more awkward place. right beside the plastic slotty inny bit. and here it is again.... I took the hairy hinges out that I had previously tried to fit in order to start again..... and again .... its a mess ..... i need to bridge that split with something to strengthen the join ..... and once thats done ..... refit some new hinges in the fresh area along both edges avoiding the previous hinge slots. the red tape marks the spot for the new hinges to be slotted into the wing. Thats where I am for now ....... nothing to lose by trying the repair. If its not good then I will await the new part to come toto

Hi grumpy, apologies missed your post there. I may try my mentor and see what he thinks. just a little bit reluctant to hit him with any more really. His time on flying is already a big commitment I feel. toto

I have managed to source a horizontal stabilisor from Hobbyland and they have taken my order based on UK shipping with no issue. lets see if this one makes it through and how long it takes. hopefully not just pouring good money after bad. I just want to have the model airworthy again. fingers crossed. toto