Aerobird Challenger wing repair

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cirip - 11 Jul 2004 18:40 GMT

Hi there,

I am an absolute beginner in the RC plane field.

I bought myself an Aerobird Challenger and started to learn flying on my
own. Of course a major crash occured, aside from lots of small ones. The
wing got broken in 2 pieces about one third from one end of the wing. The
wing is made from some sort of foam covered with plastic foil.

My question is: If I have no intention to perform any aerobatics, just plain
flying around, is it safe to put the pieces together with tape? Any other
options aside from buying a new wing? I know I am going to crash it a lot
and don't want to spend the cost of another plane on wings.

Picture of the broken wing is available if required. I can post it on some
binaries ng.

Please do not flame if this is not the right news group for this question. I
am only looking for advice.

Thanks,
Cirip

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Icrashrc - 11 Jul 2004 20:08 GMT

Clear packing tape should be fine. For a little extra strength put a peice or
two of strapping tape (the kind with fiberglass strands running thru it)
lengthwise, top and bottom on the wing. Poly-U or foam safe CA should be able
to glue it back together as well.

>Hi there,
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>Thanks,
>Cirip

remove my-wife to reply :-)

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dingo - 11 Jul 2004 21:42 GMT

I did some nice repair jobs with normal white Wood glue.
CA could be dangerous cause its disolves foam. Always test it on a save
place.

Some other final touch is lightweight filler, found in the local
handymanstore. its used to fill hole's in foam ceiling and wall decoration.

Good luck

> Hi there,
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> Thanks,
> Cirip

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Ken-Ohki - 11 Jul 2004 22:46 GMT

Geberaly speaking, If you do a good job of taping it back together. That
is a neat job that dosent look like 30 foot of tape wraped around it,
It should be ok.. If you would like to do a more permanant fix to is, I
recomend getting some gorilla glue. It makes a very strong and semi
flexable bond. I use it to repair all creases and impact fractures on
my ABC wings. It hasnt failed yet.. I have had wings that are taped
fail again, but only when stressed. We tend to fly in allot of wind
here.

I also carved out a channle in the underside of the wing right on its
CG and imbeded a thick wooden skewer, secured with the gorilla glue of
course. This stiffened the wing allot. I recomend adding the spar.

Ken-Ohki
"I make things do what I want them to, The hell with what they are
designed to do."

Signature

Ken-Ohki

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Jim Lilly - 12 Jul 2004 00:34 GMT

Cirip,

> The
> wing got broken in 2 pieces about one third from one end of the wing.

Considering the importance of the wing, you'll find quick fixes don't
generally last well. Still, you might try taping 1 or 2 tongue
depressor sticks on it. A new wing will be your best choice though.

Visit;

http://groups.msn.com/HobbyzoneRCPlaneCrashClubunofficial/messageboard

Aerobird owners hang out there & can be most helpfull.
--

Jim L.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtual-access/
Using - Virtual Access(OLR), ZAP 4.5, & WinXP Pro w/SP1

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Mike R. - 12 Jul 2004 04:15 GMT

> Hi there,
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> Thanks,
> Cirip

Buy a new wing, there around $15.00.......might be the better choice then fixing.

Mike

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cirip - 13 Jul 2004 02:46 GMT

Hi,

Thaks to everyone who responded.

A spare wing was in the books anyways, but I'll try to fix the broken one. I
have to make the most out of it. I am on the learning curve.

Happy flying,
Cirip

> Hi there,
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> Thanks,
> Cirip

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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / July 2004

Aerobird Challenger wing repair