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Post by chamm37 on Jan 4, 2009 18:28:07 GMT 10
Well it was going really well today flying at Rainbird rd untill i hit a rotar on the frotn side and because i was flying low to the ground doing some film work for the film i was doing  it iwas about 2m from the deck but still low and i was flying and then all of a sudden the plane went in the deck......Now luckly before it nosed i had enough hieght to bring the nose up but wasnt enough and in she went and broke the fuse right smack bang in the middle  it is a clean break relitivily i think and looks like it has been broken here before  dunno but it looks like it...... So i was wondering if anybody would be able to give us any directions on how to fix it and where to get some Glass and epoxy from Thanks guys, Chris ;D |
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Post by sean on Jan 4, 2009 19:04:38 GMT 10
Hey Chris, having way too much experience crunching my own Pike I feel for you. If it's a reasonably clean break and you're not too worried about how it looks it should be an easy fix.
You can buy the necessary materials from most fibreglass suppliers, have a look in the Yellow Pages for your nearest. The most common epoxy people use is West Systems, which is what I use but I know Jeff uses something a bit better. I buy my supplies from a shop on the Sunshine Coast but there are bigger and probably cheaper shops in Brisbane.
Sean.
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Post by chamm37 on Jan 4, 2009 19:28:55 GMT 10
yer thanks sean for the support....i mean the comp is only like 21 days away and i crashed my comp plane.....not a good omen to be entering into a comp with  |
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Post by ezza on Jan 4, 2009 21:53:15 GMT 10
So i was wondering if anybody would be able to give us any directions on how to fix it and where to get some Glass and epoxy from Thanks guys, Chris ;D Sorry to hear Chris but don't despair. A broken fuse is one of the easiest repairs. A broken/snapped fuse can be flying again by the next morning. Maybe not repainted but prabably stronger than it was before the breakage. I am no pro, but rough enough is good enough, if you get what I mean.  Get the fuse on the bench and and push it back together. Make sure everything is lined up perfectly. Make sure the seams line up and the tail, etc, is sitting correct. Hit it with CA. Now that it is back together, Sand down the area of the breakage about 30-50mm either side of the break. Don't sand too deep, but enough for a couple layers of glass/carbon so that you build it back up flat. Cut the glass or carbon( or use both, a layer or two of each) the right length to wrap around the fuse. I usually put a layer of fibreglass over the carbon, as the carbon fibres tend to get everywhere. A couple ways you can put on the pieces. You can spray a little 3m77 onto the sanded area. Wait till it is tacky and then stick the cloth onto the area dry. Then mix up some epoxy. Use 30 min or even slower drying is better. You can use a brush but a roller is better. Make sure you get it soaked all the way through. You don't want any air bubbles in there. Get some paper towels and soak up any excess resin. Then get some electrical tape and wrap the whole area, nice and tight. This compresses all the resin and cloth tight against the fuse. Now leave it to dry till the morning.  In the morning, pull the tape off and inspect. Sand down any high spots and fill up any low spots. You can fill with more epoxy and cloth but if it is close to level I would just use some bog. Like automotive filler. It will be plenty strong to fly and it is up to you if you want to make it look good again or just leave it. More filling, sanding, filling, sanding and then paint. Seems complicated at first but seeing your foamie building skills, this will be a piece of cake. Best luck Chris. Eric |
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Post by bananaman on Jan 4, 2009 22:47:22 GMT 10
Chris, I was going to post a great long description on how to do it, but it is better to do it under instruction. If no one else is available I can help you on the weekend. PM me if you can get over this way. I need to do some fixing too. Don't worry about the prang. I wrecked my first moldie on a test flight at its first away comp. Couldn't be repaired, so I couldn't fly. That was a very bad weekend. You'll be right. One thing about busting crunchies is that eventually the pain gets a little less |
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Post by bananaman on Jan 4, 2009 22:49:06 GMT 10
Ezza has posted what I was too lazy to ;D
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it iwas about 2m from the deck but still low and i was flying and then all of a sudden the plane went in the deck......Now luckly before it nosed i had enough hieght to bring the nose up but wasnt enough and in she went and broke the fuse right smack bang in the middle 
it is a clean break relitivily i think and looks like it has been broken here before 
dunno but it looks like it......
Get the fuse on the bench and and push it back together. Make sure everything is lined up perfectly. Make sure the seams line up and the tail, etc, is sitting correct. Hit it with CA. Now that it is back together, Sand down the area of the breakage about 30-50mm either side of the break. Don't sand too deep, but enough for a couple layers of glass/carbon so that you build it back up flat. 
