Hobbico Ventura - Electric
Aircraft |
Repair Tips
Wing and Tail Repairs
I've made a few repairs, but it's still flying fine. Just
know that it will crash hard if you let it. I haven't crashed lately (in
the last 10 or so flights and landings), so that's good.
Broken wings and tail surfaces can be repaired with
regular Epoxy (NO CA).
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Remove any really lose pieces (but don't really shorten it).
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With Fine sand-paper, lightly sand the outer skin a
little just in the area of the break (where epoxy will flow around the
joint). This also works to fill-in a
crease to re-strengthen it.
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If it's a complete break, epoxy it back together in 2-3
steps (middle, top, bottom). Fill-in the crease or break until it's
fairly level with the surface.
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After it cures completely, apply a
good heavy-duty clear packaging tape.
Early on, the wing broke in half so I reinforced it with a slightly longer
and thicker piece of wood.
- Carefully cut just the top spar-tape layer and remove
the old thin wooden spar, and adhesive (so epoxy will stick).
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With Fine sand-paper, lightly sand the outer skin a
little just in the area underneath the spar (improves bond).
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Paint the new spar (I used 1/8"x1/2"x24 Basswood) with thinned
epoxy for strength. Can also be shaped and painted with epoxy paint.
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Epoxy it to the top flat
part of the wing.
- If spar is unshaped or it doesn't look aerodynamic
enough for your liking, cover the whole spar with 1 long piece of 2" clear
packaging tape.
- Replace long piece of 1" reinforced packing tape along
the bottom.
It seems to work
fine, making the wing sturdier without adding a
lot of weight. It's right on the CG, so center of gravity is not effected.
The mod. has been working ever since.
Disclaimer: Non-Factory
Modification
Repair costs so far are $0.75 for the Basswood. New
replacement parts are also relatively inexpensive as well.
Update 12/2005: No more crashes or rough
landings lately, so I bought a new wing for $15. It flies nice and plane
looks "stock" again. Kept the repaired wing as a backup and for training
new pilots (and for real windy days :-)
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