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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).

  1. Remove any really lose pieces (but don't  really shorten it).
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

  1. Carefully cut just the top spar-tape layer and remove the old thin wooden spar, and adhesive (so epoxy will stick).
  2. With Fine sand-paper, lightly sand the outer skin a little just in the area underneath the spar (improves bond).
  3. 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.

 

 

 

Hobbico Ventura with better wing spar        
  1. Epoxy it to the top flat part of the wing.
  2. 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.
  3. 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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