Repair broken T-28 rudder  
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Repair broken T-28 rudder - 2/18/2008 3:03:08 PM   
Raptor483


 

Posts: 5
Joined: 1/15/2008
From: Shreveport, LA, USA
Status: offline 		I am new to the forums. I read here often but this is my first time to post. I recently bought a Parkzone T-28 Trojan. Yesterday I was driving and had my plane in the back of my Dodge Durango. The plane was parked in the back of the vehicle with my tool box in front of the right wing. I made a dumb move and left my tool box there while I was driving. I had to hit the brakes and the box went sliding towards the front of the car. This also pushed the plane towards the front of the vehicle. The back of the vertical stabilizer slammed into the back seat and it broke the rudder off the vertical stabilizer. I am trying to figure out how to fix it without buying a new fuselage. Do you think hinges and glue would work or maybe some tape around the part that broke off.

Here are some pictures of the damage. Any help would be greatly appreciated.



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RE: Repair broken T-28 rudder - 2/18/2008 3:21:01 PM   
CGRetired



Posts: 4224
Joined: 9/14/2004
From: Galloway, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		Get a small roll of Blenderm tape, and some UHU Creative glue (probably available at a hobby or arts and craft shop).

Carefully remove the broken rudder and trim away any that remain on the vert stab.

Re-cut-sand-whatever the surface on the rudder (it looks like it broke off on the rudder side of the stab) that joins up with the stab and keep the same angle for clearance.

Add some of the UHU Creative along the surface on both the vert stab and the rudder where you plan on using tape to join the two surfaces. Once the glue has set, about a half hour, then cut a length of tape to fully cover the top to the bottom of the rudder and tape it in place. The tape goes over the UHU. The UHU acts as a surface on the foam for the tape to stick to.

I will edit this with a picture shortly.

In my picture, the red is the UHU Creative glue and the blue is the Blenderm tape. The whole length of the vertical area where the tape is to go is to be covered with UHU Creative glue. This is to make the tape stick well to the surface.. and it will too!! After you get them straight, and square, and the desired gap, apply the UHU to the whole length on the both surfaces to be taped together. Obviously, only one side needs be done (meaning you don't have to tape the right AND left side, only the right or left side as appropriate.

If you want, you can get a piece of replacement EPP foam and re-do the rudder, but it looks like you can salvage what you have. Just make it square to the mating surface and go from there.

The UHU Creative glue is the one to get. You can see the glue and where I got this idea from at:

http://www.lightflite.com/ and scroll down towards the bottom of the web page.. it's a long one.

Use only the UHU Creative glue. Blenderm tape may be available at your pharmacy store. It is a medical adhesive, skin-like qualities. Very strong and really sticks to the UHU creative prepared surface.

CGr.

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< Message edited by CGRetired -- 2/18/2008 3:52:04 PM >

_____________________________

Skylark 70 - OS 75 AX; Venus II - OS 1.20 AX; Tiger 120 - OS 1.20 AX; Protege - OS .75 AX. Airtronics - Spektrum. AMA 705964. Semper Paratus!

(in reply to Raptor483)
       Post #: 2

RE: Repair broken T-28 rudder - 2/18/2008 3:45:50 PM   
Raptor483


 

Posts: 5
Joined: 1/15/2008
From: Shreveport, LA, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the quick response! I will try that and let you know how it turns out. Very informative.

Thanks again.

(in reply to CGRetired)
       Post #: 3

RE: Repair broken T-28 rudder - 2/18/2008 3:50:38 PM   
CGRetired



Posts: 4224
Joined: 9/14/2004
From: Galloway, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		My pleaseure, Raptor. This makes a great repair on foam surfaces like that.

The plane shown on the web site is The Bug. Pretty neat gadget. The owner/retailer demo'ed them last year at the WRAM show in Westchester, NY. Very impressive. Easy to build and pretty strong. Part of that was the way he combinationed (if that's a word) the foam/UHU Creative, Blenderm, Carbon Rods, and CA glue to put this thing together. I was so amazed that I bought two of them.. ha.. still have them, and fly them on a regular basis.

But this isn't about The Bug, it's about your repair. My point was just to show that it is strong stuff and should work out just fine.

If you are uncertain that it won't come apart, then you may add another hinge to the inside of the hinge surface by cutting a strip of Blenderm to perhaps 3/4 of the length of the rudder/vert stab joint. Apply some UHU Creative to that surface, let it set, and carefully put the tape inside the hinge along both surfaces within the V. I don't know if you will need that, though, just a thought if you wanted to do it.

CGr.

< Message edited by CGRetired -- 2/18/2008 3:55:18 PM >

_____________________________

Skylark 70 - OS 75 AX; Venus II - OS 1.20 AX; Tiger 120 - OS 1.20 AX; Protege - OS .75 AX. Airtronics - Spektrum. AMA 705964. Semper Paratus!

(in reply to Raptor483)
       Post #: 4

RE: Repair broken T-28 rudder - 2/18/2008 3:56:35 PM   
CGRetired



Posts: 4224
Joined: 9/14/2004
From: Galloway, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		It's the Dodge Durango that did it. I'll bet that would not have happened if you had a Ford or a Chevy..

Little inside joke there..

CGr.

_____________________________

Skylark 70 - OS 75 AX; Venus II - OS 1.20 AX; Tiger 120 - OS 1.20 AX; Protege - OS .75 AX. Airtronics - Spektrum. AMA 705964. Semper Paratus!

(in reply to CGRetired)
       Post #: 5

RE: Repair broken T-28 rudder - 2/18/2008 4:12:32 PM   
Raptor483


 

Posts: 5
Joined: 1/15/2008
From: Shreveport, LA, USA
Status: offline 		I wish I could find another way to transport my planes when I am on my way flying, but for now I guess the Durango is my only option. One question, do I have to glue the rudder and the vs together before I place the tape on the surface or I just keep the two parts separated and once the glue has dried on the surface join the vs and the rudder together? Also could I apply both glue and tape on both sides just for extra reinforcement.

Thanks!

(in reply to CGRetired)
       Post #: 6

RE: Repair broken T-28 rudder - 2/18/2008 4:27:29 PM   
waydown2low


 

Posts: 93
Joined: 3/19/2007
From: Guymon, OK, USA
Status: offline 		On a small foamy like this you can do a quick field repair to get you back in the air, I know you must carry a roll of clear monocoat repair kit with you ( also known as clear packing tape ). Take the control horn off the surface and place the rudder where it sould be. Move the rudder full deflection in one direction and apply a strip of tape down the full length of the surface to attach the two back together. when you straighten up the surface push the tape into the groove. Bend the control the opposite direction and repeat. Replace the control horn and check all movement and support. This will get you out of a bind on light aircraft, I have used this on planes up to 25 size nitro with no problems. When you get done flying for the day you can do a more permanent repair like CG mentioned, or if it is holding up good, just keep flying and replace tape when neccesary. On larger models, you can use the same process to seal the control surfaces, just do it to one side ( the bottom on aileron and elevator, both side on rudder) Hope this helps.

_____________________________

If you can't see it, don't hand me the controlls!! :)

(in reply to Raptor483)
       Post #: 7

RE: Repair broken T-28 rudder - 2/18/2008 4:44:03 PM   
CGRetired



Posts: 4224
Joined: 9/14/2004
From: Galloway, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		Raptor, just place the surfaces as best you can, on a flat surface so that the edges face each other, open end of the V side down (Opening down). So the flat part where the two surfaces join are together and the points of the angle facing each other. They don't have to be close to each other at this time, just so you can get the right orientation to each other... again open part of the V facing down.

Apply the UHU Creative to both surfaces facing you (the flat surface) and let it set/dry for about a half hour. Then carefully, set the gap between the two, and then apply the tape to the whole length, tip to tip, and equally on both surfaces right over the UHU glue you just let dry. Press the tape down with your finger to push the tape the glue so that the two glued surfaces (the tape and the glue) are allowed to act as though it was contact cement. Trim off the excess at the top and bottom and do the gap if you wish, although it should not be necessary.

Tape does not stick very well on foam for some reason. So, the addition of the UHU Creative glue on the surface preps it for the tape. Then the tape has a better surface to adhere to. Once the tape is pressed in place, it is very difficult to remove it so do it right the first time. Maybe practice on something before you do it permanantly on your rudder/vert stab. Works great.

My girlfriend works in a hospital and was able to get me some 1" Blenderm at cost. The stuff that Lightflite has I believe is 1/2 inch. I prefered the 1 inch stuff myself... covers more surface area.

CGr.

< Message edited by CGRetired -- 2/21/2008 11:57:32 AM >

_____________________________

Skylark 70 - OS 75 AX; Venus II - OS 1.20 AX; Tiger 120 - OS 1.20 AX; Protege - OS .75 AX. Airtronics - Spektrum. AMA 705964. Semper Paratus!

(in reply to waydown2low)
       Post #: 8

RE: Repair broken T-28 rudder - 2/24/2008 9:19:57 PM   
CGRetired



Posts: 4224
Joined: 9/14/2004
From: Galloway, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		Raptor.. how did everything work out? Did you get it fixed? If so, what method did you use?

CGr

_____________________________

Skylark 70 - OS 75 AX; Venus II - OS 1.20 AX; Tiger 120 - OS 1.20 AX; Protege - OS .75 AX. Airtronics - Spektrum. AMA 705964. Semper Paratus!

(in reply to CGRetired)
       Post #: 9

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