Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45  
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Crash & Rebuild >> Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45
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Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45 - 5/5/2008 11:45:18 PM   
marooncobra



Posts: 9
Joined: 3/25/2008
From: Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		I have just been given a Rambler 45 that sustained a crash approx 8 months ago (low level, inverted and tail hit ground) and has been collecting dust in one of our members shed. Damage was cracked fuselage, broken off tail section, damage to wing tip and minor blemishes. I was given the plane to practice take off and landings with a tail dragger as at present I have a tricycle trainer.

I have repaired the broken off tail section, cracked fuselage, damage to the wing tip etc and had the member that owned it originally fly it last sunday but had to end the flight early as the wing covering was coming off the leading edge of the wing. During the flight he did manage to put the plane through its paces and said that I had done a good job on the repair. On getting the plane home and reapplying the covering with an iron I decided to go over the whole plane with it to tighten up the covering. It was at this time I noticed that on one side of the rear stab it had wrinkles on the covering.

As I heated the covering I noticed that on one side of stab one of the ribs was cracked in the middle. I then started to twist the stab and noted that where all of the ribs join the leading and trailing edge there is slight movement. I assume the glue/bond has been compromised in these areas? The other side of the stab is fine.

For a quick repair I do not want to remove stab from fuselage as it is epoxied in and will take a considerable amount of effort to remove. I think the options I have open to me are as listed below. Some advice please on the best method from below or one of your own if you consider it a better option:

a. Do nothing and take bets on when it will fail (Not best option as my RX, engine and servos may be damaged but what a sweepstake that would be, eh!!!)

b. Remove covering from the bottom side of the stab (both sides), infill all of the sections with balsa, glue with CA or if gap is too large epoxy, recover and fly it.

c. Remove only the areas of covering where the failed rib joints are including the known cracked one, CA these areas, recover and fly.

d. Remove covering from bottom of stab, sheet with lite ply, recover and fly.

I feel the best option would be Option 'B'.

Finally, if Option 'B' is the best method what is the correct way to fit the infill pieces for maximum strength i.e. grain direction? Grain direction running in line with fuselage or across fuselage? Or alternate grain direction between each infill piece?

Many thanks

< Message edited by marooncobra -- 5/6/2008 12:22:30 AM >

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RE: Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45 - 5/6/2008 3:56:23 AM   
fozjared


 

Posts: 543
Joined: 7/1/2007
From: gilmer/nacogdoches, TX, USA
Status: offline 		is the horizontal stab all one piece? if so is it inserted through the tail of the fuselage? if you could take a picture i am sure helping would be much easier!

(in reply to marooncobra)
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RE: Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45 - 5/6/2008 5:29:17 AM   
marooncobra



Posts: 9
Joined: 3/25/2008
From: Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		fozjared,

Yes it is all one piece and yes it is inserted through the tail of the fuselage. I will try and take a photo of it when I get back home from work.

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RE: Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45 - 5/6/2008 2:09:06 PM   
andernamen


 

Posts: 204
Joined: 9/29/2005
From: Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Status: offline 		Just my opinion, I have rebuilt a few planes after crashes. Since the plane was given to you and is intended to help you learn to fly a taildragger, I would do the simplest repair possible, option C. Remove any covering necessary, fill the cracked areas/ribs with thick CA and any necessary balsa to scab the broken ribs. Hard to say exactly without pics. Recover, fly and check again. Since the other side of the (horizontal?) stab is okay, no need to do anything there.

(in reply to marooncobra)
       Post #: 4

RE: Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45 - 5/6/2008 10:12:14 PM   
marooncobra



Posts: 9
Joined: 3/25/2008
From: Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		Thanks for replies. I have fixed problem with thick CA, Balsa Gussets and recovered. Member of club assisted in details over phone. No flexing at all now. Happy Days!!

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Smashing toast Gromit!!!

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RE: Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45 - 5/7/2008 11:56:07 PM   
BadSplice



Posts: 405
Joined: 2/27/2004
From: Nevada City , CA, USA
Status: offline 		If I might make a suggestion, having owned a rambler 45.... (loved it btw) I would shim up the back of the landing gear blocks, to move the wheels forward when they are down. The stock position puts them a bit too far back, and the result is that the plane will skid up on its nose if you hit the slightest bump or blade of grass. Get the wheels forward an inch or so and landings will be Much smoother.

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May the Force be With You; and if necessary, be prepared to go to the Hobby Shop and get More Force!

(in reply to marooncobra)
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RE: Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45 - 5/8/2008 8:49:08 AM   
marooncobra



Posts: 9
Joined: 3/25/2008
From: Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		Badsplice,

I will shim the rear part of the retracts with 1/8 washers. That should move the gear forward 1 inch at the wheels.

Many thanks for the advice

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Smashing toast Gromit!!!

(in reply to BadSplice)
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RE: Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45 - 5/8/2008 6:22:14 PM   
BadSplice



Posts: 405
Joined: 2/27/2004
From: Nevada City , CA, USA
Status: offline 		That should be perfect. Its a really nice flying plane, I've been thinking of getting another. (destroyed mine learning how NOT to get out of flat spins.....) Just out of curiosity, what engine do you have for it?

_____________________________

May the Force be With You; and if necessary, be prepared to go to the Hobby Shop and get More Force!

(in reply to marooncobra)
       Post #: 8

RE: Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45 - 5/8/2008 9:09:04 PM   
marooncobra



Posts: 9
Joined: 3/25/2008
From: Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		Badsplice,

Its got an OS 46 FX in it at the moment and that seemed more than enough with the way the old owner put her through her paces. If I want a bit more I may swap my OS 46 AX that is in my tricycle trainer into her. What did you have in yours?

_____________________________

Smashing toast Gromit!!!

(in reply to BadSplice)
       Post #: 9

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