How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing?  
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Tower Hobbies
Enter up to 4 keywords or Tower stock numbers
Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
    Search This Thread  
 
Printable Version

All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Crash & Rebuild >> How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing?
Page: [1]

Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing? - 6/18/2009 6:58 PM   
BsSmith


 

Posts: 84
Score: 110
Joined: 2/2/2009
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: , IL, USA
Status: offline 		My Sparrowhawk's engine died on takeoff, there was no possible way to recover it.

The fuselage has a few cracks in it, but those are all fixable with a little bit of fiberglass.  The wing is a different story, both sides of it broke off.  It is made of styrofoam with balsa sheeting and leading edge.  Is there any possible way to glue the wing back together so it can fly again, or do I need another wing made?  I have a large amount of composites so I could use a heavy fiberglass or carbon fiber weave to hold the outside together, I'm just worried about the inside part of the wing breaking.

I will post pictures once I get a camera.



Hide Signatures
       Post #: 1

RE: How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing? - 6/18/2009 8:50 PM   
jimmyjames213



Posts: 826
Score: 120
Joined: 8/18/2008
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: Leavenworth, KS, USA
Status: offline 		just epoxy/elemers/foam safe ca/ect  it together, i would use epoxy.
if you have big chunks that were taken out look at this thread, the method works great http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8844765/tm.htm

_____________________________

Anything worth doing.............is worth overdoing

Hide Signatures

(in reply to BsSmith)
       Post #: 2

RE: How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing? - 6/18/2009 10:40 PM   
Skratchbilt



Posts: 71
Score: 100
Joined: 5/14/2009
Last Login: 10/22/2009
From: Springfield, MO, USA
Status: offline 		I have used the Dow Blue styrofoam for all kinds of things, and the best epoxy I found was the T-88 epoxy, from wing ribs to built-up cowling molds... it works great!

_____________________________

Keep Your Head Up On a Swivel

Hide Signatures

(in reply to BsSmith)
       Post #: 3

RE: How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing? - 6/18/2009 10:58 PM   
BsSmith


 

Posts: 84
Score: 110
Joined: 2/2/2009
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: , IL, USA
Status: offline 		I forgot to mention that the plane is a .40 sized plane that flies fairly fast.  I'm not sure if just an epoxy-together job would work, but stranger things have happened.  The plane also hit the ground extremely hard, so would small cracks between the foam beads not in the main breaks be a problem?  (I'd think  that if they are there, the wing would have almost no tensile strength.)  I was planning on taking all of the balsa sheeting off of the wing and replacing it with a super light carbon fiber layup, but if  the epoxy works, then I will put a carbon shaft down the already existing servo wire tube and just replace the broken sheeting, which sounds much easier.  The fuselage damage is much worse then I expected, all of the formers in the rear part are broken and the rudder sevo is trash.

Pics of the damage.

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


Hide Signatures

(in reply to Skratchbilt)
       Post #: 4

RE: How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing? - 6/18/2009 11:49 PM   
sgt peanut


 

Posts: 100
Score: 105
Joined: 12/10/2007
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: Vaughan, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		i broke my Styrofoam wing in half just a week ago. Put it together with elmers white glue, had no problems with it. went up to fly it again today and it flew perfectly fine. I have no epoxy, carbon or balsa on or in my wing at all, just foam and glue, to my surprise the wing is very strong.

I say just use epoxy, and your wing will be as good as new. If you really think it needs more strength, the carbon rod will do the trick.
by the way jimmyjames213, that's my corsair!
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8844765/tm.htm
I hope you fix your plane

happy flying!



Hide Signatures

(in reply to BsSmith)
       Post #: 5

RE: How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing? - 6/19/2009 12:16 AM   
BsSmith


 

Posts: 84
Score: 110
Joined: 2/2/2009
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: , IL, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: sgt peanut

i broke my Styrofoam wing in half just a week ago. Put it together with elmers white glue, had no problems with it. went up to fly it again today and it flew perfectly fine. I have no epoxy, carbon or balsa on or in my wing at all, just foam and glue, to my surprise the wing is very strong.



Yes, your thread gave me a major confidence boost, thank you.

If you can fix a smaller plane with a thin wing and no sheeting with elmers glue, then I am sure that I can fix a larger plane with a thicker airfoil and wing sheeting.  I will still use the carbon tubing in the wing for extra insurance though, the space is already there and it will help me straiten the wing.  Will Aeropoxy Laminating Resin work to glue the foam together?  It is a very thin epoxy that soaks into stuff very well.  Also, the LE of the wing and the entire of the ailerons are made of wood, will I have to replace those or can I glue them back together too?

Unfortunately, I will also have to refinish the entire plane as I will be replacing about 1/2 of the wing sheeting, and I cannot mix paint with the exact same sade of yellow.


Hide Signatures

(in reply to sgt peanut)
       Post #: 6

RE: How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing? - 6/19/2009 3:26 AM   
BsSmith


 

Posts: 84
Score: 110
Joined: 2/2/2009
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: , IL, USA
Status: offline 		I just realized that one of the wings broke near the end of it's servo wire tube, so if I put a carbon shaft in that it will do no good at all.  I guess I will have to drill another tube in the wing to give that break some more strength.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to BsSmith)
       Post #: 7

RE: How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing? - 6/19/2009 5:27 AM   
jimmyjames213



Posts: 826
Score: 120
Joined: 8/18/2008
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: Leavenworth, KS, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: sgt peanut

i broke my Styrofoam wing in half just a week ago. Put it together with elmers white glue, had no problems with it. went up to fly it again today and it flew perfectly fine. I have no epoxy, carbon or balsa on or in my wing at all, just foam and glue, to my surprise the wing is very strong.

I say just use epoxy, and your wing will be as good as new. If you really think it needs more strength, the carbon rod will do the trick.
by the way jimmyjames213, that's my corsair!
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8844765/tm.htm
I hope you fix your plane

happy flying!




noooooo are you surreee that is your plane (sarcasim) btw sgt peanut thanks for the thread, i used the "cut/replace/sand" method with the foam chunks (and thanks for whoever gave him the idea). i had a gws tigermoth motor come out and cut 3 .5 in deep chunks out of the wing, broke both wings  in half (upon landing, just epoxied) and i had been puzzling over how to fix them for a few months (thinking of shaving bits of foam/ then mixing w/ epoxy but that works much better)
so your crash may have helped more planes then you hurt

< Message edited by jimmyjames213 -- 6/19/2009 5:28 AM >

_____________________________

Anything worth doing.............is worth overdoing

Hide Signatures

(in reply to sgt peanut)
       Post #: 8

RE: How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing? - 6/20/2009 12:14 AM   
sgt peanut


 

Posts: 100
Score: 105
Joined: 12/10/2007
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: Vaughan, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		glad i could help in such a destructive manner

You said your wing broke near the servo wire tube, I think a quick fix for that is make another groove about 4 inches long just below the servo wire tube. (Make sure it runs through the break near the servo) then put a 4 inch long carbon rod, to strengthen just that one break. This way you dont need to rebuild the rest of the wing, just a quick patch for a small crack. Well thats the way i understand the problem, im not entirely sure how big and where this break is.

About the leading edge, you could glue the wood together and sand it, but it will look better and fly better if you replace it.



< Message edited by sgt peanut -- 6/20/2009 12:20 AM >

Hide Signatures

(in reply to jimmyjames213)
       Post #: 9

RE: How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing? - 6/20/2009 1:59 AM   
Skratchbilt



Posts: 71
Score: 100
Joined: 5/14/2009
Last Login: 10/22/2009
From: Springfield, MO, USA
Status: offline 		After seeing the damaged wing, I would replace it. The multiple-facetted breaks would be quite the job to glue... and strength would probably never be gained. The carbon rod "fixes" sound good, but the balancing issues would compile rather quickly. If you can manage to lay the airfoil, as it would be solid, and trace the edges, like a crime scene outline, you could probably duplicate the wing with on solid piece of foam... then fit your ailerons, etc., and reskin it. Myself, I would do this, because foam is easily worked, and I wouldn't constantly be waiting for it to fall from the sky again.

_____________________________

Keep Your Head Up On a Swivel

Hide Signatures

(in reply to BsSmith)
       Post #: 10

RE: How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing? - 6/21/2009 10:57 PM   
BsSmith


 

Posts: 84
Score: 110
Joined: 2/2/2009
Last Login: 11/8/2009
From: , IL, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Skratchbilt

The carbon rod "fixes" sound good, but the balancing issues would compile rather quickly.


My plan is to use one solid 60" piece of rod to support both breaks to get rid of the balancing issues.  If it is unbalanced, I can add weight to the servo compartments.


Hide Signatures

(in reply to Skratchbilt)
       Post #: 11

Page:   [1]
All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Crash & Rebuild >> How do you fix a solid styrofoam wing?
Page: [1]





Jump to:


 
Google 



Search | Marketplace | Event Calendar | Local Clubs | Magazine | Product Ratings | New Products | Discussion Forums

Photo Gallery | Instructor Search | Field|Track|Marina Search

Advertisers | Hobby Vendor Resources | Rate Manufacturers | Sign In/Sign Up

SITE MAP!   : :   FORUM RULES

© 2001 - 2007 24-7 RC, LLC, all rights reserved.

Charities we support that also need your help
Yorkie Rescue | Humane Society | ASPCA | Crohn's-Colitis America

Kaango.com Classifieds

0.906RCU1