Cutting stab spars


Since the pipe goes right through the stab spars there was no other option except to cut them out. First the Freewing elevator servos were removed. They were glued in and had to be cut out. I hate gluing in servos but here there is no choice.


First the plastic stab mounts were removed exposing the carbon square tube spars


The center of the stab foam was cut out using the hot wire cutter and then the stab spars were cut away using a cutting wheel


This pic shows the stab spars removed clearing the pipe channel... but you can see the stabs drooping since there is not much foam left to hold them together. This is where I remember thinking that this conversion method is not for the "faint of heart" since I have now gutted all structural integrity for the rear fuse and stab.


I decided to make some U shaped carry under spars out of carbon fiber. Here the lines for slots on front and back of the carbon spars are marked


Freehand hot wire slot cuts made. I found hidden plywood stab root ribs embedded in the foam that held the carbon square tube spars


Slots complete and plywood ribs removed