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Old 05-30-2008 | 02:41 PM
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gboulton
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From: La Vergne, TN
Default RE: Lanier 81" Cap 232

Yes, I used Robarts. It's obvious from looking at the right aileron (with all 5 hinges still securely attached to it, sticking out) that the hinges didn't fail. It was strictly a function of me being "sparse" with the epoxy, and thus not getting a significant bond on only a 1/4" TE. As I said before, I suspect if I'd done ANY of the following:

1) Used LOTS of epoxy, letting a good bit be pushed toward the "opening" as the hinges were inserted...thus saturating the TE stock
or
2) Put hardpoints in front of the TE for the hinge holes (the best option imo)
or
3) Replaced the TE stock with 1/2" or 3/4" like the LE stock on the surfaces
or
4) Used Radio South's giant scale CA hinges

then things would have been fine. Personally, I'd go with #2, as it doesn't add much weight, doesn't take long, and doesn't have the hassle of trying to wick foam-safe CA like #4 would.

As for the wings, the left one survived....a testimony to its strength, imo. The impact was enough to bend the STOCK wing tube, AND put a 1/4" dent in the back of the DL-50's exhaust...and it STILL survived. The right one broke up on impact, as the plane hit on its right wing-tip and nose. An examination of the right wing shows that, despite what must have been some significant forces on it (the servo was ripped out, the screws pulling out of the hardwood mount rails), it did NOT break in flight. An "impact break" is relatively "clean"...that is, there's a definite line where it broke, and the balsa sheeting will be snapped along that line. Had it broken in flight, the sheeting would be more "delaminated", or pulled away from the foam...meaning that the break line of the sheeting would be some distance away from the foam's break line...there is no evidence of that, nor did I see anything in flight that led me to believe the wing was damaged prior to impact.

As for building another one, probably not. As I'd said earlier...I've never had a burning desire for a Cap (don't DISLIKE them at all...just never really said "gee, I must have one". This one was strictly a function of having most of the radio gear on hand, and the kit being so cheap. Admittedly, at $110 for another kit, and another $70 for CG balsa, it MIGHT just be too cheap to pass up AGAIN. We'll see.

I'll say this...built light, the thing DID fly wonderfully well...it really did feel, for that short period, like I was going to absolutely love the plane. obviously, no way of knowing what I'd have thought once i got aggressive with, but I have a hunch it would have become one of my favorite airplanes.

In any event, whenever you're ready to start building, sscherin, let me know. I'll still be happy to send those skin templates along.