Hello to all in the group.

Regarding the failure of the empenage on the original Revenger I designed. As I mentioned before, the plane was over 30 years old and I stopped keeping a log after 1100 flights. After bringing it out of storage I noticed a crack around the entire empanage near the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer, but thought it was just the old epoxy paint cracking since there was several cracks in the old K&B Epoxy paint.

After careful examination of the wreckage, it apprears the stress cracks in the balsa sides were quite old. I could determine this by the discoloration of the balsa wood on the fuselage sides where it failed versus the fresh cracks on the ventral fin and the dorsal fin. which was all that was holding the tail on.

I'm not worried about the strenght of the tail on my new Revenger that I am nearly finished with, but if I were to build a new one from scratch, I would change the design to add two 1/64 plywood doublers to the fuselage sides below the horizontal stabilizer and extend them at least one inch forward of the leading edge. This would add substantial strength to the tail and have very little effect on the weight and balance.

The revenger normally always balanced closer to the forward CG when finished and as long as the balance is within the CG range it will fly perfect. It will spin easier with a aft CG. Personally I think it flew a little better with the CG nearer the aft CG point.

When I built the new replacement plane, I used Titebond glue and would recommend that for the entire construction. The finished flying weight should fall within 7 to 8 pounds depending on which retract sustem you are using. personally I like the Robart pneumatic system

If anyone has any questions, please let me know. I am always glad to help fellow RC flyers.

I will post some pictures of the new Revenger that I am completing.

Dick