I really loved my shoestring. What a great flier. I had an OS 61 FS-P with a Pitts muffler. A great combination.
I flew it today for about the 6th time. Half throttle, level flight, and the wing departed. It seems the hot glue gun was used a little too sparingly on the wing bolt hold down mount at the ARF factory.

Shoestring lovers, check those glue joints so that you can enjoy those great planes for longer than I did.

I don't recall hot glue being used on any of Greatplanes better class of plane. You may want to send it back for another plane if it looks obvious that is what caused the problem.

Agree on the hot glue in GP. The fire wall on my Patty Wagstaff came loose after 3 flights. You got it.. looked like hot glue to me, cut right thru it with a xacto.

Well this could be a sales blow for Greatplanes eh?

Problem with some ARFs (not just GP's) is that they leave a gap between the wing and mounting bolt plate. If the modeler cranks too hard on the wing bolts, over time the mounting plate will tend to bend or pull away from the fuselage sides - ultimately causing a separation failure.

Some ARFs have the gap filled in with balsa, which eliminates this problem. Personally, I do the same thing to ARFs that don't have this from the factory. It also has the added benefit of helping to guide the wing bolts down to the blind nuts.

Hi. Name's Ken, been modeling for 43yrs. and flying RC for over 30 yrs. The glue you refer to IS NOT hot melt glue. IT IS a FAST SETTING Aliphatic commonly used in the Orient. This glue generally works w/o problems, but since the acft. are containered for better than 60 days (avg.) in EXTREMELY hot/humid conditions, sometimes this takes its toll (wrinkled covering anyone?).

That's my 2cents worth, thanx for listening. Its just that I'm tiring of reading this claim of hot melt glue use, and the slamming of the mfr's. based on misinformation. Try this for yourself, bond two pieces of wood with your favorite brand of hot melt glue. You'll find that the glue texture is not at all like the Aliphatic found in the imported ARFs. Also, one of the mfrs. reps. confided to me that the fast cure of the modified Aliphatic can also cause some problems because it can set up before it gets good penetration of the wood being joined.

Whether it is hot glue or Aliphatic, if it is not strong enough, it should not be used, especially in key stong points such as wing blocks and firewalls.

henry, sorry for your loss. The Shoestring is a very fun plane to fly. Have you any thoughts as to a replacement? Or is yours repairable? Any salvage merit?

Ken, Thanks for the info, but regardless of what type of glue it is, its not holding up. The manufactures must know the environmental condition in a container and the glues properties. What gets me is that same problems occur over and over. I realize ARF's are now a good value and the manufactures are trying to max speed of build and minimize COG's. But I would hate to think of what would/could of happened when my Moki 2.1 pulled out the firewall. Not just a totaled crash but safety concerns. So its not bashing the manufactures when the structural integrity of a 18lb flying object is the issue. I worked and lived in Asia for 15 years and know that in manufacturing you most be 110% on top of the process, if not corners often get cut. This happens to companies a whole lot bigger than a Great Planes. With your time in the hobby Im sure you well understand the potential safety concerns and the last thing we need are product liability issues to creap in. We could lose flying sites so fast. not to mention personal injury. My thought is the manufactures better listen up and take action. The warranty and product disclaimers that are traditionaly used on Kits wont hold up when applied to a ARF. Once again thanks for the technical facts on glue type.

Well I have several Arfs and I simply apply epoxy in the areas which need it whether it needs it or not. Firewall, Retracts, Wing mounting plate. It takes all of a hlaf hour and your plane is better than it would have been and you can relax.

Well I am no glue expert, but what ever was used was not epoxy, and definetly not up to the task it was assigned. To the glue expert of the orient above, thank you for your most constructive criticism (tongue in cheek).
As for salvage, about the only salvagable piece that survived undamaged was the ply wing bolt hold down piece that came unglued.