I bought a tail damaged ARF Trainer a couple of days ago. Pictures are posted of the damaged area. Wondering if anyone can give me some adviice on how best to remove the Vertical Satbilizer. It's glued in with a wood block epoxied to the side of it. The balsa has some cracking and I would like to build a new satb. Unsure of the best way to remove the old so I can use it as a pattern to build a new vertical.

Thanks for any wisdom you can share.

I've had some luck heating a hobby knife ( with small torch ) and very carefully slicing through the old glue, then just cleaning it all up before putting the new stab in. Good luck ENJOY !!! RED

You could dremmel out as much as possible, and then try and finish the rest off as Red said above. There is actually a tool made that is a hot knife. It uses razors like a hobby knife, but heats up like a soldering iron. Might try one of those. I've used one before, and it works pretty good against epoxy.

Cptkirk,
Slice tail off flush with fuselage top with hobby saw, this gives you template for new stab, then take knife and cut out the remaining stab area, careful not to penetrate the elevator, Add 1/2 to 3/4 inch to template and build new stab, it should slide right in.

I would attempt to fix the vertical stabilizer in place.

A 1/8 plywood plate on each side wrapped with Saran wrap might act as a fixture. Fill the cracks with Titebond. Clamp and let dry overnight. If it looks OK in the morning use filler, sand and cover. Nothing has been lost if it does not look OK. At this point you might also consider 1/32 sheeting over the damaged area.

Bill

If it were mine, I'd just glue it up, patch and fly.

But I have done as gunfighter suggests. Worked great.

Enjoy,

Jim

Thanks for all the input.

I found out through a lot of surfing the plane is a Carl Golgerg Freedom .20

Located some assembly plans. Found that cutting the tail off would not work as the stab has three slotted parts inserting into the fuse. Destroying them would be a problem.

Went with the resheet and the hot knife worked great to get rid of the expoxied block.

Kept the monokote on one side to hold it together along with 1/8 spruce baker board while working.

The tail is super strong now.

Fixing it in place was the fix for certain.

Someone took the time to build it soit's nice to have it back in perfect flying state. Just putting on the monokote now thought you might enjoy the pictures.

Thanks for your help and insight. Thanks for all the posts.

Looks real good, glad it worked out so well. --- I hope in your last picture that you weren't done hinging the rudder. Close up the gap and leave a slight gap at the bottom edge, --- you knew that, right Also while you are at it you may want to trim off those bolts in the elevator horn plate so you don't cut your self while wipeing the plane down. Have fun. ENJOY !!! RED

This looks like a Mariner that I bought on line, quick fix that wasn't in the photos. Thanks for the info, it will help!

Pictures of the finished tail. The previous of the tail was a try fit to make sure slots lined up. Thanks for the help and sharing of knowledge. Just needs some color to look just fine.

Pics

Why that airplane is as good as new.

Enjoy,

Jim

Looks good --- lets go flying !!!! ENJOY !!! RED