I got a Phoenix Models Sonic 25 this last week. I put it together and epoxied all areas that I could because the glue job was very poor. On the maiden flight I got it up and flew it but upon landing the entire tail section broke off. It failed just behind the area that I added the epoxy to strengthen it. It wasn't even a hard landing! For a minute I just stood there in disbelief with my mouth hanging open because I couldn't believe what happened. I'm just glad it didn't fail in the air.

I purchased it through Tower Hobbies and was wondering if there was anything I could do about getting a replacement or refund through Tower or Phoenix. There is no way it should have failed like it did. I would greatly appreciate any help anyone has to offer as to what I should do.

Thank you in advance
Kevin

The first thing you should do is contact Towers or the manufacturer. If you get no help from them THEN worry about what your going to do.

I JUST BOUGHT ONE OF THOSE. I WAS SITTING WATCHING TV THE OTHER NIGHT STARING AT THE BOX WONDERING WHEN I WAS GOING TO PUT IT TOGETHER. TODAY,..AFTER READING YOUR POST IT HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS. I READ ANOTHER THREAD POSTED A FEW MONTHS AGO ABOUT THAT EXCAT SAME THING HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAD A PHOENIX SONIC LOW WING .25. I FIGURED IT WAS A ISOLATED INCIDENT. THEY COMPLAINED THAT THE TAIL SECTION WAS WAS GLUED TOGETHER WITH SECTIONS OF WOOD LIKE A JIGSAW PUZZLE AND THE GLUE JOINTS JUST CAME APART. MAN!...I MIGHT JUST SEND MINE BACK TO TOWER. A FEW YEARS AGO I HAD A THUNDER TIGER ARF THAT THE TAIL SECTION WAS PUT TOGETHER LIKE THAT AND IT CAME APART AFTER A FEW FLIGHTS.

Thanks for telling me that, it's nice to know that I'm not alone. That's just what the tail looks like in mine - like the glue just isn't there. It actually flew half-way decent too. It will be an easy fix, but I shouldn't have to fix it in the first place.

I was just wondering if anyone had delt with Tower on an issue like this before and the best way to go about returning/exchanging it.

Thanks for your comments.

I HAD A TOWER HOBBIES UPROAR .40 ARF. WHEN I STARTED PUTTING IT TOGETHER I FOUND THE WING HAD A REALLY SCREWED UP WING TIP AND THE COVERING WAS SAGGING AND COULD NOT BE IRONED OUT. IT WAS BADLY BUILT. TOWER TOOK IT BACK BUT IT COST ME $17.50 TO SHIP IT BACK TO THEM. THEY GAVE ME CREDIT ONLY FOR THE PRICE OF THE PLANE AND SENT ME A NOTICE THAT AFTER EXAMINING THE KIT THEY ADMITTED IT WAS A QUALITLY CONTROL PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTUER. ......CALL THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. AND TELL THEM THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE USUALLY PRETTY GOOD ABOUT PROBLEMS LIKE THIS.
ONE OTHER THING. TWO YEARS AGO I HAD A PHOENIX SUKHOI 31 AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE READ SEVERAL THREADS ABOUT PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT GLUE JOINT PROBLEMS WITH PHOENIX ARFS. ONE GUY SAID THE RIBS IN THE WING OF HIS PHOENIX ARF STARTED COMING LOOSE UNDER THE COVERING.

Thanks Russell, I'll call them Monday morning.