rx300

Hi, I have bought a Great Planes , Seawind about 6 months ago. Managed to build it about 2 months ago. I liked the model very much as it is a very beautiful model and Great Planes had done a very nice presentation in Youtube.

I had 2 flights after the plane was built and I did enjoy the flying very much. Everything is just as what was shown in the presentation which I have watched in Youtube. Perfect. About a few days after the second flight, I noticed black spots started appearing under the skin of the main wings. I thought it was stain marks initially and I did not care much. Over a period of another few days, the black spots appeared to have multiplied !!! The left was badly affected while the right wing has a few area. The rest of the elevator and rudder did not have such marks. I wrote to Great Planes since mid of April 2010 and on early May 2010, to tell them about this issue and asked for their explaination and advice. But I have no news from them since.

Just want to find out from anyone out here has a similar problem? If yes, what is the solution to this problem?

rx300

This is my plane. Nice? This was taken before the spots appeared on the wings.


Picture taken on Maiden Flight


Picture taken on 2nd flight about few days after

ggraham500

My Feedback: (4)

A mold or fungus growing in the cover? Will alcohol wipe it away?

ChuckW

I agree. Looks like some sort of mold or algae. Maybe something that was in the water and got splashed up onto the airplane and now its growing?I've seen stuff growing on boats before.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Ditto. It doesn't look good.

Since it's near the servo openings, I would remove the servos and spray some Lysol in there.

If all else fails, you may need to remove the covering and give it a proper cleaning with Lysol.

And maybe spray with Polyurethane before recovering to keep water and mold spores out

TooLow

My Feedback: (5)

I found that on one of my sea planes after a winter of storageWhat you have is an old fashioned case of "fungus humongus! Open it up and spray with "Lysol" and hope it isnt any worse than surface mold!

rx300

Thanks guys I will try to do that. But what curious me is that my other friends plane do not have similar problem and we flew together at the same pond. Do you think the wood need to be treated before manufacturing? But any way I like this plane so much so that if I need to get new wings .... I will have to. I will try removing the cover and do as suggested. Wish me luck ... ha ha ha ... and thanks for the advices given to me.

drtrautman

You've probably resolved the problem with the mold by now but Sodium Hypochoride (Clorox Bleach) is best for killing mold. BTW, I purchased a SeaWind 60 fuse and left wing yesterday at the Geat Planes auction and am looking for a right wing. If you buy a new set of wings and want to sell the old, I'd be interested. Advantage Hobby has a replacement set for $107 but I really only need one wing.

Good luck!

DRT