Big Stik 60 Weak Spot
 

I was inspecting my recently assembled Big Stik I just noticed the fuse was cracked right in front of the horizontal stab on both sides. I can actually grab the horizontal stab and move it from side to side laterally about a 1/4 inch. I've had less than 15 flights and I reinforced this area when initialing building the model. I can't believe it already cracked. Maybe the 90 two stoke is too much for this model?

I'm really glad I decided to tinker with the model this evening. It would have really sucked to have the entire tail assemble come off in flight. If you have a Great Planes Big Stik, make sure you check this area before each flight. Even if you already fixed or reinforced it previously, I'd still make a habit of checking it at least after each day's outing. Looks like the popsicle sticks and epoxy are coming back out.

RE: Big Stik 60 Weak Spot
 

It happened to my BS 40 too. I was flying it extra hard so I blamed it on my flying. Nevertheless that area is weak, its pretty thin.

RE: Big Stik 60 Weak Spot
 

Also if you wing uses a ply tang at the front for holding the wing on, drill a small hole into it, then drive a nail in, it will make it much stronger.

RE: Big Stik 60 Weak Spot
 

where in the peg do you drill a small hole? The peg is formed when you join the two wing halves together with epoxy. If you drill right down the center of the peg, you'll weaken the epoxy used to join the wing halves.

RE: Big Stik 60 Weak Spot
 

The epoxy holds the wings together, it adds very little, if any, to the shear strength of the tang. I've used the nail several times, it works. If you haven't glued the wing halfs together yet, I'd lay in a layer of glass or Carbon Fiber that makes it supper strong.

RE: Big Stik 60 Weak Spot
 

mind did the same thing. i peeled back the covering and capped from the outside with some thin ply and epoxyied in place and recovered . fixed
P,S, this mostly happens when you convert it to a tail dragger

RE: Big Stik 60 Weak Spot
 

Pics please?