First - Hi! I'm just starting to get into RC airplanes after being infatuated with flight for some time now. Went to down to the LHS a couple of weeks ago and picked up an Alpha .40 trainer and all the necessary goodies to get me started. I'm really looking forward to my first "successful" solo flight!

Which brings me to my next thing... what's the best way to repair a slight tear in the skin of the wing? Can I just put a piece of clear packaging tape over it, or should I pull it off and re-skin?

And no need to ask about the incident...let's just say that noob pilot + plane + corn field don't mix!!

Clear tape is fine. You'll have to get the covering really clean to get it to stick.

I'm no expert by any means. But the clear packaging tape should be just fine. Trainers take a lot of abuse. My Nexstar has 3 or 4 different areas that have been taped back to new.

I suggest that you use methanol or rubbing alcohol to clean up the sticking area on the wing skin and then use clear tape to cover the tear. Also on the clear tape patch, round of the the four corners.

Clear tape is fine, I always try to get the torn $@%cote to "close up" before I tape over it.
Makes the repair less visible.[8D]

They have corn in South Dakota?

Thanks for the advice everyone...I really wasn't looking forward to trying my hand at putting new ultrakote on.


Shush, you!

One other tip, if the tear is relatively close to the leading edge, I usually extend the tape to wrap around the leading edge. This makes sure the airflow can't lift the tape.

Duke