Pilot Chad

My Feedback: (4)

Today i was flying the Vstik. And man i was in a slight dive, nose was prolly pointed 10-20 degrees down. And when i pulled up the covering on the top of the right wing pulled itself off.. I thought i would have lost all lift on the wing, but i had plenty just a little drag. I was glad to get 'er down safely in one peice. Then i repaired it with packing tape and it did it again. This time was worse though. It didn't comepletely comes off, so it was like a flag pulling behind my plane. I ALMOST lost the plane to due not having balance lateral with the drag. Luckily i got it safely. I had 2 guys spotting for me because of the repair to make sure it would work, and they did a great job and helped me get through. If you guys read this, thanks.

But man i got scared. Luckily i had a piece to fit it, and got it almost 100% done. Is there a way i can Ensure this to stay down? I don't want it to happen again.

Here some picture from the day. The plane i took pictures of was a P-40 warhawk and another plane that i think is local.


- Chad

I have officially flown the covering off the plane

DMcQuinn

My Feedback: (13)

Make sure you overlap the covering on the top, to overlap the bottom, at the leading edge. overlap at leat 1/4 inch.

Pilot Chad

My Feedback: (4)

I remembered that. It is about an inch or two on the bottom.

Come to think about it. It wasn't that funny till i got the plane on the ground in 1 piece..[:@]

red head

Make sure you take the backing off if it has one!!!!! And use proper heat to ensure it sticks well. ENJOY !!!! RED

abufletcher

Now you have some idea how the WWI pilots felt when their aircraft shed its fabric -- and sometimes an entire top wing -- in a dive!

bubbagates

My Feedback: (32)

Pretty much a standard procedure on any ARFis to go over it with a heat gun and iron. This will help to avoid things like this as this would have been found early. It's also common to go over all the trim with something to help seal it down. I personally use clear finger nail polish.

As an example. Between myself and my one daughter, we spent 12 hours going over a Super Stearman getting out all of the wrinkles, sealing the trim and sealing the seams. I just finished a CG Sukhoi and spent 4 hours by myself.

Just about every all the major manufactures assembly manual even recommends this step.

So you canj see the amount of work required here are pics of both planes I mentioned.

Pilot Chad

My Feedback: (4)

Bubba,
Thanks for letting me know that. I will be sure to do it in the future. I went ahead and went over everything with an iron tonight. I also Emailed VMAR and told them i wasn't satisfied with it. And asked for a roll of covering to recover this thing.

The main reason i wanted to fly today was to shoot touch and goes for a tank... Oh well i got everyhting ready for tommrow..

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Chad,
When you are applying covering you want to overlap the covering so that there is no seams "pointed" into the wind. It's easier to explain if you look at the diagram attached.

For the wing. Do the bottom first with the forward edge of your covering up to the leading edge of the wing. Then do the top of the wing. Take the covering over the top of the leading edge and back on the underside, overlapping the covering on the bottom. Same procedure applies to the horizontal stabilizer.

When you do your fuselage work from the back of the fuselage to the front. Over lap so the seams point towards the rear.

If you don't do it like this the wind will lift the edge of covering and take it off the plane.

Hope this helps.

Ken

Pilot Chad

My Feedback: (4)

Ken,
Thats EXACTLY how i did the patch. I remembered that diagram from before. I am taking the Iron to the field tommrow just in case. I will also have an experienced flyer look it over to make sure it won't come off..

norcalflyer530

is that 3 mile island in the back ground?

bubbagates

My Feedback: (32)

It sure is. We use the steam from the towers to see how much wind we have at 500 feet which is the height of the towers. Straight line is about a mile

Pilot Chad

My Feedback: (4)

Did something INCREDIBLY STUPID today. I am such an idiot. On takeoff, i forgot to put the TX antenna up and when i noticed and tir to put it up at the same time was also heading towards the ground from 100+ feet up... And didn't pullout. Needless to say it is totaled now in the trash at the field.. STUPID STUPID STUPID..

I am now biulding a Spad. You guys will just have to wait to find out what kind.

bubbagates

My Feedback: (32)

too late,

you already started this thread

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_31...tm.htm#3112187

I'm only gonna say good luck with this one.

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

And this one.

[link]http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3112256/anchors_3112256/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#3112256[/link]

I'll repeat what Bubbagates said, good luck with this one.

Ken

2slow2matter

My Feedback: (1)

Guess you won't be needing that covering, then.
Sorry, I couldn't resist. Sorry about the mishap. It has happened to a lot of people, you're not the first, or the last. Learning experience. If it happens again, then we might have to rag on you some....

Was there enough of it left to kick?

Mr. Canadian

hey chad heres a tip don't buy from vmar cause emailing them does nothing there jerks if you ask me i wanted to buy a trainer from them and wanted to buy direct from the company since there main headquarters it less than 300 km away from where i live and they told me no they like to support LHS and i said that i didn't want to buy from him since he jacks the price up another $70 so i just said the heck with them all an bought online and got a better cheaper plane at my doorstep in 3 days

bubbagates

My Feedback: (32)

2slow,

That was the second time. First time he was able to get the plane back

twistr

My Feedback: (4)

This is the main complaint on VMAR models, the covering. It will continue to fray on you probably from now on out. I gave my VMAR stick to my dad and he resheeting the entire fuse and recovered the entire plane and it was pretty and flew like a dream. That is until he thought down was up and up was down!!!

DamonTX

Chad... I wish you flew at our field. The trash can picture in this post http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_31...tm.htm#3112256 shows a plane with a few useable part visible. Why didn't you salvage the pushrods, landing gear straps and wire? I'm guessing the gear wire wasn't bent too badly since you nose-dived it. This makes me wonder what else is in there; fuel tank, tailwheel, engine mount.....Damon

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

DamonTX,
You are absolutely right. While it's sad when you crash a plane, don't just throw it away like that. I always strip all the parts off that can be reused. Pushrods, control horns, wheels, landing gear, motor mounts, etc.... These are just a few of the types of parts that you can reuse, and should take off a crashed plane. You never know when you'll need one of these parts.

Hope this helps

Ken

2slow2matter

My Feedback: (1)

2slow,

That was the second time. First time he was able to get the plane back
[/quote]

Well, then, let the raggin begin. (J/K)

bubbagates

My Feedback: (32)

I missed this the last time...[sm=thumbup.gif]

britbrat

Well, don't sweat it. I do this a couple of times at the beginning of each season, just to make life interesting. The guys here are treating you very gently -- my pals laugh their *****es off.

2slow2matter

My Feedback: (1)

Actually, Chad, incredibly stupid would be trying to fly that thing you're building. Go to spadtothebone.com and get some plans for a spad trainer. You'll be much better served.

Pilot Chad

My Feedback: (4)

I have decided against the delta wing and to go ahead and finsh the 4Star. Is there a filter that won't let bubbles go to the carb or something like that? I have it all foamed up and have replaced all the line and still cannot get it to work..