Hello,
After 3 short weeks my Nexstar has finally taken a beating needing some repairs.

First, the side of the fuselage has separated from the rest of the plane, in a line along where the 'side windows' would meet the 'windshield' (the decal is one solid piece of 'glass', but in a car, there would be metal frame holding the windshield meeting the metal frame around the door window). The first time it happened I used CA at the field for temp fix, and got home and epoxied the #$%^ out of the joint with 5min epoxy. I had another wing-first collision with the ground, and the joint has separated again. I was advised to reinforce with some extra balsa, but am not sure how to shape the wood as the top part of the plane is curved, the side is flat, and they meet on a member that protrudes into the plane. Sorry I don't have a camera. How do you fix this?

Second, there is minor damage to the front of the wing. Half-way between the fuse and the wing tip, on the top of the wing, 1.5 inches back from the leading edge, there is a split in the balsa sheet. It is about an inch and a half long, running lengthwise between two of the ribs. The covering is not damaged, but you can feel a soft spot and feel where the split is. Does this need to be repaired? If so, what is the recommended method?

Thanks for your help. Again, sorry I don't have a camera - I spent my extra $$$ on a new plane

I would just repair it the same way you did last time. The only reason your previous repair failed was because of a crash.I do like to mix some binder in with my epoxy for strength along seams. I use colloidal silica but chopped fiberglass works well also.
The wing? I would cut a small slit and wick in some thin CA to strengthen that spot.

gaRCfield, sorry to here about your nexStar. What happened? One thing I learned recently was that you should use 30 minute epoxy, this gives the epoxy time to penetrate and create a better bond. It sounded good at the time. I don't remember, is your new plane in yet? Were you going to use parts off the NexStar for it?

My new plane is done and all ready for Wed afternoon.

Thanks Missleman, will do. And I am honestly REALLY thrilled that's all it will take!!!

Rob, your plane is a beauty!!! I was not informed that my plane is on backorder. I called my credit card company and they advised me to dispute it (they've had my $$$ for 3 weeks now and still no idea when the plane's coming in, and they aren't posting $$$ back to my account). So, I have to wait a few business days, then try to find one online, in stock, and affordable. Already got all the accessories from Tower, so I'm pretty hooked on the Pulse.

Obviously I still need more practice before I fly a low wing (hence this topic!). I was coming into the wind, maybe a little low on power, and dumb thumbed the wrong direction rudder. The Nexstar likes to roll and dive with rudder, so when I gave opposite rudder, I stalled and didn't have enough power to recover.

After the fix I flew 4 more times. Every landing after that I was able to taxi back to the pits (no prop strikes, etc.) Also, last flight was completely inverted.

Al said something about me, wits, upside down, and 30 feet altitude. I wonder what he was talking about?

Use a little fiberglass cloth along with the epoxy on the fuselage. That should strengthen it quite a bit. 30 minute epoxy isn't just stronger, it gives you more working time to get things just right.

You could probably leave the wing sheeting alone or a small slit and some thin CA as suggested will take care of it.

She died today

And????? What happened??

Ken

There was a heli flying and doing tricks. I guess I got cocky and started showing off. Barrel roll (including up elevator) at too low elevation. She came down a lot faster than she went up. Missed by about 5 feet elevation. Plane hit the ground, wings stopped, fuse jetted out another 30 feet. Totally destroyed.

The good news is that everyone at the field told me I'm way past a trainer, and that I was flying beautifully, and performing maneuvers that neither a trainer nor a beginner are capable of. Complete inverted circuits, hammer heads, the figure 8's with the rolls in them...they said without the dihedral I would have been fine, but I know it was my fault.

Bittersweet ending to a good plane. Looking at the Phoenix Extra 300s for next plane. I've got an order in to tower for all the things I need for a second plane (flight pack, etc.) so want to cancel and get a new plane. Don't like the Tiger, Dolphin, etc. and read that the Extra is great for learning aerobatics and lands pretty slow, and has predictable stalls.

Or I'll just cancel everything, wait until my card gets reimbursed (10 days[&o]) and try to find a Pulse. Hard to find in stock though.

I MISS MY PLANE!!!!!

Don't take this the wrong way but don't listen to them. I mean that in a very constructive manner.

A Tiger or 4-Star is great for learning aerobatics. The Extra is good for mastering them. I've never flown this particular extra but I can assure you it will not be nearly as friendly as a trainer or good second plane. I'm sure the stalls are predictable in the fact that you can probably count on it snapping right into the ground if it gets too slow or you pull too much up elevator. I could be wrong about that though, since I have not flow this particular model.

Hahaha! Predictable...you can predict it will stall into the ground...I like that!

Went with the Dolphin (copy of 4 Star). This is good advice. Thanks.