im putting together my sundowner 50 i got for christmas and it was going together great until i cut the switch hole out on the wrong(muffler) side im putting a os55ax with stock muffler in it with a macs exhaust extension on it i can turn the extension so it aims more towards the middle of the plane underneath . but "dang it" that was a dumb mistake what can i plan on happening from doing this?

can you just put a little matching Ultracote over the hole you cut wrong and stick the switch someplace else?

What Chuck said. I've done this before. Just put a patch of covering over the hole and put the switch on the other side of the fuselage.

Ken

What Chuck and Ken said, I have done it more then once. When the plane is on the stand or upside down on the stand I have been known to have a brain fart or two. I have even left them there and used the deflector and gotten away with it but sometimes I was still getting engine snot on the switch. Never had a problem with it but it is kind of nasty sometimes.

I should have pointed out in my post that this happens a lot when you start buying used planes. Sometimes where the previous owner had the switch won't work for you, so you'll have to cover his up and cut a new hole where you need it.

Ken

Or you could be like me and do more damage to your planes during assembly and transport than when flying. I've got lots of practice patching plenty of mis-cut holes, slipped screwdriver holes, dropped x-acto holes, propellers from another plane holes, you name it. The worst was when I went to flick a bee off of my Skybolt wing and my finger went through the Monokote.

wow, I've never done anything like that!

And if you believe that I have some oceanfront property in Oklahoma to sell you too!!!

Ken

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! All of the above except the Bee!!!

i put a great big ole' jr switch in it so its a pretty big hole should i put some kind of wood under it first? or just the coating

I had just finished covering the wing of my Contender 60 and I dropped an 18" metal ruler. It hit a chair and bounced UP through both the top and bottom covering Monokote.

On my 27% Ultimate I had it sitting on an assembly stand just after opening the box and I tossed a block of wood from another project towards my stove wood plile. It hit a floor jack and deflected 15 feet through the side of the Ultimate.

I was driving to the airfield and turned a corner and heard the distinct "pop" of a propeller going through a wing panel. Don't even remember the model. Just stuck a clear piece of hatch tape over the hole and flew it that way ever after. (I do remember - it was my SK-50). Seems to be a danger any time you carry more than one model in a car.

Monokote attracts holes like fllowers attract bees. Get some self-adhesive trim sheets or at least some good clear tape. (I really like the heavy hatch tape R/C boaters use).

I use the same switches. If the hole is in a place you plan on holding onto then you could fill it with some balsa sheeting. Otherwise just cover it.

thanks guys ! and after all the stories i dont feel near as bad!! think i will tape it up tomorrow and move it to the otherside

better cutting a switch hole in the wrong side than say building to right wings, or two left fuselge sides. On the other hand, you end up with two planes fixing the later

Don

Ha! You guys are too much! I've NEVER made a dumb mistake!

(Now excuse me while I hide under my desk to avoid the lightning bolt)

nothing like loading up the big stick in the van just to have a dog run out in front of you..slam on brakes..get an ear full of saito while the plane takes off in the car...only to fall and go through your extra on the floor....or here's a favorite all around...touch the covering iron to see if its hot[&:].damn it is!!!...see junior,, the hot stove theory doesnt work if you fly rc planes...cant build a kit without gluing my self to it several times .....yes I know there are safety features in place to avoid all these things....check the signature....you dig?....Rog

While we're all 'telling on ourselves'. I was working in my garage late one evening and knocked over a ladder. This set off the world's largest domino effect in my confined space. The end result (among other things) was my new, freshly completed and un-maidened E-flite P-47 resting uncomfortably beneath three 4'x8' sheets of 3/4" plywood. I ended up with a plane that would fit through a standard mail slot. Some days I shouldn't be trusted to be by myself, LOL!

Cheers! BH

Edited for spelling. Must be another one of those days.....

Just tested a superstar ep and placed it back in the Malibu. Placed the fuse and wing in the trunk. Heard a crunch as the hinge arm on the trunk lid crunched the ribs in the wing as I closed the trunk. [:@] Bad enough I damaged the electric motor on the hand launch. Also, the sound of the flight box sliding across the back of the wagon into the wing, when going too fast around a corner. No damage. Just felt so stupid.

Jim

I did the switch thing too, what i did was move the switch to the other side and filled the hole with a charge jack with a rubber cover http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXE965&P=ML

Try fitting a 71" Tiger Moth, an 81" Decathlon, 2 chairs, a tackle (tool) box, a field box, fuel, a DSLR camera, a DV camcorder, a tripod, a field charger, myself and my wife in a Ford Focus Sedan. Talk about transport rash!!! Holes in the Decathlon and Tiger Moth from the wing brace mounts and braces on the Tiger Moth, holes in the Tiger's fuse from the Decathlon's prop, dinged vertical stabs from the trunk/passenger compartment divider, and the list goes on. Then there's the "OOPS, I Dremeled the hole for the muffler (or engine head) about 3 sizes to big". Or there's the "I drilled the remote fueler valve in the wrong spot".

I've personally done all that I've mentioned, and many that have been mentioned in previous posts.

Don't feel bad, we all do it.

Is it on the East or West Coast line of Oklahoma?

If that is the only thing that went wrong,your doing good.


Put the patch over it and move on


Mike,

How's that lightning storm up there

Bob

Great Thread! When I built the balsa Nova. The plane from hell!! I had it all togther except for cutting the cowl. I decide to use a hole drill bit to drill out for the cylinder. I held to cowl up to the cylinder and told myself "remember to transfer the measruements to the opposite side". Marked the cowl, Started Drilling! But of cousre not the opposite side. Had to patch it and repaint it. Then of course took it to the field for the maiden filght and took off with the ailerons reversed and crashed, but me, never have I made a mistake. Well at least not the same mistake twice!!

I believe it's the Gulf of Oklahoma.

Lets see, On my Balsa USA stick 40, I've had my servo extensions come loose in a wing.[&:] I had to do cover surgary. I've dropped the servo cover( with servo attached) on my new GP Cheokee while putting it together( butter fingers)[:-]. The screw driver slipped while attaching the landing gear. Then while I was trying to get some clothes out of my dresser, I knocked the Cheokee wing since it was leaning up against it. I seen the wing fall in slow motion and I was just not quick enough. Now I have a good size hole on the top of the wing. The first 2 holes are on the bottom and was covered up with the suppiled covering. The last hole I had to go to the LHS to get a role of covering.

You could always make a access panel door where the hole is, put your switch and charging jack down inside..behind the new door you make. Thats the one great thing about not being afraid to build..you could go a lot of routes. It just depends on how you want to end up?