Made a huge building error, send help.
 

I'm currently building a H9 AT-6. Last night I installed both elevator halves which are connect by a joiner wire rod enabling them to move together up and down. Well, I failed to make sure they were properly aligned and allowed the 30 minute epoxy to cure with the elevator halves uneven. What can I do to remedy this bonehead mistake? Am I toast? Send help!!

thanks in advance.

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

Oh dear...I've never tried it myself, but I have read in the forums that a heat gun will soften up the epoxy...

Good luck!

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

A heat gun will soften it, but it will probably ruin your covering as well. It looks like you can see the wire joiner rod on the back side of the stab there. I would take a soldering iron and hold it against the rod on the side you want to move, as close to the elevator half as you can. it'll probably take a good 10 minutes, but it should soften the epoxy enough to move it. The problem comes in if the holes in the elevator halves are actually misaligned. how tight did the rod actually fit in the holes? You could try CAREFULLY grabbing both elevator haves directly over where the rod goes into both of them, and try twisting the rod so they are straight. You might want to clamp some 1/4" plywood over the top and bottom of each elevator over that section to reinforce it while you twist.

Failing both of those methods, cut out the elevator half on the bottom of the elevator on the one that has to go up around where the rod would enter. Then realign the elevator halves and glue them straight, then you just have to put a small patch on the bottom of one elevator half.

Jeremy

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

Thanks for replying. What I can remember, the rod just slide right in. I'll give the soldering iron trick a try. Boy, I sure hope something works. With the elevator like that I'm sure it'll fly terrible.

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

If the joiner rod is too stiff to bend it with the elevators attached, you can cut it out from the bottom of the elevators, clean the rod of epoxy/wood, use pliers to bend the joiners even, then replace the missing wood in the elevators with new (you might want to redrill the holes in the replacement block BEFORE you glue them in).


Lastly a set of elevators shouldn't be too much to buy, or for that matter you could make up a pair in a couple hours... Simply remove the covering from one, carefully dig out the rod then remove from the stab... lay it down on paper and redraw the design...

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

The joiner rod is really stiff. I tried to bend the high end down some with negative results.

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

Here's a good fix, but it will require some minor surgery.

Flip the elevators upside down and cut open the bottom side (The bottom won't show as much) of the low elevator (in this case, the left one. Also note that now that it is upside down, it will be the RAISED elevator). Just hack away until you can free the rod.

Now lay both halves flat (the rod will be pointing slightly up), and add some 30 min epoxy into the opening. Let the epoxy thicken a bit, then fill the cut-out some more, and cap it with a piece of balsa the same size as your cut-out.

Once it hardens, sand the balsa cap smooth, and re-cover.

Note: The way to prevent this in the future, is to drill the holes slightly oversize, then add some epoxy to the holes before inserting the torque rods, then lay them FLAT. This will put an epoxy "Sleeve" around the wire and compensate for any misalignment.

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

Minn, thanks a million for your illustration, nicely done. Thing is H9 designed the AT-6 where I had to thread the wire joiner through the end of the fuselage preventing me from laying the elevator halves flat on my bench. This whole bonehead fiasco could have been prevented if I would have only taken more time to do it right and taped the halves to the horizontal stab. I also epoxied the wire to the LE of the elevator. I'll have to cut that part out as well. Nevertheless, I did learn my lesson.

Thanks again.

please check back tonight, I'll post a pic of a different angle showing how the wire joiner is threaded through. I'm at work now. :(

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

MinnFlyer has a great idea. But, it that doesn't work here's one more thing you could try...

Take a dremel and cut the elevator in half. Wood, wire, and all. Remove the center section so now you just have a half on each side. Attach another control horn to the other half of the elevator and run another push rod to the servo. This will give you adjustablity for each side so you can get them both perfectly even.

But still, try MinnFlyer's idea first.

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

Thanks Guys, you know, I really feel awful about this. I've been wanting this plane for about 2 months now. Had to convince the wife, fight with the wife, make up with the wife and almost get thrown out by the wife.

I finally win the whole shooting match, get the plane and now this happens.

Geezzzz, I'm looking for sympathy.

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

Do like I do. Take her out to her favorite restaurant "Just because she was so good to you". :)

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

Minnflyer-

What is a person's "favorite restaurant" in Willmar?;)

-Scott

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

Minn, thus far it's working out nice. Here's a pic. Thansk again.

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

Good Luck Cruz.
It looks like you are on your way.
I did the same thing with my SE, but I just bend the wire.
I learned the same thing you did about putting together this type of set-up.
Be careful...

Bill

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

There are no restaurants in Willmar (unless you want to count chains like Applebee's, Grizzley's, etc)

I have to drive up to St Cloud, Alex, or the twin cities for a nice place. :(

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

Hey Redwing,,,

Thanks for the encouragement. I haven't slept the past two nights due to this. lol. I tried bending the wire as well, but had no luck. It's just way too thick and solid. Looks like Minn's method is working out. I'll keep you posted.

good to hear from you again,

Cruz

RE: Made a huge building error, send help.
 

The SE wire is smaller, 40 size vs 60 size.
MinnFlyer has a great idea!!
Next time I will drill out the holes a little larger and let the epoxy fill it in. :D

Bill