Avistar RTF assembly (epoxy question)
 

After several posts I have determined that i will be getting a Hobbico Avistar RTF kit with everything included (probably in about two weeks). Some have told me and i have read that it is a good idea when putting the plane together to epoxy the wing-halves together and alos epoxy the tail stab to the fuse. I'm just curious as to whether i should get some 5 minute or 30 minute epoxy. I'm thinking 30 minute since it is stronger correct? Also should i just get an epoxy kit with the mixing cups, sticks, and brushes included or buy it seperately. There was a kit on Tower hobbies i think for 20, and i thought about just getting that. Any other tips for putting this plane together would be awesome!!

RE: Avistar RTF assembly (epoxy question)
 

Either epoxy will work fine. With the 5 minute, you generally hold the pieces together with your hands for the 5 or 10 minutes it takes to set up. Sometimes this is the best way to hold two parts together. With the 30 minute epoxy, you need to hold the two pieces together with something else (e.g masking tape) because your hands will give out before the 30 minutes is up. I prefer the 30 minute variety. You really don't need anything other than the epoxy itself. You can squeeze out two blobs on some paper and mix it with anything that you have lying around that is disposable (popsickle stick, etc.)

RE: Avistar RTF assembly (epoxy question)
 

I would just go to your local hobby shop, buy the 30 min. epoxy and go with it, you can mix it with anything around the house .... i used an old part of landing gear for my old electric park flyer ...... the 30 min. is def. stonger and is for high stress areas or anything you want to permantently hold together. If you are going to be carting this thing around, i wouldnt epoxy it, but it you dont mind carting around a full assembled wing, then it is def. a good idea.

RE: Avistar RTF assembly (epoxy question)
 

I'd just buy the two part, two tubes, Home Depot 30 minute epoxy. It will glue it just fine and cost about $3.00. It measures for you so you don't have to worry about it. If you don't mind measuring, I personally don't worry much about it. Just eyeball and go. I would just get 4oz or less and some popsicle sticks. $20 for epoxy is crazy unless you have cash to burn.

RE: Avistar RTF assembly (epoxy question)
 

I use alot of the 5 minute epoxy. As far as mixing goes, I use pieces of fan fold foam or egg cartons.
I use toothpicks, popsicle sticks etc. to mixing and applying. Also, you should get a container of medium CA.
It will come in handy!

Dave...

RE: Avistar RTF assembly (epoxy question)
 

I think I'm the fellow who suggested epoxying the two wing halves together (I had to do that on my Avistar). But don't epoxy in the horizontal stab. I just put four small dots (one at each corner where it meets the vertical stab) of CA to limit the movement (it will eventually come loose with only the two small metal rods securing it in place). Either that or get creative and cut some brass tubing to length and run that through the holes that the rod will run through (you'll see what I mean when you get it).

I think you want some flexibility in the horizontal stab (some give) so that WHEN you crash it won't just snap..

But then I'm new at this whole thing...

RE: Avistar RTF assembly (epoxy question)
 

Don't buy the Home Depot type epoxy. The 2 tubes together actually doesn't give you a lot of epoxy and the 2 parts stop coming out together at the same time after a while which is a real pain. I basically just use 5 minute epoxy and hold the parts straight until its solid.

RE: Avistar RTF assembly (epoxy question)
 

I like Devcon 30 minute epoxy. Just put it on a paper plate and use some popsickle sticks. An expoxy kit is a waste of good money. What you would save, you can invest in good saftey clevis's and ditch the crappy ones that come with it.

RE: Avistar RTF assembly (epoxy question)
 

I agree with the epoxy kit being a waste of money. Save your old plastic lids from coffee cans or margerine tubs, you can mix epoxy on them then once the excess is cured, bend the lid and the dried epoxy pops off.

I grab coffee stirrers from places to use for mixing and spreading, wooden ones are best and you can usually break them in half.

Don't use 5 minute epoxy for things like stabs and holding wing halves together, it's not strong enough.
Dennis-

RE: Avistar RTF assembly (epoxy question)
 

I glued my Avistar's wings together with 5 minute epoxy. It was all I had at the time. When Avistar met Pizzaz in midair, the center rib on the AV broke along the ply, but the epoxy joint held. Should have convinced me to use 5 mine epoxy for everything but prefer 30 minute. You need some working time (at least I do) when joining a wing to make sure everything is aligned, and that you get epoxy all the way down into the wing joiner box.

Andy