how do you fix stuff?
 

I have never crashed yet, but it will come. I am jsut curious at what to do when you do crash. DO you rebuld a new wing or do you glue back together the ribs. What do you do? What is the typical 1,2,3 step process?

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

if you look in the tips and techniques forum under a thread called look what federal express delivered you will see how i repair this plane that is basically totalled.i have to take some more pictures so i can post more of the wing repair.i estimate about $20 and a few hours for the repair to the wing.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

First; you you at it, determine the amount of damage and consider whether or not you can repair it.

Then; you take it apart to see if you were right, [X(]

Then; you make a decision as to what to do and proceed from there. . . .;)

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

I had an Avistar that I bashed in pretty good and I figured that I had to take it apart anyway to get my engine and radio gear out. Once I got it apart I realized it wasn't beyond repair so I put it back together and flew it around for quite a while after that. It just depends on what you think you can salvage and what you can turn it into. I've had a few that I just decided I would rather buy a new one and dump the crashed one.......

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

Take apart more than you think you have to, and rebuild from there. It'll actually be easier, and the repair will probably be stronger.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

Thats where building a kit helps. It gives you the skills to be able to rebuild. The ARF only gang can throw more money at new parts, bust most lack the basic skills to fix one. Get yourself a kit, build it and you will learn the easy way to fix. Most of it is the same, but you have to craft the parts sometimes.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

I think the most important part is to not be intimidated. Nobody was an expert on their first repair and you may make some mistakes, just keep the small. Speaking of small, don't let a major repair scare you off either. For a serious repair, first separate the wing from the fuselage and remove everything that you can to make it easier to handle. Go ahead and remove the covering where you need to so that you may examine the damage better and look for hidden damage. Flex squeeze the various parts to detect cracks/breaks. Formulate a plan. Break up the repair into a series of small repairs not one big one, less intimidating. As each small repair is accomplished the plane will look better and you will feel better about the project. Before you know it the plane will be fixed.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

1. I pick up every scrap at the crash site. You can never tell when the scraps will be valuable to make a template.
2. If you don’t know the exact cause of the crash examine every piece until you are reasonably sure why the crash happened.
3. Let the parts sit for several days. Likely when you come back to look at the damage it will be less intimating that immediately after the crash.
4. My building skills are not good so very little is taken apart. A good builder will approach repair entirely different.
5. Let super glue become your friend.

Bill

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

BILLS hit 1,2&3 right on the head, then after that the rest of them had real good advice. Building a KIT could be one of the best things you do. I suggest a Midwest AeroStar KIT, it is real easy to build and probably has the best manual on the market, then when you are done you can either fly it yourself ( I would ) or sell it to someone that needs a trainer. If you decide to sell it don't expect to make anything on it --- you can't even come close to a China mans price!!! ENJOY !!! RED

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

its good to know the anatomy of an airplane.i build almost all of my airplanes,so repair isn't that big a deal.some damage,say if you make an accordion out of a fuselage back to or past the wing saddles you might conceder ordering that section,unless you are pretty good at scratch building and have the Patience.the most common damage i have seen through the years wasn't too hard to fix,landing gear a smashed leading edge.broken vertical or horizontal stabilizers.some of the minor difficulties for arf's type airplanes is finding the color match covering.anything can be repaired on these RC airplanes if you are willing,like someone here said don't be afraid to try.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

Crashed my NetStar twice now and rebuilt it twice. I think half the fun is rebuilding them. The second crash broke the plane right in half. I think I put it back together better then new. I'll tell you more when I fly it sunday... it sure looks like new anyways.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

getting some glue is a good start....

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

Oh man, I've done this so many times that I feel it is just part of being in the hobby. A lot of the suggestions previous are right on. I collect all and as many pieces as I can and at the field while feeling like the biggest dork, I start to clean and sort everything. I brought my Avistar back so many times, probably more than I should have. I will admit, I have a lot of building experience. So when I have to come up with for example a rib outline to make a fill in piece that I don't have, I can come up with it. There are some tricks but you learn them with experience. But yeah, cut back the Monkote, and start figuring how you can piece it back together. Thin CA can do wonders, but sometimes epoxy is necessary for those really strong bonds you need. The best suggestion I can give, is you have to just try. I see too many guys just strip out their radio and engine, making even more damage in the process and then putting the remaining hulk in garbage can out at the field. I've been tempted many times to ask for the remains, knowing that I could put it back together. Sometimes it's just fun to bring a plane back from the dead just to show the guys it's possible. I even like to go to the extent of using the right color Monokote to even match the original color scheme, and see if anyone even notices that the plane has been rebuilt. So my suggestion to you is go for it when it happens. One thing I've learned that fixes are usually less expensive in money or time. And you know something, it just makes you a better modeler.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

Mister, you are not going to throw that airplane away are you?

Bill

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

If it is hurt bad, it can be a slow process. This is why it is always nice to have a second plane that you can put your stuff in and fly during the repair cycle. A second plane is not nearly as expensive if it doesn't have the radio/engines and stuff in it. Even just a trainer to just keep flying something. :)

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

WOW. I wasnt expecting so many replies. I guess the only way to practise for a repair is by building a kit. Sounds good. Hoever, i am just curious, do you replace the broken ribs or do you glue them abck together. ITs just a common qquestion that i want to know, becuase i would like to see if a sheet of balsa is something you might want to considerate.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

If you have all of the pieces or it is just cracked you can usually glue them back together. If not repairable, get new balsa sheet of proper thickness and use adjacent rib as a template for cutting new rib (or portion needed).

It's not the only way to practice but the best, because you end up with a new plane. :)

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

bruce88123 is absolutely correct. That is why ARFs can be a little bit trickier to fix than a model that was built from a kit. With a kit, you know how it was constructed and I always keep the plan for future reference. With an ARF, you have to figure it out from the model. There are books in the library that describe how to build RC airplanes and how to make repairs. AMA's Model Aviation has had articles on just the subject. As well I'm sure you could find info online. My Avistar's wing was fixed so many times, that it really didn't make sense on the last crash to bring it back. I had flown that plane hard for three years, several bad crashes and many ding type repairs had been made. Each time I tried to make the repair as clean and as invisible as possible. Many times I wanted to buy a new wing set. A new wing set costs about $75, and a new Avistar runs about $99. I always opted to fix it. So I definitely got my $99 worth of fun out of it.

I really didn't need a trainer but recently picked up a Tower Trainer 40 at $70. At that price, a major crash would warrant just buying a new model. But I'll probably try fixing it first.

With any fix in front of you, determine if it's worth your time and money. Sometimes it is better to just get to the next plane. I really was having fun with the Avistar though.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

Actually no. Ive been motivated to build kits so many times that i put it in front of so many older priorities. I'm a student, and during the week days and Sundays, i have to do school wok. I'm afraid i just don't have enough time. Ive been having a decision between a kit or a new radio. I can have a four channel radio for my fourth model. I need to have a computer radio with multi model memory. So I'm afraid that is going to have to come first, probably Christmas. A kit will have to wait. I was just curious on how repair jobs can be done, so i thank everyone for exellent replies. And probably sooner or later i will return with questions on how to fix the plane.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

Yes, at this point your school work should come first. But just barely. :D

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

Samolot,
I like the fact that you know that schoolwork is a priority. But........... Yes, there always is a "but" in there somewhere. :D Always makes sure you get your homework done first, but if there is a will there is a way. You don't have to devote huge amounts of time to build a kit. Even a 1/2 hour a day and a few hours on the weekend you can accomplish quite a bit in not too much time.

I know it may seem to you like all of us that build kits have huge amounts of time to spend building. I'll let you in a little secret, we all have lives too. Most of us have work, family, and other things that take up or time too. Sometimes for me I don't even have the time to spend 1/2 hour a day on kits, but that doesn't stop me from trying. I plug along as I get time. Sometimes I'll have a spare 15 minutes before I leave for the day and I'll use that time to do on small step. Just plugging along like this and before you know it the plane really starts taking shape.

All I'm trying to say is don't dismiss the idea of building a kit because you don't think you have the time to devote to it. Just give it a try and you might be surprised just how much you can actually get done.

Hope this helps

Ken

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

Model aviation will contribute to your knowledge. Pursue what contributes to your knowledge.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

Thank you all for those touching words, but thats not the only point. I have to get a new radio. Radios cost money. I usually fund everything myself. MY money comes from working for my dad (Organizing taxes on excel). Its not much money but enough to pull me through for a new radio for the next season. I need this radio more then a kit because I'm trying to get a new engine for Christmas for my trainer. If all goes well, then ill have a multi plane memory radio that could memorize the trims needed for my trainer and easy sport. Id rather have two great planes that i can fly without the hassle of re trimming and adding dual rates so i can go ballistic, the building a kit. Once i get my radio, and have my trainer back on the flight line, the Ill definitely get a kit. By the way, is a hitec 7 eclipse the way to go. I posted a thread o this forum, a new radio, any ideas?, and people have contributed priceless facts, and i can only learn so much more.
THanks alot guys.

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

There is no "THE"way, it is "A" way. As I, and others, told you in the other thread there are a lot of options to choose from. One of the best ways is to go to your local field and talk to the guys about what they like/dislike about what they have, compare features with what you want, costs. Go to the LHS and actually handle each one you are considering and see how it "feels" to you. All we can give is our opinions and they are usually going to be biased quite frankly. All of the major brands have good/bad points to them

RE: how do you fix stuff?
 

I have a Hitec Flash5 , 5 model memory computer radio, and I love it. It’s an economical computer radio that does everything I need it to do. I’m sure the Eclipse is a fine radio, a bit more sophisticated also a few more bucks, but probably a good radio. Although my friend did lose a plane with his Eclipse, but it could have been a poor battery pack (he flies electric) and not that tunable frequency thing the Eclipse has. But in general, I really like the Hitec products. If I ever get this radio filled, my next radio just might be the next model up. Then again I like the K.I.S.S Principle. “Keep It Simple Stupid”! Sometimes buying a lot of bells and whistles isn’t necessary. And certainly I’m not out to impress anybody at the field with my choice of radio. Most important thing is just having good equipment. That doesn’t always mean expensive.