RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

If looks aren't a factor (meaning you dont care if it's all white), you can buy some monokote trim sheet for about $5. These have an adhesive back so they just stick on. How well? that I don't know. But from the damage you might be able to get away with it. This is a poor man's fix. The covering probably won't be tight which could effect the flying.

$20iron, $11 roll of monokote. Iron will last your forever (hopefully) and a roll will last you a few fixes.

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

I tried a trim sheet once before - CRAP IMO. But maybe I got a bad piece.

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

Alright, I'm going to use Monokote then to re-cover the area. Any suggestions about which brand of iron to buy? Are the more expensive (~$20) ones really better?

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

The Coverite iron is probably the best out there. The Hobbico iron is good too.

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

I got a hanger 9 for $20 and it's adjustable temp. I didn't get a sock, i just used an old under shirt :). Now you'll have an iron to use it on whatever you please :). Maybe when you make your own kit :)

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

Trust me, you will regret NOT doing it right the first time, I just had to redo the covering on an aileron repair I just slapped together and BOY was it a mess to fix it right after glue and taping it..
Follow the advice given, sweet talk the wife type, and get the iron.

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

Tell her she can borrow the iron for your shirt collars.:D

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

LOL! It's pretty hard to fly your models when your wife cuts off your fingers. :)

I do plan to start building my first kit but that won't be for a while, maybe late summer or early fall. Have a baby due at the end of the year. I'm sure I can convince the wifey to give me $30 for the repair job. And then some more to upgrade the wire landing gear. ;)

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

Finally ordered the Monokote, iron, new landing gear, glue etc to get this thing fixed. I got some clamps at Home Depot and some small pieces of plywood to straighten out the stab. Once I get the stuff in next week I'll post pics of the repair job.

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

WOW - nothing like dragging out a project. Hmmmmm - done that before too.:D

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

Haha... I blame my wife. :)

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

I've gotten the stab straightened out and glued with thin CA. Now I just need to cover the hole. Do I just cover the area i've already stripped or remove all the covering from the side and recover all of it? Does Monokote stick to itself well enough to hold together during flight? Also, do I cover it in one strip running from the top around to the bottom or two separate pieces, one for top and one for bottom? This is my first time using covering so it will be an adventure.

Thanks!

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

Ok, it's been a while but I finally got pics of the repair and landing gear upgrades. I removed the monokote from the area that was broken and re-covered it with plain white monokote after cleaning the area with windex. Some of the edges didn't seal well so I put scotch tape to close it up. I mounted the dubro landing gear back a little ways on the fuse so the bolts that hold it on go up through the servo tray.

I'm wondering, are the mains too far back? Hopefully it won't mess with the CG too much or cause any problems.

Comments?

Thanks!

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

It will effect the take off a little but you will get used to it

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

monokote sticks to itself great but your problem is that fuel residue prevents the glue from sticking well. you have to really clean the monocote but if still lifts i use a dab of thin ca to hold the edge or clear nail polish to seal the edge

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

I tried to get rid of the fuel with the windex and it did get most of it off. The parts that I was having trouble sticking were where the old covering was wrinkled and I couldn't push down on the new stuff to touch the old to get it to stick without doing damage. I tried ironing the old stuff to stiffen it up but that didn't work so I sealed the edges with scotch tape which seems to be ok. I'm going to keep an eye on it after the first flights and if it decides to come loose I'll try the CA fix.

Thanks!

Anyone going to Scobee field this weekend and want to help me re-tune my engine? :)

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

It will require more elevator to rotate for takeoff IF the CG is correct. If the CG is wrong all bets are off. Check and correct the CG if needed. Aft gear movement and tail repair will most likely cause a CG shift to the rear - not good if too much.

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

Did you re-check the balance on the plane?

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

I haven't re-checked the CG yet. I'll check it when I get home tonight and try to measure how far back from the LE it is. Anyone know where it's supposed to be on the Avistar? I can't remember.

How off would be too off and what would I do to fix it? I'm guessing adding weight to the front but how?

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

Balance it on the main spar

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

3 1/4" back from the LE is where the Cg is supposed to be, if its 3 1/2 it will be fine and will lift off a little quicker, but I wouldn't go much more than 3 1/2"

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

Quote from the manual. . . . .

Use a felt tip pen or a narrow strip of tape to
accurately mark the balance point on the bottom of
the wing near both sides of the fuselage. The
balance point (CG) on the Avistar 40 is located
3-1/4" (83mm) back from the leading edge.
The point at which your model should balance for
your first flights. Later, you may experiment by
shifting the balance up to 5/16" (8mm) forward or
back to change the flying characteristics.

Moving the balance forward may improve the smoothness
and arrow-like tracking, but it may require more
speed for takeoff and make it more difficult to slow
down for landing.

Moving the balance aft makes the plane more agile
with a lighter and snappier feel.

Please start at the location we recommend and do
not at any time balance your model outside the
recommended range

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

You might try cleaning with alcohol after the initial windex wipe down if you want the patch covering to stick better. It has worked better for my repair patch jobs. For balance adjustment move the battery forward - it might fit under the fuel tank if needed without using additional weight. I have done that on a couple of planes.

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

I guess my memory aint too bad yet huh w8ye. Actually, I've put three of these together in the last year and all of them required me to put the battery aft of the servo's to get the Cg in the right place. One of them even required adding some weight to the tail, but this was probably because I moved the .46 magnum a little foward and used a lot of epoxy when I took the dihedral out of the wing.

RE: Fixing Avistar Horizontal Stab
 

You did good Hugger.

I enjoy that you enjoy the Avistar. It is a good plane