Hi there,

Well I waited 7 months for Glens Models to come up with the sport size of his 68" Extra.(in "58 size to match his popular Cap 232) He told me that it was as good as the Cap 232 (even better, Due to the wing being more central in the fuselage)
well I am very dissapointed. I have had only7 fights and the tailplane has failed twice!!!!!
I repaired just like he said with thin Cyno and very light glass in an eliptical plan form to even out the stresses. I also changed the hard wood and wire "Y" control rod (as I had expeienced control flutter!!)
So I installed snakes.
Flew it this Monday just gone and guess what? the damn tailplane failed again, this time further out from the original repair.

Has anyone had any problems like this? Please help!!!! This modlel has cost me nearly £400 ($600)

Cheers

I have posted this message on the review forum but to date I have not had any replies. I really need advise or this model will be burnt!!
__________________

Dear George,
Rather than burn it, you could swap it for your friends dodgy Prodigy charger!

The fact that Glen gives advice on how to fix it doesn't sound good to me.

I had the 58" Cap, and from what I remember the tail is 1/4" balsa sheet with a hard wood insert. Is the Extra the same?

Perhaps you would be better off scrapping the current tail and using it as a plan for a scratch built one. Then you can choose the design, using hard balsa. Also consider wires, though that should not be needed on that size model unless you are doing 3D stuff.

Persevere with it, they fly brilliantly.

It sounds like the wood supplied was too soft or of the wrong grain. Use some medium/hard straight grain balsa and it will be OK.


Chris

George,

I got your PM. Best to keep discussions in this area, PM is best for private stuff.

I am struggling to think of something to do that doesnt require removal of the tail, which you say is not really possible.

Only thing I can think of is to use Glens method again, and support with wires to form a diamond around the tail. You could try using Carbon cloth rather than Glass. Perhaps use Carbon tows on both top and bottom at the trailing edge of the stab as well, otherwise it might break again at a third point.

If you dont want to remove the tail, then cyano it back together again, and use closed loop wire to form 4 braces to hold it together.

I used it for my capiche - my tailplane broke because I used too soft wood and it failed in flight too.

Make up 6 brackets from strip aluminium (B&Q sell the stuff), angled at around 30 degrees with a hole each end. Bolt 2 either side of the tailplane (both sides) about 2/3 rds out from the center, bolt 2 either side of the fin again about 2/3 rds from the bottom of the fin. Use a flat piece of aluminium strip and secure it to bottom of fuse under the tailplane, by screwing it into a piece of 1/8 ply cyanoed to the bottom. Now secure one end of the closed loop to each bracket and use closed loop adjustable ends (with a clevis) at the other end. This way you can tighten up each wire in turn until the whole assembly is stiff enough. Its very light and very strong, and works.

Phew, harder to describe than do. If you want a pic let me know and I can sort something out in a few days if you like.

Otherwise if you want to get rid of the airframe I'll take it off your hands

Chris.

Thanks Guys,

I think I might try the ally method. Ultimate could you send me some pics like you said please? they would help a great deal.

Sprink, sorry about the PM I thought it was instantaneous like AOL! (DEEEEER!) never mind. Thanks for your advise, but like I said the ally method might be good as I can get hold of all types ( I work in the Aerospace industry) Are Carbon angle plates easy to get hold of? and can you custom make Carbon pieces? I have not worked with this material before.

Cheers, please check out the pic of the Extra in my Gallery.

ok here is the best pic I have at the moment, my digital camera has been loaned out to a friend so it will be a week or so before I can get a better pic for you.


In the pic you can see the brackets and the bolt that passes through them to hold the two brackets together. One end of the wire is just looped through the bracket and crimped with a small piece of brass tube, the other end is attached to a closed loop adjuster to allow tensioning.


Chris

Thanks a bunch Ultimate,

That pic does help a hell of a lot. And the tensioners will take up and slack or movement within the 3 points I guess.

I'm busy at the mo' with my Tucano (electric!) my fist attempt at sparks!!.

Should go well though. Do you fly sparks at all?

Well, thanks again, must get back to it

Cheers for now,oh I'll let you know how the repairs go and the end flying result.

No problem - glad to be able to help, it makes a change from receiving help most of the time


Please do lets us know how you get on, I'm interested.

cheers

Chris.

Hey guys it flies well!

I took it to the field last weekend after fitting a new tailplane from decent wood this time and a slightly lengthened spar. Its finish is better than the first which I was really pleased with.

Anyway back to flying it!! The OS 52SX started first flick, but after a slight tweek with the main needle she ran beautifully (as one would expect for OS) Off to the runway and off she went!! My heart was pounding and my mouth was dry (Just like I feel before playing a mega test piece in the Royal Albert Hall!!) (as you do!!) but it was great.

I had to dial in a bit more expo into the elevator control, but it was great.

Its taken me ages to get it sorted, and most of that time was ooing and aarring over cutting away the original tailplane, but it came out a sinch!!

Well I would still be interested in anyone elses comments or thoughts on these models, and after what I have had to put up with it is still worth buying.

Cheers
George

glad to hear its sorted, enjoy

Good to hear it is going well. I did enjoy mine, for the short while it was flying. I plan to get the larger 68" version at some point, maybe spring next year. We'll see.