Pete S-RCU

I have a Boomerang Elan, great plane, love flying it.
The wing tube is very hard to get in and out of the fuse for transportation.
I've tried sanding it, running emery clothe on the end of a long shaft to sand the inside of the tube.
I've tried silicon spray to lubricate it, works sort of until it dries and then it grabs hold worse than ever.

Anyone have a fix for this?
Would I dare use oil or grease?

Can carbon fiber be sanded, I know the dust is bad news if you breath it.

madmodelman

I've been through this, the best way is to find someone with a centre lathe and use wet & dry paper, lengthy process but it works,
Gary.

Vettster

I had this problem before. Forget the emery cloth.. go with 120 grit. I glued one edge of the paper and then rapped the rest around the stick. When in the tube, turn the stick so the paper unravels and sand away. Took me 2 hours to do one wing! Not everything in this hobby is fun LOL

madmodelman

The idea is to take material off the o/d of the spar not prat around trying to do the inside diameter of the receivers, talk about making life difficult.

Vettster

So you should sand down the entire wing tube and make it smaller all because of one or two little areas that are rubbing??

Making the wing tube smaller in radius will just add more slop in the entire receiver. The receiver most likely is only tight in the areas where the receiver has been glued to the wing ribs. First the Root wing rib and then each one as the tube goes in. Sanding down the Wing tube is the easy way out but most certainly is NOT the RIGHT way to do it.

madmodelman

No, I'm not saying sand the whole tube down in diameter especially if it's not tight in the wings but I had to do that on a model as it was slightly oversize everywhere.

Terry Holston

My Feedback: (1)

I have the same problem on my BVM KIngCat. The 3/4"dia ID rear tube in the fuse has a bow in the center. You can see it when you look from one side to the other through the fuselage. I polished the aluminum tube. It looks like chrome, but is still hard to get through the fuse. I couldn't figure out how to sand the inside of the fuse tube??????

Pete S-RCU

I don't want to sand the wing tube, because the clearance in the wings is just right, if I sand the whole tube then the wings will be loose.
So, I sanded the inside of the receiver?, only it's paper thin.
After two to three minutes sanding with emery clothe in a slot on the end of an old arrow shaft, it sanded thru the tube.
So, I removed the middle portion of the tube and when I stick the wing tube thru the left receiver it misses the hole on the other side by about 1/8".
If I push into alignment, it goes in and it's better than it was before.
Question now is, is the structural integrity OK?

Vettster

Do you mean you removed the receiver in the Fuse? If so I would say not to worry about it. Its more of a guide than anything.

Pete S-RCU

That,s what I was thinking too.
I've been trying to reach the Boomerang people, but no luck yet.
Anyone know how dial an international call?
+44(0)845 503 2926 is the number on their web site.
I live in Minnesota, never made an international call before?

Vettster

Dont bother.. They are completely out of business. Be happy you have one.

melvin

My Feedback: (3)

Why not make your own fuselage socket? It's really easy to do! Just take your wing tube and wrap one layer of wax paper around the wing tube. Then use 1/2 oz glass and wrap around the wax paper and paint with finishing resin,thinned epoxy or whatever you have handy. Let it cure overnight and then pull the tube out from the wax paper

ira d

Boomerang UK is still in business I would try the contact info on their site it would likely be better to email them .

Pete S-RCU

It would be sad if they were out of business, they make an amazing airplane.
I always thought they were kind of ugly, but the Elan is better looking and it flies so good, it's hard not to like it.
With full flaps and crow mixed in, it's amazing how slow that plane can land.
I bought this plane from Pat in Texas, I don't remember her husbands name, the designer of the Boomerang.

Len Todd

The general fit on Sprint was good.This alignment in the receiving parts of the wings was bad. All I ended up doing was sanding the ends of the wing tube to round them a bit.