well, I finally got up enough gumption to look into the cause of the ARF Tathfinder crash. I have settled on the probable cause as being failure of the elevator hinges. I used the E-Z Hinge types that came with the kit as I didn't want to spent more on the ARF (bad decision)Besides, It SHOULD have sufficient materials to fly adequately. It appears that the coating surface on the hinges separated from the mylar (or whatever the core material is)and the hard "down" elevator pushed the control horn along with the elevators rearward instead of iving down to the elevators. The coatings from the hinges is still in the slots of the stab and the bare ends of the hinges are still attached to the elevators, The stab and elevators were not damaged in the crash, so it appears that the hinges failed before the crash.
Just looking at the wreckage, I think I MAY try to rebuild it. It looks kike the engine, spinner, and tank took most of the brunt of the impact and suffered the most damage. OS LA 46 (E-Bay orphan) bent shaft, Creamed venturi and NVA, skint up head, piston binds in the cylinder near the bottom of the stroke, ---backplate (plastic) appears ok as does the thrust washer. OH yes-- muffler broken off at the lug area.
Concencus--- it goes into the junk barrel annex until further notice.
Bigiron