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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Chris Belcher on November 11, 2013, 03:54:49 PM
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I have a Forerunner that didn't make it out of the outside part of a square 8. Inverted pancake basically. Only damage is outboard stab broke off flush with fuse. Should I just shove it back together, align and epoxy (foam core) or should I dig out and rebuild? I know ...vague but that is truly the only damage other than the rudder knocked off but that's easy...oh and a bent needle valve...but that's easy too..
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I'd repair it, using a stick of bamboo or something to reinforce it.
And epóxi, of course.
Marcus
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I would build a new one ... too easy to do and no regrets later.
Joe
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Well,that's 2 against 1... LL~
Replacing is Always better... Ups, 3X0 now??? LL~
Marcus
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If the rest of the plane is all in good shape, solid and worth continuing with, I'd say put in a new stab. D>K
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Ditto here, you will thank yourself later for the new stab.
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I would definitely go with the new stab, BUT, I would also cut into the bottom of the wing center section and inspect the spars. A smack-down hard enough the pop the stab in two could also have done damage there that could later fold up on you. I've had that happen where the damage was totally inside the wing and didn't show until the thing got floppy on me! Fortunately, I saw it before it happened in the air.
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Hmmmm, now that's good thinking. It did smite the earth.. tho in a glancing fashion. That sound!! I hate that sound. Not that I crash alot but this was a practice session to get the bottom outside squares at the correct height and ....well....I didn't. My worry now is that this plane weighed 50 oz before the crash. It was a bit doggy...not bad but right there where anymore added weight might push it over the edge...
Any ideas on lightening the tail feathers in the process? I had to hang the stock LA46 muffler to get balance.
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If you take time to do a quality repair it shouldn't affect the weight enough to matter. Sometimes you'll even surprise yourself and end up losing a slight amount. I say just go for the fix, and get it back in the air.
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Make a new, built-up framework stabalizer...and elevators. If you do a quick repair of the broken stab and it breaks in the air, you could lose the rest of the model and the engine. H^^ Steve
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Any chance the built up unit would weigh less than the sheeted foam that's on there now? I know I've seen comparisons on wings before...built up vs framed up. That would be bonus as i could lose some nose weight and thus overall weight. What's funny is this forerunner weighed 41 oz 17 years ago when i built it and it was TOO light...didn't fly that well...of course especially in the wind. And the nose was weak and the engine runs...well...you know. I was so proud that I got it to come out so light but after re-working the nose (balsa tripler) nowit's a bit heavy.
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My Forerunner is electric Scorpion motor 3k batteries. Weighs in at 54 oz and flies like a dream. Rock steady and very maneuverable. Best flying plane I have ever built. I added 1/2" to the nose based on adding weight to my last Forerunner nose to balance. I also built up both stab and elevator on the one.
Joe
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Chris - Post a photo ... I love Forerunners.
Joe
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I had a bucanner that weighed 52 oz and flew like that...nice crisp corners, tracked so stable...and it has pretty much the same dimensions as the forerunner..kinda close anyway. I need to do some more trimming on the Forerunner. It turns outside well but hinges. Insides are bad. Overhead is good but outsides go light a little. maybe that's why i smote the earth on the outside square...or just bad timing on my part...probably the latter ;)