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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: rich gorrill on June 27, 2013, 05:34:34 PM
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New kit came in the mail Saturday from company S. I opened it for inspection and found the fuselage to be warped--bowed. Called them on Monday and nice lady said they would send a new one out right away. My question is if they weren't such a good company how would I straighten out my bad fuselage. Any idea's will be welcomed. Let me clarify this is a 1/2" profile fuselage. Full size plane.
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It depends on why it warped, and how much you care.
The safest thing to do is to get a nice plank of unwarped wood and use the existing fuselage as a pattern to cut out a new one. Then burn the old one.
I did (once) straighten one out by moistening it then holding it with the opposite bow for a while. But that was a fuselage that had been straight and had acquired a bow through mistreatment. And it was probably a stupid idea anyway.
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It is better to replace it. When balsa is cut it releases internal stresses sometimes that will cause a bow in short order. You can try to straighten it but the bow or twist will sneak back in, usually once dope is applied.
Dave
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You could straighten it using steam, then glass or carbon veil it to strengthen and keep it straight. H^^
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Old school. Steam and break the power in the wood. Easy and quick works every time!