Author Topic: Crash repairs- A neat trick (Read 4285 times)

goozgog · « **on:** October 08, 2014, 03:30:53 PM »

It was a busy summer with many new fliers
and several broken airplanes. The airplanes
are usually things like Flight Streaks, Clowns
and Ringmasters and what looks like a total
wreck to a beginner looks like a viable plane
to a cheap @#$%^ like me.
   The damage is the usual broken wings,
split fuselages and truncated tails. It's easy
to C/A the parts together since a cracked piece
of balsa fits together far more accurately than
anyone could ever cut it, but the hard part is
getting everything straight. I know that if I could
just pull the wing out and rebuild it flat, it would
be easy.
   Sometimes I can warm up an epoxied wing
root and the wing will pull out but when that didn't
work on the latest salvage job, I remembered this
odd tool.
   I bought this thing to use as a detail sander,
(Works great!) but it also comes with other
attachments and the flat blade in the picture
cut through a hard epoxy filet and it left a 1/16"
slot between the wing and the fuselage. I had to
cut around the leading edge by hand but the rest
was quick. The wing pulled out and was an easy
repair.
Sorry that I didn't take pictures as it progressed,
but I think these pictures explain it.

Cheers!

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #1 on:** October 08, 2014, 06:51:26 PM »

It never occurred to me to buy tools that take model airplanes apart.

Smart idea, btw.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #2 on:** October 08, 2014, 07:32:06 PM »

Quote from: Clint Ormosen on October 08, 2014, 06:51:26 PM

It never occurred to me to buy tools that take model airplanes apart.

Really? Here is an assortment of them...

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #3 on:** October 08, 2014, 07:40:04 PM »

Quote from: wwwarbird on October 08, 2014, 07:32:06 PM

Really? Here is an assortment of them...

bahahahah
well played sir

Phil Spillman · « **Reply #4 on:** October 08, 2014, 07:43:42 PM »

Hi Keith, What a neat idea! Where did that tool come from and how much do they cost? Just might be good suggestion for Santa Claus this year!

Phil

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #5 on:** October 08, 2014, 07:48:31 PM »

I have done the same thingby hand using a Zona razor saw blade pulled from it's backing bar. Real flexable that way. I got the idea from seeing some one use a Japanes flush cut saw on TV one time. Have a power tool saves a lot of cramped hands!
I'll have to check these out.
Thanks a lot,
Dan McEntee

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #6 on:** October 08, 2014, 07:56:59 PM »

Quote from: wwwarbird on October 08, 2014, 07:32:06 PM

Really? Here is an assortment of them...

Yup, cable handles are not trustworthy and can prevent you from saving a plane that a hardpoint handle would have made possible.

Steve

Ron Cribbs · « **Reply #7 on:** October 08, 2014, 08:07:24 PM »

Well, holy cow!!!!

I have the Craftsman version of that tool and I have used it on baseboards, cabinets, linoleum scraper etc, but it never occured to me to use it on a wing.

Mine vibrates a good bit, does yours? I would hate to tear up a plane.

Great Idea BTW and from one cheap guy to another, thanks!

Ron

Phil Krankowski · « **Reply #8 on:** October 08, 2014, 08:12:57 PM »

I have a knock-off version I bought just to cut some door jamb bottoms when I tiled the bathroom floor. The blades are available in a number of different widths down to about 1/2 inch.

Pop "oscillating saw" into google and you will get the consumer version of the tool...and probably a knee replacement or two since it was developed as a bone saw that would not damage soft tissue.

Phil

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2014, 09:03:40 PM »

Quote from: wwwarbird on October 08, 2014, 07:32:06 PM

Really? Here is an assortment of them...

Ah, yes. Guess I have everything I need for a complete dismantling.

John Fitzgerald · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2014, 09:11:01 PM »

I have the Dremel version. I bought it to plunge cut some brick mold so I could remove it easily, but it has come in handy for several other things, scraping old caulk, in particular. It does not vibrate badly. The blades can be $$, shop around some for them.

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #11 on:** October 09, 2014, 12:08:24 AM »

Harbor Freight has one for ~$40.00.

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/oscillating-tools/variable-speed-oscillating-multifunction-power-tool-61219.html

Bought one some time ago but have not used it yet. When I first saw the Dremel version I thought it would be a good addition to the shop but couldn't justify the price for something I might need some day. When I saw one in Harbor Freight for 1/2 the cost of the Dremel I grabbed it.

goozgog · « **Reply #12 on:** October 09, 2014, 03:20:22 AM »

   Hello Phil!
   I paid $35.00 for mine at Canadian Tire,
but they're sold anywhere that carries Chinese tools.
  Mine oscillates on a flat plane and was reasonable
to control. An important thing to notice in the photo
is how the blade is kinked so that it can lay flat on the
wing center sheeting and just be pushed into the fillet.
If you're trying to protect the finish, cover it with masking
tape.
   Having a narrower blade would let me turn the corner
around the leading edge. I was going to grind one but
buying one sounds better.
  BTW, I've bought several small triangular detail sanders
over the years and they have all been worthless. This tool
really does work as a sander and gets right in the corners.

   That's amazing Wayne. those are the exact tools
that disassembled this plane last Sunday. Good guess!

Cheers!

NED-088 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2014, 04:16:42 AM »

Quote from: Clint Ormosen on October 08, 2014, 06:51:26 PM

It never occurred to me to buy tools that take model airplanes apart.

I've been using those for ages. Called 'Allen head keys'...

John Tate · « **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2014, 08:29:08 AM »

I have the one from Harbor Freight. It is not at powerful as the Dremel version. I found out that you do not need all that power to use on model airplanes. You can cut 1/2" balsa very clean. The tool is a must for model airplane building/repairs.

Ara Dedekian · « **Reply #15 on:** October 09, 2014, 12:03:56 PM »

Keith

Great timing!

I've been dead in the water on this one trying to figure out how to reattach the wing, keep it straight and not destroy the fuselage. (It quit on the overhead) The Harbour Freight version of the tool seems adequate .

Thanks for the tip.

Ara

goozgog · « **Reply #16 on:** October 09, 2014, 05:14:58 PM »

Hi Ara,
That looks exactly like the situation
I had to work with but if you built it with
five minute epoxy it might come out after
heating with a hot air gun. It's worth a try.
I reassemble these with a fillet of epoxy
and micro balloons to fill the gap.

Cheers!

john e. holliday · « **Reply #17 on:** October 10, 2014, 11:24:11 AM »

That's an easy fox for me, I give it to someone else.

Really, get one of those multi-tools and let us know how you did. Once the fuselage is off the wing the sheeting could be removed and splicing done to LE, TE and spars.

Gerald Arana · « **Reply #18 on:** November 21, 2014, 07:46:35 PM »

Flexable blade by "Micromark"

Jerry

Ron Cribbs · « **Reply #19 on:** November 21, 2014, 08:43:58 PM »

Good timing on the re-appearance of the thread. Just today I used the multi-tool to cut away the straights and then a hacksaw blade to go around the curves.

Ron

WLGeorge · « **Reply #20 on:** November 21, 2014, 09:54:42 PM »

I know this is gonna sound stupid but I have done it a time or two with dental floss. Depends on the glue. If you can get a small hole started you can pull a length of floss thru it and work it back and forth. Keep a steady firm pressure on it and just keep sawing. Yes the floss breaks and it is a little time consuming but it does work. Occasionally I have used thin braided wire to do the same thing. Long steady cuts work better than rapid short ones.. It ain't perfect but it is cheap.