Hey Rand Powell-- What's the rest of the story?

[Paul Taylor]

Did not want to hi-jack Leo's thread...

"Wish the maiden flight of my new classic plane went as well. I'll be repainting for a couple of days. Sigh...
Randy Powell"

What is the rest of the story? I hope nothing bad happen to your new ride?

Paul 

[Steve Helmick]

Leaky fuel tank ruined the paint. I'm wondering who pressure tested the tank for Randy? Couldn't be something delegated to Donaldo? For myself, I like to add a brass washer where each tube pierces the tin, to reinforce the tube/tank joint. It does add weight, but can save a lot of agony.    Steve

[Randy Powell]

Steve,

The leak was at the back. I had soldered a small brass tab on the tank as a hold down. It must have run all but a tinny film of solder out of a seem. It passed initial pressure check and the check I did right before in went in the plane, but opened from vibration. I've built probably 15 tanks exactly this way without a problem. But this plane (or for me this design) seems just prone to unforeseen and it's starting to seem, unknowable problems.

No one will see the Shoestring anytime soon. To bad, too. It was a pretty good flying plane. But the repairs have not gone well. At this point, I will probably have to sand it back to primer from the nose to the trailing edge and out about 6 inches on the wing. Long story that I recounted in the Classic Section, but apparently, I used too much reducer in the catalyzed polyurethane top coat when I went to repaint the repairs. The entire nose and part of the wing is all crinkled up and looks just awful. So, when it's dry, it will go in the rack and maybe, someday, I'll fix it. Maybe. Right now all I want to do is throw in on the shop floor and stomp it into splinters so it's best I just stay out of the shop for awhile.

[Steve Helmick]

I could store it at my place for ya, Randy. I could even sand on it once in awhile. Sorry to hear of your continued hassles with the Shoe.  Steve

[Gary Anderson]

Steve,

The leak was at the back. I had soldered a small brass tab on the tank as a hold down. It must have run all but a tinny film of solder out of a seem. It passed initial pressure check and the check I did right before in went in the plane, but opened from vibration. I've built probably 15 tanks exactly this way without a problem. But this plane (or for me this design) seems just prone to unforeseen and it's starting to seem, unknowable problems.

No one will see the Shoestring anytime soon. To bad, too. It was a pretty good flying plane. But the repairs have not gone well. At this point, I will probably have to sand it back to primer from the nose to the trailing edge and out about 6 inches on the wing. Long story that I recounted in the Classic Section, but apparently, I used too much reducer in the catalyzed polyurethane top coat when I went to repaint the repairs. The entire nose and part of the wing is all crinkled up and looks just awful. So, when it's dry, it will go in the rack and maybe, someday, I'll fix it. Maybe. Right now all I want to do is throw in on the shop floor and stomp it into splinters so it's best I just stay out of the shop for awhile.

Hi Randy,

Why don't you just send it to me, I'm sure it looks three times better then anything I could do. I'm sorry to hear about your bad luck, but remember its just fun, RIGHT!!!!!! Good Luck, Gary

[Randy Powell]

Gee guys, thanks for the offers.   

I actually started sanding it and it turns out that it may (underline may) not be as bad as it first looked. Several areas it looks like it was just the top coat and did not get into the color. We'll see. If I can sand through the bad topcoat and not disturb the color underneath, then I can just reshoot the clear in those areas, sand and rub and I'm off and running. No matter what I do, it goes from a potential concours plane to a 15 pointer, but hey, at least it will be in the air.

[Geoff Goodworth]

Good luck mate.

Geoff

[Randy Powell]

Hi Geoff!

By the way, this plane has the Skylark wing as I talked to you about before. The little bit of flying I got in with it seems to demonstrate some serious potential. If I can get the paint fixed, I'll look forward to trimming it out.

[john e. holliday]

Hey Randy,  don't give so soon.  You have put too much work in this bird.  Of course I remember reading about one of our top stunt grunts years ago, that if something went wrong, he would destroy the plane and start over again.  I could never afford to do that.  DOC Holliday

[Leo Mehl]

Hey Randy,  don't give so soon.  You have put too much work in this bird.  Of course I remember reading about one of our top stunt grunts years ago, that if something went wrong, he would destroy the plane and start over again.  I could never afford to do that.  DOC Holliday

It is always easier to fix than rebuild. I remember catching one of my planes on fire and after repair could see the scorched cap stips under the clear paint. Gave me somthin to talk about.

[Randy Powell]

Well, it's fixed. Sort of. As I said  before, it will never be a concours winner, to it's OK more or less. Seems that repairs like this just never come out as well as one would hope. But it's sort of presentable. Mostly.

Just would have been nice to have at least one contest on it before this happened.