Hot Glue

[Ed Neuzil]

I have become aware that many ARF/ARCs are assembled using
hot glue. The Vector 40 ARF *appears* to be done with hot glue.
A quick Google search on the use of hot glue in model airplane
construction turned up many comments, almost all negative.
While I have read many comments on how well the Vector 40 ARF
*flies*, I am beginning to have serious doubts about its
durability/longevity. Can anyone comment on this?

[rustler]

I've discovered this week while making a cupboard door that :-

a) Hot glue is quite good.
b) It does get really hot, enough to burn you a little if not careful.
c) It cools quite quickly. You have to mate the parts pdq. If you don't the glue cools and does not stick so well!

[Richard Grogan]

I have become aware that many ARF/ARCs are assembled using
hot glue. The Vector 40 ARF *appears* to be done with hot glue.
A quick Google search on the use of hot glue in model airplane
construction turned up many comments, almost all negative.
While I have read many comments on how well the Vector 40 ARF
*flies*, I am beginning to have serious doubts about its
durability/longevity. Can anyone comment on this?

I just put a Vector 40 ARF together last week. Where is the hot glue used? All I saw was CA, and the main assembly is done with thin CA (wing to fuse, stab and fin to fuse) The tank compartment and engine area/ cowl are all coated with 30 minute epoxy to fuelproof and I am guessing, strengthen the forward section.. Didn't see any "hot glue".......Appears to be a well crafted build.

BTW, there was a lot of whinning about warped wings here a while back too, and mine is as straight as an arrow.
I ordered my ARF direct from Brodak, maybe the dealers are getting something else?

[Ed Neuzil]

I just put a Vector 40 ARF together last week. Where is the hot glue used? All I saw was CA, and the main assembly is done with thin CA (wing to fuse, stab and fin to fuse) The tank compartment and engine area/ cowl are all coated with 30 minute epoxy to fuelproof and I am guessing, strengthen the forward section.. Didn't see any "hot glue".......Appears to be a well crafted build.

Looked like hot glue was used everywhere on mine.
The glue joints are a bit "rubbery" - definitely
not CA. Also, the engine/cowl area are NOT coated
with epoxy on mine.

I ordered my ARF direct from Brodak, maybe the dealers are getting something else?

I ordered from a dealer, perhaps a different batch?

[Joe Messinger]

I'm not sure what type of glue is used in Brodak's ARFs but I can tell you this: 

This Fall I crashed a Brodak Cardinal ARF.  I was attempting an outside loop.  From the top of the loop, about  35' up, the plane nosed over and went straight in. It never made the turn.  I'm not sure what went wrong.  Pilot error, I guess?  The plane hit vertically on the concrete take off area at full power.  It shattered the spinner and APC prop, bent the crank shaft on the LA .46, broke the fuselage in 3 places and broke the wing in half. 

I brought the remains home and assessed the devastation. I doubt that it's worth trying  to repair .  The thing that struck me as being amazing is that throughout  the entire plane, not one glue joint had failed. Lots of broken balsa-and- plywood but the glue joints are all intact.

If the factory that produces the ARFs for Brodak use hot glue for the construction, I can only say that I wish I had some of whatever kind it is they're using!

Joe

[Richard Grogan]

Also, the engine/cowl area are NOT coated
with epoxy on mine.


I ordered from a dealer, perhaps a different batch?

I coated it as per instructions, steps 7 and 14.My only complaint about it was the instruction manual/ picture sequence.It seemed a little dis-jointed in spots. I had to do very little re-shrinking of the covering, which I heard other folks had problems with too.

It does sound a little like a QC problem, maybe someone was having a bad day(week) ?

[bob branch]

I flew two Vecotr 40 ARF's this summer. They each got alot of flights. Never had a single glue issue on either. All flights but one day were on grass. I did manage to kill pathfinder verticle into the ground when I lost power in an hourglass. Wing sheered off on one side only . No broken glue joint in the entire plane.

bob branch

[Mike Spiess]

I work in the construction business and can attest to some hot glues. The ones we use are for constrution and I have found that you can't take the joint apart without heat and is impervious to many chemicals. Maybe even hot exhaust and fuel though I've never tried it.  I'm sure the glue used by the ARF builders is similar. The thing I see it might be hard to use just a little as you can't wipe extra up with your finger. And yes it's a little rubbery.