Expect the unexpected

[Phil Coopy]

Yesterday while putting the finish shrink on a wing I had just covered with $Kote  my heat gun shot out a puff a smoke and a bunch of sparks as the heating element self destructed, resulting in my right wing top looking like it had been hit by a shotgun blast.  Fortunately is as the top pf the wing so it is not too hard to replace.  I've had a bunch of building accidents in the shop over the years but this takes the cake...go figure.

Phil

[Bill Heher]

Ohil,
Sounds like your heat gun was the same vintage as my iron. I was tightening up the ChinaKote on a Tutor II last week and it started to fele weird when I pressed down. I use an old cotton sock wrapped around it and tied over the handle- so I couldn't see what was going on.
 Well the handle is attached with 1/2 dozen spot welds, and they all finally let go, next thing I know the shoe is hanging from the wires! Cheapskate that I am - I spent 2 hrs taking it apart and drilling / pop riveting it back together.

Looked at the box and realized I bought it back in '88, so I will see if it lasts another 20 yrs.

[Roger Vizioli]

Phil,
As a fellow Floridian, I have had mud dobbers build nests in any opening available on my models if they are hanging (uncovered) out in the shop.
What is the possibility of something like this in your area?
Roger V.
Florida Space Coast

[Dennis Adamisin]

Phil,
As a fellow Floridian, I have had mud dobbers build nests in any opening available on my models if they are hanging (uncovered) out in the shop.
What is the possibility of something like this in your area?
Roger V.
Florida Space Coast

I used to store the wings of my sailplanes in the garage, one time had hornets nest in the sockets for the joiner tubes.  Sadly I was never able to train them to flap their wings to help keep me airborne til I found a thermal...

[Bill Little]

I used to store the wings of my sailplanes in the garage, one time had hornets nest in the sockets for the joiner tubes.  Sadly I was never able to train them to flap their wings to help keep me airborne til I found a thermal...

HI Denny,

Well, at least the thought was there.  Would that have been a "Rule Violation"?

Big Bear

[Charlie Pate]

I have a grunch of planes hanging in the garage and if the car door is open small birds fly in and stay over night. They just love to land on the wings and crap all over them... Damn critics I say.

Wrong Ty!
  They flew in; looked at your models;and decided they wanted to buy them!.
So naturally, they left a deposit !

[Bill Little]

beats the heck out of them getting run over by a mule cart........