My new Vector

[Rick Bollinger]

I just got my new Vector done. It is my best finish yet but still can see all where I need work. But on looking at it I noticed the inboard wing has a twist . It is coming up at the trailing edge. I swear it was not there before paint really have to look to see it but I know it will effect its flying. Anyway we will see. I was hoping to fly this at the Nats in intermediate. Bumming.

[Motorman]

Vector 40's need a little wing warp. All the Brodak ARF Vector 40's had wing warps.


MM

[RC Storick]

I just got my new Vector done. It is my best finish yet but still can see all where I need work. But on looking at it I noticed the inboard wing has a twist . It is coming up at the trailing edge. I swear it was not there before paint really have to look to see it but I know it will effect its flying. Anyway we will see. I was hoping to fly this at the Nats in intermediate. Bumming.

You can steam it out

[Brett Buck]

I just got my new Vector done. It is my best finish yet but still can see all where I need work. But on looking at it I noticed the inboard wing has a twist . It is coming up at the trailing edge. I swear it was not there before paint really have to look to see it but I know it will effect its flying. Anyway we will see. I was hoping to fly this at the Nats in intermediate. Bumming.

      It probably wasn't there before paint, the shrinking of the dope probably caused it. Steam it out (either just steam, or boiling water/bath towel) and move on.

    Brett

[badbill]

Here I go again! FLY it before you do anything. You might be surprised.

[RandySmith]

Try to get it as straight as possible,  before  you fly and start to trim the airplane, this is your best way to get the best airplane

Randy

[Crist Rigotti]

Rick,
Nice job.  Do what Randy says. Straighten out the wing before you fly.  Good stunters like straight wings!

[Brett Buck]

Here I go again! FLY it before you do anything. You might be surprised.

     It really needs to be straight before he starts. I agree with you about the possible surprise, but I would be concerned about the wrong kind of surprise.

     Brett

[john e. holliday]

Take it from experience.  Get that wing straight before flying.

[Rick Bollinger]

Thanks for the replies. It is dope over polyspan but Chromeabase clearcoat. Will this make a difference with the steam? Or would just heat work since its polyspan? And besides the obvious wing panel where would I apply the steam Then do I jig it till it cools or overnight? Sorry for the basic questions but I just dont know. This is my first time with polyspan and or steam. 

[Steve Thomas]

Rick, I have something of a gift for making warped wings, and would agree that you definitely want to fix it before you bother flying it. It'll just never be any good otherwise.

What I do is make a sort of bed for the offending wing to lie in, from plastic sheet lined with towels. Soak the towels with boiling water, sit the wing in it (with the fuselage secured), and put more towels on top, also soaked with boiling water. I then use a lever I made up (photo below) to apply torsion to the wing tip. Once the water's cooled, the wing should've assumed a better shape.

I haven't tried this with polyspan, and it's hard to predict if it'll do any harm to a given finish. On the couple of models I've done this to, the finish hasn't been affected - but even if it is, I see it as a necessary evil.

Steve

[M Spencer]

Vot Vee Doo , iss ;

Glass table outdoors , roof over it ( like a carport )

Threw four pieces of four by two ( these are two by four in America ), measured exactly positioning ( you could draw lines on the Flat Surface )
and a few scraps snapped from the same piece of particle board - the Idea is the mainspar sits on two - a tapered thickness wing youd pack
the 2x4s on their flats , half the tip / root thickness distance .

The T.E. 3x2  sits on edge , to give neutral height . Its not that difficult , if youve a bench saw , youd rip custom pieces , tapered edge for T.E. even

I sat the MC 72 out overnight with a extra packer equal & opposite the twist / warp - for a night or two . Then even so 4 or 5 nights .
I believe the Heat / humidity / coolness cycle helps , particularly to SET IT . Straight if its jigged straight .

If Youve used BUTRATE , you might find it retwists for up to TWO YEARS . and miraculously one day is straight .

The FREE FLIGHT guys pin down their wigs while the dope ' gasses off ' for some reason ! . 

I left a 1/16 sheeted wing on the lawn overnight , jury rigged on planks for the diheadral , and keepers at the TE as I Very Gently lowered
two Car Batteries onto packed 6x1s on top , and left it out for a few days .

This one Id stoopidly thrown balsa block L.G. keepers in under the sheeting and poured shrinking balsa cement thoroughly about them . It Stuck
BUT Id ended up with a ' Gull Wing ' MB3 .I then threw about 3 motorcycle batteries ( Just Kiddig - I dropped them gently ) , a few big files ,
Bits of steel , etc , to weight it .  It Camme straight eventually , as Id done it a few times after when I was flying the sod .

OOPS , the MC72 Id used two matched 2x2 box section , two 2x2 angle iron , And two bricks on top , for the Two Wings .

Any BURRS or LUMPS in anything against the wing will leave impressions , so block sand if necessary the boards ,scrounged from the builders supply skip or a builders rubbish pile .

[M Spencer]

P.S. if its built from ' contest grade ' 4Lb wood , youd use very smooth planks , and go easy on the batteries .

Sighting it up , You NEED to twist it the same amount of twist OPPOSITE initially .

the force required gives a indication of the weight neccesary to hold it true , later .

Two Solid Bricks or three with the holes should be o.k. , If you Dont Drop them on it .

If Your 4x2s are OVERLENGTH of the Table , you need three hands , so an end doesnt fly up thru the covering , particularly removing it ' from the Jig ' .