Used model disasters

[Larry Renger]

Last weekend, a friend lost a valuable engine due to inadequate construction of a model he was given.  I had the same thing happen to me once. 

In my case, it was a Twister that I was just going to use to check out a new engine.  The engine was a brand-new PAW 40 diesel.  On the first attempt at a wingover, the bellcrank relocated itself from wing center to wingtip, fortunately not exiting.  The model went straight over the top and into balacktop.

I was able to salvage the compression screw.

I will let the other victim pitch in if he feels like it, but his engine was totaled too.

Any other horror stories out there?

[Paul Smith]

Buying selling used airplanes. 

Nothing but trouble. 

The same as cars and horses.

[Andrew Hathaway]

I've had a handful of hand me down planes, and used planes that I've acquired here or there.  Never really had a problem with a control system failure.  We did have a bellcrank support come loose on a 20 year old Flite Streak after we'd been flying it for a year or so.  I would have to blame brittle cement joints.  It didn't cause that much damage.  

One beautiful afternoon at the park, a car load of kids pulls up.  One kid pulls what looked to be a Barnstormer out of the trunk and started setting up while his three or four buddies walked around goofing off.  The plane looked to be vintage, with a ST 35 in the front end.  He got it all set up, got the engine running and signaled his buddy to let it go.  The plane instantly took off in a near vertical climb, curving over into an inside loop when it suddenly banked turning outside the circle and straining itself through the chain link fence in a shower of balsa and silkspan.  He hadn't dropped the handle, both lines had failed somewhere between the handle and bellcrank.  He picked up the big pieces and they left, never saw any of them again.

[john e. holliday]

I will tell one on myself.  I had a Nobler that Meriwether built and flew back in the 60's.  I think he even flew it in junior at the NATS one year.  When his dad passed away I confiscated all the control line stuff and started on the bay.  But, the planes were either flown by me, given away or sold.  The Nobler and a few others were taken to Iowa with me one year.  A young man by the name of Sina bought the Nobler.   I told him to check it out good.  Seen him later and he related how the nose from the leading edge forward departed the plane on I beleive he stated it was on the second or third flight of the plane.  He also stated he was not upset with me when people pointed out to him that was a weak point with Noblers as well as the trailing edge of the design.  Have fun,  DOC Holliday

[rustler]

At least it was only a PAW 40. 

[Larry Renger]

I never got to find out how good or bad the engine was, but on the first test run, it tore apart my old test stand and landed in a bush across the yard.  Glad I do setting adjustments from behind the stand!!!

I went to look up the performance and found out it was a .35, not a .40.  It turned an 11x7 at 8400 rpm on a hot day (over 80 F)

[Clint Ormosen]

Last weekend, a friend lost a valuable engine due to inadequate construction of a model he was given.  I had the same thing happen to me once. 

In my case, it was a Twister that I was just going to use to check out a new engine.  The engine was a brand-new PAW 40 diesel.  On the first attempt at a wingover, the bellcrank relocated itself from wing center to wingtip, fortunately not exiting.  The model went straight over the top and into balackto

Larry, I'll bet the words "pull test" went through your mind a few times after the, ummm..... flight.

[Andrew Borgogna]

It pains me deeply to enter this thread, yes I am the unnamed flier!   Funny  thing is when restoring the plane I made access holes in critical places and checked the construction.  I even replaced the lead outs, didn't like the way they looked.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think the elevator would simply come off.  Funny part was (if there is any humor in this) the elevator separated from the right fuse panel first and was tipped in toward me.  As I am looking at this I begin to realize that something very bad was about to happen, I was right.  Finally the inner glue joining failed and the plane did a perfect lawn dart into the pavement.  The only way to describe the crash was it EXPLODED!  Bits and pieces of balsa wood were scattered all around the crash site, and as Larry said the engine was a total loss.  We took the remnants back to the picnic table and did a post mortem.  The original builder used very little glue to hold down the elevator and what glue he used had become brittle after 30 years most of which was spent in the rafters of my friends garage.  I still haven't had the heart to let him know what happened.  As said by others I will politely turn down offers of old planes it just not worth the effort, unless of course they come with an engine worth keeping.
Andy

[Keith Spriggs]

It pains me deeply to enter this thread, yes I am the unnamed flier!
Andy

There now, Andy don't you feel better?

[Ward Van Duzer]

It all depends....

When I came back to the hobby, I was needy!

But used (or pre-built) models are often dependent upon...

1. Age. You don't need an oil soaked 20 year old anchor. That's asking for trouble. But I guess we all(?) know that.

2. Who is the builder? Generally a quick look at the model will tell you something about the builder, even if you don't know who he is. We don't need/want junk.

I was fortunate enough to run into a master builder that cranked out bunches of stuff for the magazines. I bought Dick Sarpolus' PRETENDER and another, the Henriot Biche pusher. I flew the wings off that Pretender, and loved the death out of the Biche as a hanger queen!   

Just goes to show, there are GOOD moves out there if you exercise normal care.

"Buyer Beware"!


W.