Woe is me!

[Lester Nicholson]

About 20 years ago I scratch built a strathmoore type stunter that loosely resembled a neptune in apearance. After a divorce it sat in a storage shed for ten years in central Alabama. About five years ago it was flown once and I determined that it had sat in the shed two long and needed the whole control system replaced - So I hung it on the livingroom wall where it hung till about six months ago when I took it down, stripped it, cut off the top block and started removing all trhe dope. I'd let it hang on the wall in the shop and work on it between projects. This morning I got me a cup of coffee walked out to the shop to find my airplane destroyed - the nail it was hanging from pulled out and it landed on the left wing tip leaving itty bitty pieces all over the shop floor. Woe is me - After Church I'll go back out and see what I can salvage......            Nick

[Peter Ferguson]

Sounds like the work of Gremlins, go build a new plane.

[john e. holliday]

I had almost the same results when I tried to restore my original Veco Thunderbird.  But, it wasn't hanging from a nail.  It was when I was trying to strip the covering that it started coming apart.   

[Lester Nicholson]

OK, Came home from church, surveyed the damage, saved the spar, landing gear w/pants and the tail feathers and flaps - burned the rest and will try to build another. again it was a long time ago and it was a one of a kind that I built from crude pencil drawings and I can't remember how I did a lot of things.    Nick

[Jerry Leuty]

  We must keep perspective in this hobby. These are just balsa and glue and Mono Coat or some thing. Go on line with one of the many web sites that offer plans for sale, contact Eric Rule for some great kits, Blue Sky models, and a whole host of others, and build something brand new. Just remember that the modern engines are a lot heavier than the old .35s of yesterday. Building is very rewarding but getting them to fly the pattern is a whole 'nother subject. I had a Super Chipmunk that only had a couple of flights on it and it hung in the hobby shop for several years. Last month I decided it was time to fly it and get it trimmed out. It was so tail heavy that on the second inside loop it turned in and I let it plow itself in. I am too old to run backwards to save them anymore. I said grace over it, removed the now extra engine, wheels, and controls, and it hit the trash can. Too many other planes to build and fly to cry over an out of balance stunt plane.

Jerry

[Lester Nicholson]

I'm not one to cry over spilt milk. I have several stunt type airplanes to fly. I'm not a competitor but love the stunt type airplanes and have been building them since the mid 50's and am no longer interested in someone elses designs but wwould rather cope w/my own ideas - therefore my next project will be  to ressurect what fell off the wall - gonna start w/the spar and go from there.   Nick

[George]

It's a shame to lose a plane that way...to not be at the end of the handle and have the honor of knowing it was pilot error, a gust of wind, etc. You  may find that some of your original thoughts will return as you sit down with paper and pencil. Good luck with the new plane. Perhaps a good name would be Neptunish...   

George

[Wayne Collier]

My problem is slightly different, I have a perfectly repairable airplane that could be fixed in 1 or 2 hours plus paint drying time, but I want a new one.

[john e. holliday]

Have you got it done yet?

[Jim Pollock]

Awful,


That's why I don't hang mine anymore.  I just lean them on the wall of my shop room.  I guess if I build anymore, I'll need to figure out a better way than that though!

Jim Pollock 

[Lester Nicholson]

Have I got it done yet? Doc, the parts I saved are layin' wher I put 'em a week and a half ago. Left 'em where I can see 'em so's I don't forget 'em.    Nick

[EddyR]

Lester      Move on to a new I/Beam. Flying a plane with 20+ year old cloth hinges is not a good idea. I beams can be built so fast it is not worth fooling with old ones. I have a 30 year old Juno that was crashed with less than a dozen flight on it and I have been thinking of rebuilding it,but more than likely I never will.
 Ed ruane