Compy crash, can it be brought back?????

[BuzzardChaser]

Airplane gods were not helping me when I was landing in a cross wind and the wind blew me too close to the hedges. Other then the fuse and canopy everything thing else is OK. What hurts is that this was my 3rd day flying this bird. I don't even have 5 gals of gas through her yet. But anyway that how it gos. Comp-arf wants $750 for new 2.6m fuse and canopy. Problem is it's 8-10 weeks for delivery. So either I fix this bird or I'll just buy another airframe. Maybe try another company that carries stock of spare parts here. Can anyone tell me it this is fixable. Is their a thread on composite repair? Or am I taking a chance trying to fix it?

[TimDavie]

I had a similar problem when my 150 threw a piston skirt during a rolling harrier. The nose pointed down and crunch it went. I would find someone with a vacuum bagging kit and composite know how. We have an American Airlines maintenance facility here with lots of experts in that area, so I lucked out. Added probably 5-6 oz. to the plane overall, and it will never look quite the same, but it will fly close.

[rcdart]

Easy fix, no risk.

CA all the bits you can back into place, use balsa to fill any holes, smooth off the inside, then lay up the inside with a couple of layes of 2 - 4 oz glass and resin. Sand the outside as smooth as possible, fill with a light mix of milled fibre and resin, then layer with 3/4oz cloth on the outside, sand and paint.
If having trouble CA'ing the bits back in place, rub micro balloons into the cracks, then pour in the CA.

Good luck!

[GremlinX]

You can fix that! I've seen worse revived! I think RC Dart is onto a good start...

[flyin woodbutcher]

If you use CA make sure it is FOAM SAFE !!!!!!! I would assemble the plane and kind of jig it up to make sure it as straight as possiable. Use clear packing tape on the outside of the cracks. This will help hold all the little pieces and also keep any glues and poxys from escaping. Wet the fiberglass or carbon fiber cloth real well, but then try to soak up all the extra. Toilet paper works good. Just stick the roll in the fuse and press on the poxy. Throw away the saturated paper and do it again.

FWB

[Flyinhigh]

I would also suggest that you consult Shawn Berkheimer at R/Cblimpro.com - this fellow modeller/pilot is a true diamond in the rough. When it comes to composite materials Shawn is an artist and a craftsman. A friend received a badly damaged Compy and Shawn admitted he could fix it to near if not perfection. He is in San Jose, California. If a near perfect fix is what you would prefer ( I know I would with my Comp-ARF) call him first. Even if you don't retain his services I bet he would offer some pointers or confirm the previous advice is a good path - It certainly seems like it would be a sound fix.

[yakwrecker]

I have fixed fiberglass parts, in fact on was a jet that was broken completely in half with ease. but the way the comp-arfs are that shell is so thick i think it would be hard to get any structural integraty back into it without the addition of a lot of weight. just my 2 pennys though.

[BuzzardChaser]

Thanks all! Seems maybe with a little work, she might have some life in her yet. At this point I have nothing to lose. Flyinhigh, will call Shawn see what he says. I have one of his tailwheels on this plane (good product!). If I fix it myself, will post pictures and a progress/fly report.

[tony-amps]

Buzzerd Chaser,

Give me a call i have what you need and a vacum system. Lots of composite experience. Will be buzzy over memorial day weekend but after that slows till july 4th. I have already moved into my new shop.

Tony Fandino

[BuzzardChaser]

Tony, send me a PM with your phone number. Been missing you at the field. I usually go Thursdays.

[Imac Kiwi]

Easy repair.

Dremmell out all the shattered pieces and feather all the edges. Tape some A4 Mylar sheet round the outside of the fuse over the damaged area and tape well with a plastic masking tape. Lay a couple of layers of 2oz cloth inside, this will give you perfect conformity with the outside of the fuse. If you have damage that is longer than an A4 sheet, do it in sections. Once you have the 2oz cloth cured, re-inforce with carbon cloth.

This worked well on 1 of my models and the result was fantastic. Like you, I considered buying a new fuse but the repair was easy once I got into it.

Hope this helps
Alan

[eagle1]

I had a similar prob with my Comp. 2.6m same scheme,I was about 50 foot off the ground at the top of the wall when my engine died, I was able to get the plane leveled out just in time to pancake the ground. crushed the bottom side if the fuse from the motor dome to the landing gear mount put the laeft wheel pant all the way through the wing and the right wheel pant went through the bottom on of the right wing.Any where the composite material was bad I laminated a sheet of good balsa both sides with 2oz fiber cloth and used that to patch the ugly spots with 2 oz glass to fix into position,then filled in all the small gaps with epoxy,sanded smooth,painted then used polishing compound to help it blend in ...IT Will FLy Again....... And when this happened it was on its third flight! OUCH!! hang in there and it will fly again.