There are Car scrap yards ... now Model Scrap yards !

[solentlife]

I have built up a reputation of being able to resurrect just about any model ... and yet again - I am receipt of crashed models ...

a) Parksize Cessna 172 - without wings, only plastic fuselage - BUT guys left motor, servos, spats etc. - all good for my bits and bobs box.



b) 1.65m Cessna 182 Glassfibre fus and wood wings ... with motor, servos, all there except cowl, windows and rx ..... oh and wing struts.







Wing is repaired already - that was a simple job ... Mr Epoxy to the rescue. Any gaps etc. filled with GG sop it expands into the voids. I will be adding scrim resin bandage to the joints ....as it's a big wing.



Horizontal stab already straightened, rod inserted into alloy tube to square up ... epoxied back ... just need to fix rudder after fashion new top part to it ..



The model would lend itself to gasoline engine I reckon. The brushless on her is a Turnigy Aertodrive Pro 4250 650kv ... so should have plenty of power. Strapped into the fuselage was the 5S 5000 LiPo he used ! Checked it and all seems good.
The Brushless I may remove and use for my later Curare build .. fitting the 15cc RCGF on this Cessna ... haven't decided ... I know - this is Wattflyer ... just bear with me !! I want to share repair tips.

Nigel

[dahawk]

Nigel,

You should awarded an RC A&P certificate ! Nice buddies, leaving all the electrics including a nice 5S lipo that alone sells for ~ USD $ 70
Keep her electric !

-Hawk

[solentlife]

She's actually going together well ...

Wings joined - waits resin and scrim to finish joint.



Rudders rebuild - waits pin hinges ...





New cowl to build.

X-Ray plastic used to replace all glazing - works a treat !(temp fix in place for photos)



Wing struts - started to make own out of alloy tube when got call from him - he has original struts and will pass them on .. fitted !





Fuselage needs Gel-Coat filler to repair cracks and general stress + resin / matt where split etc.







Chatting to him - he reckons the motor supplied with the model was marginal power and needs stronger. But when he said he used a 12x6 prop - I'm not surprised ... I would reckon a 13 at minimum ! Reckon a 13x7 or 8 would be better.

Well - rebuild is now suspended while I sort a few things before leaving tomorrow ... (I'm hoping I might get a quick fly in today if lucky !)

Nigel

[Alaskan]

Man thats cool, one day.... One day. Haha

[starcad]

Hey Nigel, I'm in the same boat you are with almost the same model. The one I inherited seems to be the larger size one with all the bells and whistles, nav lights, and flaps. It had a successful maiden however the pilot was inexperienced and on the second flight pulled it off the ground before it had reached flying speed resulting in a snap and into the ground. Has more money than brains and sold me the remains for $10 bucks. All it needs is a new fuselage and I have one on order a Banana Hobbies and hoping the wiring comes with it as pulling out all that maze of wires will be a trick in itself. Time will tell.

I'll post some images after I get back from the field as it is a fly day here in AZ today.

Later - Guy

[solentlife]

I know what you mean about the maze of wires etc. This one is also lights etc. But I've got rid of that ... Of course running wires in the wing is a dance with stiff wire to try and get through all the ribs etc. I use the solid core household electrical cable (one core out of a the 3) as a stiff leader. Feed it through till I see the end via the servo slot ... hook end out ... servo lead is then taped to it and pulled through.
Once threaded - if I need to ever do this again - I always use a carpet thread tail on the servo lead.... so that remains after servo removed ... allows me to rerun servo lead without hassle.

I'm really, looking fwd to getting this back in the air .. just a pity that I cannot get a new cowl for it ...

Still haven't decided whether to go electric or gasoline ... previous owners comment about underpowered makes me a little concerned. Upping prop to the 13x8 will draw significantly more amps on that motor than he was ...

Wondering if anyone has any idea what Amps a Turnigy Aerodrive 4250 650kv will draw on a 13x8 on a 5S pack ? I have wattmeters etc. but nothing's installed at present and I'm also away travelling.

Nigel

[solentlife]

Sorry Guys and Gals ..... but the big Cessna is now destined to have a 15cc Petrol engine fitted.

The eMotor will be passed to a 2kg aerobatics model I have sitting on the side waiting fit out.

Reason for this .... the Cessna I look at it and she's big and I fancy a slow prop and sound from her ...

Nigel
(Bored in Hotel in Houston Tx !)