Tail-less wonders

rsv1cox Thu Oct 10, 2019 8:30 am

Most know that I enjoy repairing old neglected model airplanes be they balsa or plastic. What I find curious is the fact that most of these relics have had damaged or completely missing tail sections. What are you guys doing out there....landing them backwards...…...

All of these had missing or mostly missing tails. The black and red model in the foreground (Ron told me what it is, but I forget) was basically sawdust when I got it but it has an Enya .06 for power. It required a complete rebuild along with the F-100 Super Sabre, but most I try to restore as close to the original owners concept as possible. A couple are a work in progress.

I didn't get Skybar (Sky Leader) down from the ceiling to include in the picture. Too darn hard getting it positioned up there.

There are others scattered around.

dirk gently Thu Oct 10, 2019 10:33 am

rsv1cox wrote:What I find curious is the fact that most of these relics have had damaged or completely missing tail sections. What are you guys doing out there....landing them backwards...…...

I damage the tails on my models a lot, but I don't think I have ever done that actually flying a plane. I usually catch the tail on something while moving it around in storage or working on the model.

Ken Cook Thu Oct 10, 2019 4:59 pm

Bob, one thing that may contribute to this damage is landing. Almost all of the Scientific models have a glide slope of a brick. 1/2A planes of that particular era including plastic models especially trip on their gear and cartwheel. Grass flying helps but the tails are tossed like a fly swatter and break the tail surfaces and fuse.

rsv1cox Thu Oct 10, 2019 5:20 pm

Ken Cook wrote: Bob, one thing that may contribute to this damage is landing. Almost all of the Scientific models have a glide slope of a brick. 1/2A planes of that particular era including plastic models especially trip on their gear and cartwheel. Grass flying helps but the tails are tossed like a fly swatter and break the tail surfaces and fuse.

Yes, I should have thought.

When the fuel ran out on the built Ringmaster, Mark was trying to make the grass but instead bounced it tail down on the asphalt. Only damage was to the horizontal stab when it separated from the fuselage. No other damage, so it happens.

Can't really see it here. Epoxied it back in place and both are ready to go again.

The only one in the circle above that had a partial tail was the orange "racer". All others required a complete replacement of the horizontal/vertical stabs, elevators and rudders.

NEW222 Fri Oct 11, 2019 8:52 pm

I see a trend here. Someone has a model they want to sell in bad shape, but would like to see it fixed up. 'Hmmm, lets rip the tail off of this, and put it up for auction. Bob will buy it and fix it back up nicely...' Very Happy

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