stangflyer
I like 'em "BIG"!
So, decisions-descisions! From experience, I highly doubt I would rebuild a smaller than 100cc airframe. It is really a lot of work. For the cost involved with getting the free wood shipped (roughly $100.00 bucks), the cost of glues (roughly $30.00), and the cost of covering (probably $50.00 to $100.00), ... add to that the cost of landing gear, prop and a few other odds and ends, a guy could almost have a brand new airframe. For the 100cc'ers and up, I think it would all depend on just how extensive the damage is. It cost me right at a hundred for shipping for the wood for my big 40% Yak when I rebuilt her. Also the same when I reordered the same wood again the second time. Cost of covering was nearly 160 dollars. Glues were somewhere around 30 or so. Really not too bad considering the cost of the airframe was right at $2200.00 before shipping. The damage to my Yak was not near as extensive as what yours is David. Everything from the midship/turtledeck former, (on the 40% it is "F8") on back was still in perfect condition. As was pretty much all the rest of the fuse. What got damaged the most was the "laminated" fuse sides that support all the other interlocking components. As that is where the gear are glued then bolted in place. All the subsequent components that make up the rest of the "forward" fuselage are all interlocked together and it is next to impossible to replace the damaged fuse side components without removing or separating everything that ties into it. Top fuse former, wing pocket formers along with other formers need to be removed before you can even get to the damaged area. The cannister tunnel also is a major support structure. Especially on the Yaks. The quickest, easiest and least hindering way to get the wood fuse components separated is to use you heat gun to soften the glue. Then a hobby knife to use as a wedge to separate the parts. Once all the damaged wood structure is removed, then re-fitting the new parts into place becomes very easy. Just me, but I won't be rebuilding anything smaller than 100cc and up. Bonus to a larger plane rebuild is they are bigger so they are easier to work on.
By no means would I ever deter anyone from doing a Pilot RC rebuild. I would love to see you rebuild this bird. It is so satisfying when they are done and back to flight ready status. There is a certain degree of accomplishment when you see your broken bird "fixed". I honestly feel my first Yak flew better "after" the rebuild than it did before. Weird. LOL
If I can help in any way, you know I will.
By no means would I ever deter anyone from doing a Pilot RC rebuild. I would love to see you rebuild this bird. It is so satisfying when they are done and back to flight ready status. There is a certain degree of accomplishment when you see your broken bird "fixed". I honestly feel my first Yak flew better "after" the rebuild than it did before. Weird. LOL
If I can help in any way, you know I will.
