fyrfytr310
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2006
- Messages
- 1,115
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OH NO!!!
Upon removal of the fin can, it became apparent that I didn't press down on the fin hard enough, or something, leaving a significant gap between the root and MMT on one fin.
Could I just fill it in with epoxy and no one would be the wiser? Yes. But why would I set aside prudent construction technique and risk the flight and everyone's safety. Sigh. I marked the fin position on the CRs and set off to cut the fin free. Fortunately there was enough gap that a Dremel cutoff wheel snuck in quite easily.
The remnant JB on the MMT was easily removed with a sharp knife and a Dremel grinding wheel cleaned up the fin nicely.
Round 2:
I mixed up a new batch of JB and reset the fin. Gap again! Upon closer inspection, I found a small obstruction on the forward side of the aft CR. Dremel to the rescue again and we are once again drying.
If I had not set out in the course of making the whole fin can removable for construction, I would have never seen this flaw and we could have had a seriously failed flight...
Upon removal of the fin can, it became apparent that I didn't press down on the fin hard enough, or something, leaving a significant gap between the root and MMT on one fin.
Could I just fill it in with epoxy and no one would be the wiser? Yes. But why would I set aside prudent construction technique and risk the flight and everyone's safety. Sigh. I marked the fin position on the CRs and set off to cut the fin free. Fortunately there was enough gap that a Dremel cutoff wheel snuck in quite easily.
The remnant JB on the MMT was easily removed with a sharp knife and a Dremel grinding wheel cleaned up the fin nicely.
Round 2:
I mixed up a new batch of JB and reset the fin. Gap again! Upon closer inspection, I found a small obstruction on the forward side of the aft CR. Dremel to the rescue again and we are once again drying.
If I had not set out in the course of making the whole fin can removable for construction, I would have never seen this flaw and we could have had a seriously failed flight...