Strakes are cosmetic.Not sure how I'd repair this, being as the strakes are such an integral part of the rocket... a defective Quest C12-4 that didn't fire an ejection charge caused a high speed lawndart. Suggestions as to how to replace the strakes and get it flying again?
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The strakes at that point aren't really under any significant stress, so yeah just cut them off square just below the damage and replace with small pieces of balsa. Same with the tube.
Well, built a new fin can. New one has G10 fins instead of ply. A bit heavier but way more durable, hope
With some surgical precision you can probably save that top (pic) and perhaps other strakes in-place and only cut out the damaged portions of the others and the body tube. Using a razor blade to shave the strake free of the body tube down to where you want to splice new tube in, then splicing in a new section of BT. That would allow the strakes that are still intact to continue to be part of the structure.Not sure how I'd repair this, being as the strakes are such an integral part of the rocket... a defective Quest C12-4 that didn't fire an ejection charge caused a high speed lawndart. Suggestions as to how to replace the strakes and get it flying again?
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Almost exactly this. Don't obsess over a perfect joint between the intact strakes and the replacement tips; just make it a pretty good joint and leave the side surfaces slightly beveled on both parts. Remove a bit of the paint from the intact parts of the strakes so you can carry a new paint job across the joint. DO obsess over aligning them perfectly; use splints and binder clips to keep the new piece aligned perfectly with the old.Cut off the damage at the lowest point. Get a coupler to add a new body tube section the same length you cut off. Make sure all is square. Make new strakes, again just the part you cut off. Install new tube, glue on strakes so they align. Prime and paint new section. May see just a small parting line, depending on how square you got the cut.
Very nice design! Colors are exceptional! Perhaps make the plans available, or offer the plans up for sale?
Please, post pics of the repaired jewel when repairs are completed and again after paint work.
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