Alfa MIG 15 stress creases

[Byam Wight]

Hi there,

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to remove the creases in the attached photo?

Byam.

[MJH]

I send mine back to the dealer.
They removed them for me without a problem :p

[Arthur]

Warm/hot hair dryer ? :rolleyes:

[mlee8249]

Hi Byam,

Yes, you can remove a majority of these creases using steam. Get a Monokote iron and turn it up to about 350 degrees. Now get a paper towel and get it wet. Not dtipping wet and not just damp, but at least to the point where it is holding water without dripping it. Fold it to make at least 4 layers. Place the paper towel over the creased area and apply the hot iron on the area that is creased. You will hear the water boil underneath and that is good. The steam will pull most of the crease out. Start with short presses without much pressure an do only enough to get the crease out. The surface may become slightly roughened around the creased area, and that just means you're holding the heat there too long. Make sure there is plenty of water in the towel, and as long as you hear steam and boiling, you should be good. If the towel doesn't steam or boil, you're going to melt the foam.

Mlee8249

[Byam Wight]

mlee8249,

Thanks mate, a great descriptive on how to do it. I'll keep you posted.

Byam.

[Gerry__]

mlee8249, you're a star!

I had the same problem with my Mig, but had a feeling steam would do the trick, as with boiling water and elapor. I had a quick google, and this thread popped up.

Anyway, it works a treat!

[ginsu1797]

Great pointers guys.

LOL I have the same creases. I had to do a double take, I thought it was my plane!

[Tram]

Ah great thread.. :) I need to give mine a shot.. :D

Jeff
www.CommonSenseRC.com

[Flying Beagle]

...been researching for my first EDF.....
I have never seen an Alfa Mig up close, so why the creases?
......do the Alfa jets have some sort of "skin" on them?
....would the airframe be a good candidate for "glassing" ?

thx
Beagle

[UBILDIT]

Would anyone else ... to answer Flying Beagle's question... classify the Alfa Mig as Delicate or slightly fragile. I still have the wing and the tail of mine, but the fuselage ... to me ... was very delicate. It has some type of skin over what appears to be about 3mm of white depron. Admittedly, it was one of my first ARF EDF's, but it seems they went to a great deal of trouble to make it light weight then as you're attaching the wings they have you put this V shaped metal bar into it for strength. Mine came in a little heavy but not over the reccommended weight and I had to put that battery all the way forward to get it to balance, but it flew very well. Fast too.
Hated the Alfa Fan unit BTW... I'd put another type of fan in one if I ever got another Mig. Just my observations...
Oh, and if you could glass it and only add an ounce to an ounce and a half of weight, I'd probably do it..

Bo

[Tram]

Beagle - I think you could probably glass one..

I am semi-thinking about glassing my Mig I just got.. Not sure if I will or not though..

Jeff

[Bigplumbs]

Dont glass one of these they are far to prety for that..... Just handle them carefuly. I have well over 150 flights on mine and she still flys lovely is a little beat up though but to me that shows use and that she has had a flying life as opposed to a hanger queen

Dennis

www.densplanes.co.uk

[mike3976]

Beagle - I think you could probably glass one..

I am semi-thinking about glassing my Mig I just got.. Not sure if I will or not though..

Jeff

Tram, the forward fuselage on the Mig is the weak link in the airframe, I'd say light F/G would add a lot of strength. If you eliminate that honk'in steel spar joiner & made one from c/f tube, you would come out equal in weight, may be a little lighter! Joe Molder did his like this, worked out pretty good ;)

[Tram]

Well man, if it's good enough for Joe Molder, it's good enough for me!

[stuart warne]

the steam and wet dowl is the best way of getting rid of those presure creases. squeezing the foam too much is usually the cause.