Originally Posted by garymcc

Yes, shipping is high. I just got an order from Goodwinds.com and cannot use the .188 tube. Now I am wondering if my SkyS v2 spar is thicker than the spars that are failing and does not need reinforcing. I used a wooden dowel in another glider for spar repair and reinforcement and it worked. I may try that approach again as it is cheap and I can get a dowel locally.
Maybe you can go to a sporting goods store and get a CF arrow shaft for a spar replacement. I think someone mentioned using this approach.

The scratchbuilt guys use dowels all the time because they are trying to keep costs down but they still want strong. Look for birch (not poplar) dowels at your local Woodcraft store. Birch dowels are much stronger that poplar dowels like you buy at Lowes or Home Depot.

Originally Posted by garymcc

Yes, shipping is high. I just got an order from Goodwinds.com and cannot use the .188 tube. Now I am wondering if my SkyS v2 spar is thicker than the spars that are failing and does not need reinforcing. I used a wooden dowel in another glider for spar repair and reinforcement and it worked. I may try that approach again as it is cheap and I can get a dowel locally.
Maybe you can go to a sporting goods store and get a CF arrow shaft for a spar replacement. I think someone mentioned using this approach.

I'll check that out. I've installed a 1/4" dowel for now.

I'm finishing up my ARF version 1 SkyS and was concerned about removing the spar covers in case of a servo failure. This is the method I came up with. If I had a servo wire crimper and ends, I would have done it an easier way, but this seemed to work out fine. I used a 12" servo extension connected to a SG90 servo. If I would have had the crimpers and ends, I would have shortened the servo wires and just connected the 12" extension. However I had to flake down the additional wire in the connector pocket, but it worked out fine. I cut the spar cover at the connector pocket. Routed the extension out thru a plastic grommet to the length to fit into my connectors embedded into the fuse and glued the inboard cover in place. The outboard (short side) of the cover was put in place and taped with Extreme Tape. If I have a servo failure, just untape the short end and the connector is accessible.

Ron

good Job there...
great looking and tidy too

Originally Posted by Prof100

The scratchbuilt guys use dowels all the time because they are trying to keep costs down but they still want strong. Look for birch (not poplar) dowels at your local Woodcraft store. Birch dowels are much stronger that poplar dowels like you buy at Lowes or Home Depot.

I had a 1/4" oak dowel from Home Depot for my wing spar for a while. I did quite a lot of aerobatic maneuvers and it did not break, but it wasn't very stiff. It flexed a lot. When I took it out to replace it with a CF tube, it was warped. So, I'd say it will work, but it's not the best option for performance.

I ended up getting 2 CF tubes from Goodwinds also. I put the smaller tube inside larger, without fitting problems. They had the best price with shipping included. Here are the 2 tubes I got (Goodwinds CF tube link):

1. Carbon: Pultruded Carbon Tubes: 020971 Pultruded Carbon Tubing: Description O.D.": .2810";Length:
   32.5";I.D.": 0.186";O.D.mm: 7.10mm;Wt./gm: 29.9 gm $5.49
2. Carbon: Pultruded Carbon Tubes: 020000 Pultruded Carbon Tubing: Description O.D.": .1800";Length:
   32.5";I.D.": 0.112";O.D.mm: 4.57mm;Wt./gm: 13.0 gm $3.79

Shipping $9.95
Total $19.23

I did have to slightly enlarge the wing spar holes using the sand paper method from thread page 1, but it was totally worth it. I've got a really tough spar now. I only wished it was cheaper.

-Mike

Originally Posted by Ron RC

I'm finishing up my ARF version 1 SkyS and was concerned about removing the spar covers in case of a servo failure. This is the method I came up with. If I had a servo wire crimper and ends, I would have done it an easier way, but this seemed to work out fine. I used a 12" servo extension connected to a SG90 servo. If I would have had the crimpers and ends, I would have shortened the servo wires and just connected the 12" extension. However I had to flake down the additional wire in the connector pocket, but it worked out fine. I cut the spar cover at the connector pocket. Routed the extension out thru a plastic grommet to the length to fit into my connectors embedded into the fuse and glued the inboard cover in place. The outboard (short side) of the cover was put in place and taped with Extreme Tape. If I have a servo failure, just untape the short end and the connector is accessable.

Ron

Ron,

That's a tidy modification that does the job. (I hear an echo in here). Anyway, I like it.

Bill

Originally Posted by Prof100

Ron,

That's a tidy modification that does the job. (I hear an echo in here). Anyway, I like it.

Bill

Bill, I'm flattered, seeing if came from you. I have been following your mods and have incorporated most (if not all) on my last ARF SkyS along with a few of my own. Thanks

Ron

Originally Posted by Ron RC

Bill, I'm flattered, seeing if came from you. I have been following your mods and have incorporated most (if not all) on my last ARF SkyS along with a few of my own. Thanks

Ron

Ron,

I am humbled. Why don't you post some completed pictures and build photos in one post?

That's a good enough mod for AJ to post in the front for others to link to see how to neatly package the servo leads but make them easily accessible for service.

Bill

Originally Posted by Prof100

The scratchbuilt guys use dowels all the time because they are trying to keep costs down but they still want strong. Look for birch (not poplar) dowels at your local Woodcraft store. Birch dowels are much stronger that poplar dowels like you buy at Lowes or Home Depot.

Do you know if it is feasable to insert a wooden dowel inside a CF tube as a long term solution? I do not know the implications of binding those two dissimilar materials on a critical load bearing structure. I did it short term and it worked but only for a few flights before I was forced to retire the plane.
I am wondering if I need to reinforce my spar as the I.D. is about 4mm or so and not .188 (4.7mm). I am thinking a 5/32" dowel insert and Gorilla Glue and be done with it.

Originally Posted by garymcc

Do you know if it is feasable to insert a wooden dowel inside a CF tube as a long term solution? I do not know the implications of binding those two dissimilar materials on a critical load bearing structure. I did it short term and it worked but only for a few flights before I was forced to retire the plane.
I am wondering if I need to reinforce my spar as the I.D. is about 4mm or so and not .188 (4.7mm). I am thinking a 5/32" dowel insert and Gorilla Glue and be done with it.

A birch dowel is what you want in a size that snugly fits inside the stock tube you have if you cannot find CF in a size that fits. You don't want poplar dowels.

You said you did it but were forced to retire the plane. Do you mean it failed in the joint between a birch dowel and CF or what?

I am lucky enough to have KITE store that makes high end kites in my area. I would take the piece you have in your plane and go to the KITE shop (which sells me all my CF) and try to find a size that would fit in tightly, buy it an go home and glue it in with Gorilla Glue. 4 mm may fit. I don't know how big the ID really is unless you measured it with gage pin. If you can't find CF that fits then find metric birch dowels.

You said you did it but were forced to retire the plane. Do you mean it failed in the joint between a birch dowel and CF or what?

The plane was retired for other reasons. It never flew properly after a major crash. It did fly with the dowel/CF joint perhaps a half dozen times with no observable spar deficiency.
Thanks for the input. I have no local source for CF.

Originally Posted by garymcc

The plane was retired for other reasons. It never flew properly after a major crash. It did fly with the dowel/CF joint perhaps a half dozen times with no observable spar deficiency.
Thanks for the input. I have no local source for CF.

Do you have a local source for birch dowels? If so, see if you can find one that fits and use it.

Here is my first video for you all.
I hope you like it.

Why Sky Surfer Attacks.wmv (3 min 57 sec)

Originally Posted by Commander Crash

Here is my first video for you all.
I hope you like it.

Commander Crash,

You were having just too much fun chasing the kids and flying your Skysurfer. I usually only watch a minute or two of a video. Yours I watched the whole thing. Thanks for sharing.

Watch is your setup?

Bill

I am using an 808 keychain on a hat to capture the view.
I prefer the #3.

No one was hurt in the making of this video(not yet )
The plane was up and flying after spare replacement.

SkySurfer Attacks.wmv (0 min 42 sec)