Wayne's Yak re-build.

10 years from now we will probably have a fuel meter on our transmitters but for now we just need to remember to fuel up by relying on our distracted brains. Poor Wayne was ever so excited to get in his first flight on our second day at a giant scale fly in. He put plenty of smoke oil in but whoops that’s all folks. Of course you only run out of fuel when you are in a hover 3 feet off the ground.

As I stood next to Wayne watching him fly as his spotter the last words I heard him say were “Oh Sh%t” and then thud. It just sat there so peacefully waiting for us to gently roll it over and shed a tear as we carried the many large and small pieces back to the pits.

Sooooo we re-build………..

The plane fell over on its back and landed upside down motor first so the engine box snapped in half as well as the rudder. The wings got a couple surface cracks on the tips.

Rule #1 save all the parts to examine later, thankfully we did. When I was not so excited and distracted I was able to focus while it was spread out over the bench and I could make a plane. I would piece together the engine box and trace for new parts.

I ran a re-enforcement 1/8” ply down the inside of the fuse to help sandwich and secure the new box. Since I was able to trace the old parts, lining up the new firewall was easier to get the right angle and down thrust. For the firewall I laminated two 3/16” ply together for extra strength. The firewall is glued in with 30 minute epoxy and clamped for 24 hours to dry.

The only new parts needed other than wood is a cowl and the spinner. The engine will be shipped off to DA to be inspect and repaired as necessary. Oh and a prop.

Tomorrow I install the re-enforcements and start on the bottom of the fuse where a couple stringer snapped.

Broken bottom stringers.

The parts:(

Just not enough!

These tanks are made for 3D flying. The clunk may seem short but for 3D its not. The clunk needs to be able to move all the way around and back quickly.

Laminating the firewall.

Glued with CA to trace the sides.

Firewall glued and clamped in place for 24 hours.