[BenR]

I have a question that I was hoping not to have to ask so soon.

The blu-baby I have got some damage recently, where it got a nasty knock side on. The damage has caused 2 large cracks in the right hand side of the plane and 1 crack on the underside starting small on the good side and widening to the bad side. The result makes the plane appear kinked. The horn for the rudder control also popped off (see photos for what I mean). The depron is also cracking on both sides of the battery bay (from a mix of a hard landing pushing the undercarriage out, and fingers trying to get to the battery bay). Undercarriage has been solved at least for now with cable ties reinforcing the legs to hold together.

Looking at the inside of the plane, the cracks are just aft of the main balsa section of the plane, right near the servos for elevator and rudder. Both cracks are in front of a piece of depron reinforcing piece holding the 4 pieces together. It is possible to get to the inside of the plane where the damage is, but it is not possible to replace the damaged panels (without essentially remanufacturing 90% of the plane).

My plans for repair? Glad you asked. I am thinking of buying some thin sheeting of balsa and cutting out 2 long panels (about 30-45cm long by about 10cm or so wide) and using them as outside cladding running from the nose of the plane (just before the battery bay) as far back as they need to for covering the cracks. I will also use CA to fill the crack on the underside. (Actually thinking about this, I might CA fill all cracks, then do balsa sheeting). Once the sheeting is attached, I would then check the plane and see if that is enough, or if it needs sheets of depron over the balsa for extra stiffness. The horn for the rudder would get sanded on its base to clean it up, then attach it somehow (not sure yet, the attaching may include a need to insert some filler).

Are these plans reasonably sound, or does someone have a better sugggestion?