By Mark Miller

This was the repair I did to Brendan’s green zebra Pike Superior. We had the old white fuselage which was decent in the front but the fin was pretty sad. So, I cut the old part off and grafted on the fin front the green Superior. You can use this method of repair on a fuselage that has been broken in two also.

Donor Fin Meets Fuselage

Using Old Fuselage As a Form. Plastic Sheet As a Barrier

Carbon Doubler Laid Up

Nylon Taffeta As a Breather/Barrier

Layer of Paper Towel

Electrical Tape Adds Pressure to Squeeze Out Excess Epoxy

Doubler Comes Off Form

Cut Doubler So It Fits Inside Of Fuselage

Check Fit In Fin

Epoxy Doubler In Front Section

Now install pushrods and make sure things fit and work properly before joining permanently.

After making sure things work well, coat parts with epoxy and slide pieces together.

Tape an aluminum angle iron to the front of the fuselage. This will align both sections in both a vertical and horizontal axis.

Then check stab alignment with wing and twist rear section to adjust.

Once things are aligned tape rear section to hold it in place to cure.

Paint with your choice of paint. Sit back and admire your finished product.

The finishing touch is the new Samba sticker. Finished weight without radio gear but with pushrods, canopy and stabs is 15.7 ounces. I’d say pretty close to a new piece.