AeroScout Nose Wheel Repair II

My second attempt a repairing the nose wheel on my AeroScout.
#aeroscout #crash #repair

[@benprior9748]

Same thing happened with my Aeroscout. The front wheel design is weak to say the least. Because of the damage to the ply at the front I have removed the undercarriage all together and have the rudder servo servicing the rudder only. I'm experimenting right now with CG and hope to do belly landings or catch it.

[@mitch_s]

It seems to be the weakest part of the design. You’ll find I have 3 repair attempts in my videos. Some of the suggested repairs included 3d printed replacement of the wood and removing the wheels, then fiberglass the body and belly land. Good luck on your repairs

[@staydown.normal5323]

i used popsicle sticks and gorilla glue . also dont connect the servo to frotn wheel it saves it in a crash . no more turning with from wheel but is stronger

[@mitch_s]

One other person noted discussing the servo too

[@jimbeam7289]

i sandwiched two thin gauge aluminum sheet . then tig welded some aluminum tubing down to the lower base plate ther by connection the 3 hole piece to the lower wheel plate . the foam can support the lateral loads during a hard nodse landing . i also ran #6 machine screws through the tri pod part

[@mitch_s]

wow.... that does sound like a good solution. I haven't had time to fly at all lately so I'm sure the next time I try, I'll be testing out my repairs again :-) I created some new wings that I am itching to try out.

[@Blue68Camaro]

I have been flying since August. AeroScout is a great learning plane. I have crashed it 3 times and always able to fix with glue and tape. Started in Safe and now fly in advance mode. Flying buddy yesterday was teaching me acrobatic maneuvers. Did an inside and outside loop, rolls and then inverted flight. Forgot one thing, doing inverted flight, up is down and down is up. Crashed upside down and broke all the wood platform from the front of the plane 1/4 inch past the servos. Today I removed all the wood and made a clean cut 1/2" past servos. 3D printed all new pieces. Also printed a reinforcement plate for the nose wheel. Glued the foam back together where needed and taped. Just my 2 cents here.

[@mitch_s]

Hey Blue68Camaro! Congrats on your repair job. I would love to play with a 3D printer at some point. Not sure what I would use it for or where I would put it so I haven't gone down that road yet. That's great you have a flying buddy. I need to get more time in the air in so the controls become more instinctive. I definitely can relate to the controls not making sense depending on what direction your plane is in. Happy flying!

[@PhilHenzig]

I broke mine similarly. i repaired my plywood section by glueing it back together, it was in 4 pieces and then strengthening it using popsicle sticks and shoe goo . very strong repair. .

[@mitch_s]

Hey Phil, thanks for that. I had to look up sho goo. Never heard of it before, but it does look useful!

[@capnhardway]

Sorry you had that experience. 😢 I know how it is when you crash and can't quite get it. The secret with this plane is to feather in like any tail drager, keep the nose up and let the mains hit first, keep up elevator 0 throttle. Let the noise settle in. I will take note, I subbed, I'll keep watching!

[@clarencegreen3071]

I use White Gorilla Glue (not Clear, but White) a lot for foam repairs. It foams up and the foam itself is as strong as the original foam of the plane. Landing tip: make sure the main wheels touch down before the nose wheel. That is, slow the plane down until the nose wheel is off the ground when contact is made. A little bit of power to the point of touchdown helps to smooth it out. If you "drive it in" and the nose wheel makes contact first, it will not survive for long. Good Luck!

[@mitch_s]

Hey Clarence. Thanks for the tip about the glue….. and the landing. It I get in control enough that I can land that way, I will LOL!

[@berrymucuckiner4890]

The flashing probably help with the Areoscout forward CG problems too

[@jeffs7915]

Foam safe CA or Foam-tac by Beacon adhesives works better than Gorrila glue which foams and expands.

[@mitch_s]

Thanks for the tip. I’ll check it out

[@berrymucuckiner4890]

Would be nice if horizon engendered a sheer pin on the front gear.

[@mdw8977]

SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME!

[@mitch_s]

Watch my third repair video and look at some of the comments people have left on my three repair videos. There are some excellent suggestions on better repair techniques. Good luck in reinforcing! This definitely seems to be the weakness of this aircraft.

[@mdw8977]

@@mitch_s thanks for the info, It for sure seems to be a weakness

[@gisall8205]

I had the exact same damage to mine. Actually much worse. 100% My fault. Remember that nothing will really stick to Aluminum. Please check your Steering / rudder servo. Mine was trashed. Replaced with a Metal geared servo because it receives a lot of shock from all the jittering around from the landing. I had to tear off the front half of the wood battery platform. Reinforced all the damaged foam on the inside with an Epoxy / White Cooking Flower mixture. The Cooking Flower thickens up the Epoxy to the consistency you desire so it won't flow all over. . Please use 30 minute Epoxy. You'll be tinkering with it for a while, and once it starts to set, it sets up real fast. Repair it as strong as possible. Plastic Wood from Home Depot is the perfect foam filler. inexpensive, light, strong and sands like a dream. I put the front section of the wooden battery platform in place and just bridged it over with popsicle sticks using Epoxy. "Make sure your front wheel assembly fits snugly". My repair turned out very nice. Most people would have just trashed the airplane after the damage that I did to mind, but I was so pissed off at myself for wrecking it that I forced myself to repair it as a punishment for being so stupid. If you decide to repair it, take your time. It's a very versitile airplane. A keeper. If you haven't started your repair yet, please consider the response from Mitch S, below.

[@mitch_s]

You have some great suggestions G Isall! My third repair seems to be holding up well. Keeping the wheel support from rotating up into the body by spreading the support across the body is the trick!

[@jimbeam7289]

aluminum is much more rigid

[@staydown.normal5323]

your supposed to use water with the glue

[@mitch_s]

Yes, I usually try to get the surfaces wet before adding the glue.

[@regs3836]

How about a new fuselage? I think they’re $65.

[@mitch_s]

Excellent suggestion Reg S. I do see that you can purchase a fuselage with the servos mounted, but what fun would that be? ;-) If the body gets damaged to the point I can't fix it any more I may do just that. Another idea I had is If it gets bad enough I might just remove all the wheels an hand launch it till I'm a better flyer.

[@gisall8205]

@@mitch_s That landing gear removal / hand launcher / belly landing idea is actually a fantastic ides. Wish I would have thought of that on mine. Much lighter. One less servo also. The dam thing lands like a feather, so just a few layers of packing tape on the belly and wing tips, and you're done. Wish I would have thought of that.