[flyXwire]

Wow, thanks for all that guys! So here's what I decided after reading everyone's feedback - I went ahead to try and fix it myself!
It wasn't too difficult as I imagined it would be and I'll take pics later to show the results. Basically, the tools I used were a couple
of precision 'angled tip' pair of pliers to bend wires and a super glue + accelerator fluid found in my engineering lab. I'm just waiting for the expoxy
glue to cure after fixing the rudder in place. I figured the expoxy glue forms a stronger bond better than super glue since the solid piece
of metal of the rudder weighs pretty heavy. I can live with the rudder in it's fixed position, no biggie. I'm a very happy camper now!

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

Wow, thanks for all that guys! So here's what I decided after reading everyone's feedback - I went ahead to try and fix it myself!
It wasn't too difficult as I imagined it would be and I'll take pics later to show the results. Basically, the tools I used were a couple
of precision 'angled tip' pair of pliers to bend wires and a super glue + accelerator fluid found in my engineering lab. I'm just waiting for the expoxy
glue to cure after fixing the rudder in place. I figured the expoxy glue forms a stronger bond better than super glue since the solid piece
of metal of the rudder weighs pretty heavy. I can live with the rudder in it's fixed position, no biggie. I'm a very happy camper now!

Good for you flyXwire.
Can't wait to see your work.
JP

[TopHat]

Show us the pics!

[hworth18]

Glad to hear you fixed the problem FlyX.. I sometimes get planes with something broke off and I try to fix it myself before expending more time/money to send it back.. Unless its something that just can't be fixed, but luckily, I haven't had that happen yet..

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by TopHat

Show us the pics!

Here it is...."Good as NEW!!!"

Sorry for my semi-blurry pics but you can kind-off make out the details in the close-up shot. You guys must be wondering what
the little hammer was for? Well, when the wire antennas broke lose it basically sheared off the metal loop (ring?) that the wires
were attached to. So what I did was to tap it with the hammer ever so lightly to close the gap, and I then 'soldered' the joints (it's
not evident on the pic but it's there) and viola --- a clean looking loop but it just needs some minor touch up paint. The rudder didn't
essentially require alot of exopy glueing as the plastic tabs (this held the 'pivoting pin' which sadly broke off and fell) had enough
"friction" to hold the heavy metal rudder in place and very 'snug'.

By the way, I now know why those wires broke off during shipment! Initially, when I opened up to remove the two top foam halves,
GMP had placed a 'napkin tarp' to supposedly protect the diecast from scratches, etc. But this only served to 'push down' on the
wire antennas. The foam packaging was designed with cutout spaces for the antenna wires to move around freely, but with the cloth tarp
in there prevented that and pretty much defeated the purpose of the cutouts. A note to GMP folks: Please don't place a tarp over the
diecast? I don't think it really helps to protect the diecast anyway.

That's my theory anyway.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Fly....If you don't want to keep it......You know where i live
Just kidding...You did a great job.
Gotta feel a little proud of yourself now.
JP

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

Fly....If you don't want to keep it......You know where i live
Just kidding...You did a great job.
Gotta feel a little proud of yourself now.
JP

Thanks JP. I feel more relieved by not $#@!__it up more than anything else.