Rhinoplasty and the Reverse Kodak Affect

First let me define terms for those who are unfamiliar with the title.

The Kodak effect is what happens when you point a camera or video at a model, that has been flying perfectly well for a number of sessions. It promptly turns on its back and dives rapidly to terra firma.

The delayed Kodak effect is when you take a picture of a successful model and the next flight it too dives unexpectedly to terra firma.

The Reverse Kodak effect is when you fail to take a photograph of your latest creation immediately upon completion. This ensures that its first flight will be short, and spectacular and result in near terminal contact with ... you've guessed it ...... terra firma.

Rhinoplasty - plastic surgery on the nose, a nose job.

The picture opposite shows the effects of the Reverse Kodak effect on my X-fire. Having enlisted the help of my mate Andy to give it a good shove skywards, I applied full power, Andy shoved and off it went, climbing very rapidly.

A little bit of down stick to stop the climb and

a little bit of right stick to correct the slight left bank.

..........a bit more right stick to correct the severe left bank

..................... lots of right stick

.......................................left bank onto its back and dive into the ground at full chat.  

At this point the battery switched to its secondary function in life. It stopped being a source of electrical energy supplying the motor and became a source of kinetic energy. That kinetic energy then proceeded to turn the nose of the model into balsa dust and chippings, and very effective it was too.

My earlier worries about battery duration were clearly a waste of time as the entire flight lasted 5 seconds.

Further investigation after I had taken the bits back to the workshop showed that suspicions at the field were correct. I had taken off with the ailerons reversed. I will repeat that for those who cannot believe the stupidity involved......I had taken off with the ailerons reversed. I then remembered (with the clarity of hindsight) carefully checking the amount of movement but never the direction. What a plonker!

Whilst the damage was severe the breaks in the fuselage sides were quite clean, and the wing seat was still pretty much intact. The rest of the model behind the wings was unscathed. Hence to the Rhinoplasty. The picture shows the new sides, deck etc. grafted onto the rest. With careful marking and cutting of the interface between the old and new sides, and using a fuselage jig (invaluable bit of kit) to ensure everything was true I managed to built an acceptable new nose.

After final shaping and sanding you can't even see the join (That's because it's hidden under the wing !). All we need now is to graft on some new skin, re-fit the motor, kinetic energy source etc and have another go. This time I will make sure the controls are working as God intended.