That would be possible. But remember there’s an inner layer of nylon that is also drilled. One the repair is made I would need to perfectly match the alignment of the final seven holes to be sure to catch the original locations. Not impossible. I think I’ll feel better with a fresh start. I have the knowledge now to do it with some quality. Hopefully my future flying self will appreciate thet!
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The cost of the replacement and the peace of mind will be worth it.
You’ve also learned some really good experience, which is all training is. It’s cost someone something somewhere, so worth writing down to teach the correct method and caution such as not to cost in the future.
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i think you do well starting over. it is after all a construction you intend to trust your life with. and those of others as well, as I dont think having a fiberglass egg containing one very grumpy individual and a little engine plummet through ones’ car roof at terminal velocity is very healthy.
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I almost couldn’t read to the end of the post… That must suck bigtime!
But, when the result was what it was, starting over with new gear is the only solution. Because…
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I don’t say this often enough, Eric:
You are pretty great at what you do. Most people on earth (including me) would not even start what you occasionally fail but mostly succeed at.
And when something fails you take a step back and try again, and do it better.
In that above case I also would definitely say that your decision to start over with that part was correct. Every flight is a calculated risk, sure, but there is no need to make the risk larger than it has to be. A repaired part would make me hesitate to ever climb into the finished heli, it just isn’t as good as new.
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I was supposed to install a rain barrel last week.
The available space is small, the attachment brackets for the drain pipe are rusted and stuck, the wall they go into is hard concrete. At the height where the filler should go and the drain needs to be sawed open, there’s some gas tubes for the heat pump a few mm next to it. I only have basic tools and, when it comes to these kinds of things, tiny balls.
I gave up after the planning phase and decided to hire a professional.
I deeply admire everyone here who does things with hardware that require care and attention.
I make mistakes all day, in my chosen profession, and the fix is always only one command away: git revert
Even on things that aren’t normally code. I’ve literally made it my specialty to version control everything around IT. Because I hate it when making a mistake is costly and irreversible.
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when I make a mistake, the other guys point it out, grin and say “revert, you git!”
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Yeah, that’s why it’s named like that. Linus Torvalds always says he created two big open source projects, both named after himself.
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@Freak, it’s never a bad call to bring in the pros. But should you ever be hard-headed enough to break things (that hopefully are not intended to fly), may I make another pitch for “JB Weld”? It’s the git revert of idiot home and car repair. I was reading your narrative and imagined immediately where I’d start busting, cursing and bonding.
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maybe we should start an ‘Epic Fail’ thread?
Most of mine involve either women or electricity… so on both counts I am very lucky to be alive?
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Ah, totally missed that it was all the same part. Yeah, welding and nylon are usually not a good mix.
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If you can still chase women after your brush with electricity, you’re very lucky indeed! 
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