When Good Kits Go Bad
Let’s face it – stuff happens. Your RC plane does a nose-dive into the dirt. Your kid knocks your prized 1:350 destroyer off the shelf. That fancy resin kit arrives with warped parts. Or maybe you just hit that point in a build where you realize you’re in over your head.
That’s where our repair bench comes in. We’ve seen it all, fixed most of it, and aren’t afraid to tackle the rest.
What We Can Fix:
Crash Recovery & Structural Repairs
From minor dings to “it’s in 37 pieces” disasters, we’ve brought plenty of smashed models back to life. We don’t just glue it back together and call it done – we rebuild it right, reinforcing weak points and making sure alignment is spot-on. RC planes, helis, cars, boats – if it crashed, we can probably fix it.
Electronics Troubleshooting
Got a servo that’s jittering? ESC that’s smoking? Lights that flicker when they shouldn’t? Our electronics bench has the tools and know-how to diagnose what’s actually wrong instead of just throwing parts at the problem. We do clean rewiring jobs too – no more rat’s nest of wires that’ll just fail again next month.
Performance Tuning
If your RC model isn’t performing like it should, we can help. We’ll check timing, balance props and rotors, optimize your control linkages, test motor efficiency, and dial in your radio settings. You’ll get a model that actually flies/drives/sails the way it was meant to.
Detail Restoration
Missing canopies, broken gun barrels, snapped-off landing gear – all the fiddly bits that make a scale model special. We have the steady hands and proper tools to fabricate replacements that look right. For collectible models, we’re sticklers about matching original finishes and materials.
Complete Rebuilds
Sometimes a model is just a goner… or is it? Our “back from the dead” rebuilds have saved models that most would toss in the bin. We’ll be honest if it’s not worth the effort, but you’d be amazed what can be salvaged with the right techniques.
Our Approach:
No BS Assessment – We’ll tell you straight what can be fixed, what’s going to be a compromise, and what’s just not worth it. Sometimes the honest answer is “buy another kit.”
Clear Pricing – After checking out your model, we’ll give you a repair estimate with no hidden surprises. Complex jobs might have a diagnostic fee that gets applied to the repair if you proceed.
Proper Materials – We don’t use cheap superglue and hope for the best. We match the right adhesives, fillers, and materials to each job, using model-specific products that are made to last.
Testing Included – For working models, we actually test the repairs before returning your model. No “hope it works when you get home” here – if it leaves our bench, it’s been checked.
Real Warranties – Our structural repairs come with a 90-day warranty. If something we fixed breaks again in the same spot under normal use, we’ll redo it free.
When To Bring It In:
- After any significant crash or drop
- When you’ve tried fixing it yourself and made it worse (don’t worry, we don’t judge)
- When parts are missing or broken on a valuable model
- If your RC model isn’t performing right and you can’t figure out why
- When you need something fixed “the right way” instead of a quick hack
How We Work:
- Consultation – Show us what you need, whether it’s a broken original, sketch on a napkin, or just a description. We’ll tell you straight if it’s doable or not.
- Design Phase – We’ll draft up the part in CAD, checking critical dimensions and fit. For complex parts, we might send you screenshots to confirm we’re on the right track.
- Test Print – For tricky parts or precise fits, we often do a quick test print to check fit and function before the final version. This saves headaches later.
- Production – We’ll print the final version in the right material, with appropriate settings for the part’s purpose. Some parts need multiple prints to get different properties in different sections.
- Finishing – Basic clean-up is included, but we can also do full prepping for paint if you need it. For transparent parts, we do polishing to get that crystal-clear canopy look.
Real Talk About Limitations:
We’re good, but physics still applies:
- Resin prints can be brittle under certain loads – not ideal for all structural parts
- Very thin walls (under 0.3mm) are tough to print consistently
- Transparent prints need a lot of post-processing to get truly clear
- Some complex shapes need to be printed in multiple parts
- There’s a practical size limit (about 200mm in any dimension)
If something won’t work, we’ll tell you upfront and suggest alternatives. No point wasting your money on parts that won’t perform.