Hinges,...a stupid question.

[rc capo]

I am scratchbuilding a PT 19 with a WS of 30"

I have been flying and building traditional RC airplanes for 10 years and need a basic question for these smaller, lighter planes.

I was thinking of sewing the rudder, elevator, & aileron to the plane. But after a couple of practice tries I didn't like the result.

What do you guys use? I am use to using the Sig hinges made of fabric.

thanks

blue

[jimwalker]

I bought some thin C/A hinges at the local hobby shop for my latest project. The width was wayyyyy over kill for sub 6 ounce planes, so I cut them into fourths. They didn't register on my gram scale, but were plenty strong.

Happy flying!

[mike nill]

i think the best and easyest way is to just use some scotch tape.it works really good and its light.just put a couple of pices on the top of the stab and the side of the vertical stab.or to make it stronger just put the tape on both sides.

[rc capo]

I failed to mentioned that I am building this with balsa and tissue. I don't think the tape will stick. Unless there is a new technique that I am missing.

Thanks

Blue

[mike nill]

Ive used the tape on tissue befor and it seems to hold very well but i think the plastic hinges might look a lot better.just make sure to make them not to wide theres not a whole lot of stress so they dont need to be all that big.heres a tip i use when useing sig hingesi i cut the hinges to the width i want, then i rub a crayon across the center of the hing top and bottom then glue them in.The wax keeps the glue from wiking in to the center of the hing were it needs to flex so that way the hinges are nice and flexible and you dont end up with a stab the wont move.

[rc capo]

I like the crayon hint. I have used petroleum jelly to do that...the crayon it much easier.

Thanks

blue

[bipeflyer]

Try using the overhead projector 3M transparency material.I have used it to very good effect on my small 28"span own design Tiger Moth model,works really well,is thin,light and easy.Cut a slit into the areas you wish to place it,just as the regular size models have,run thin cyano-carefully,just a drop,done!Never splits in normal use,not like acetate will. Try it!
Matt.
Pix of my Tiger Moth: http://www.geocities.com/grumman_uk/web-28.html
:)

[ 04-27-2001: Message edited by: bipeflyer ]

[jberg]

Hi,

I have made the hinges of my Micro-Bipe from bowden cable inner tubes, which are of 2 by 1mm diameter and of glueable plastic (PVC I think) and 1mm carbon rod. I take a length which fits the moveable fin and cut it into pieces of 25-30mm length. The first and last piece are half this length. Then I glue the pieces to the edges of my surface, always one at the fixed part, the next at the moving part, and so on. I do this while the carbon rod is put in. Otherwise the pieces will not line up. Be aware of getting CA into the tubes! If the glue is dry you will have a strong, light hinge which you cat put apart by pulling out the carbon rod.

Maybe this is a bit on the strong side for very small planes but it fits nicely to surfaces down to 1,5mm / 1/16" thickness.

See my Micro-Bipe at my homepage (http://jbergmeyer.bei.t-online.de/microbipe.html).

Regards, Jochen

[Beau]

I cover my microfliers with Litespan and make hinges also from Litespan. You cut small strips and run them from the top of one surface to the bottom of the connecting surface - then the opposite, using several such sets to attach the surface.

I tried 'sewing' also - and it works, but I found it tedious and the Litespan strips seem to hold up just fine.

Beau

[pease1]

I've had good luck with tape hinges for solid control surfaces (like those out of 1/16" balsa sheet).

For control surfaces with more substantial structure I use very thin slices of Sig Easy Hinges. Works great.

I used the sig hinges on my spot model and tape on my Guided Mite. Both planes fly fine and have had no trouble with the control surfaces. Pics of both including close ups of the control surfaces on my RC pages.

Al's Electric R/C Flying Pages (http://pease1.sr.unh.edu/aew/rc/)

[groundloop]

Fr my Dumas 30" SR-10, I also used the Sig hinges. I think I cut each hinge into 6 pieces. They work just fine at that small size, light too.