Hinging ARF Control Surfaces- getting them in the middle

[don szczur]

I've often had difficulty in the past when trying to get an ARF control surface centered on the wing or stab. Here are a few things I found useful.

There is a device called a hinge slotter. Its very simple. I used to try and measure with a ruler and mark a center line for all the hinges, but this is much more accurate. Just eye-ball, centering it on the control surface (even if the surface is too wide for its design it still aligns by sight). Then use a sharp knife and cut into the slot. The item is a 2M pattern plane wing with CA hinges, but the process can work for standard non-CA hinges on a giant scale plane as well, if it needs to be hinged.

[don szczur]

I just mark a few cuts, then go forward with the full slot "connecting the dots". Put a small mark where you want the hinges, do them on the control surface and install the hinges. Use a tiny drop of thick CA on the corner of the hinge, the slide in place. This will keep them from moving when you connect the flying surface for final assembly. Do the same slots using the same technique on the wing side, and then slide the wing on carefully (I shove a hinge in each slot first and make each slot about 1/16 inch wider on both sides to assure the aileron slides on without a hassle. After aileron is jointed, put several drops of thin CA to glue the hinges in place.

Often times you will notice a white residue from the CA. I like Mercury CA its strong. Use a little Mercury CA remover on a paper towel to remove the residue. Done. Looks professional and its nicely aligned.

[don szczur]

Remove the CA residue and its done.

[Wojcigitty]

Looks great! Thanks for sharing that.

A trick I learned some where was that when installing CA hinges, I draw a line down the middle of the hinge with a crayon where the hinge will flex. The wax prevents CA from hardening the part of the hinge that flexes, reducing the likelihood of it cracking later down the line. A hinge installed without doing this will work fine for a while, but I lost an airplane once due to the cracking and then learned about the crayon thing. Haven't had a hinge failure since (I've ripped the hinges out of the wood with an inverted rudder drag, but the hinges held up!)

[danielgpr]

I've been using t-pin to mark center of hinge. Also learned not to use to much or to little CA when glueing.
Dan

[Mithrandir]

what pattern plane is that?

[don szczur]

http://www.netboxhobby.com/main.sc Link shows aircraft- Passport.