Hints & kinks

Model Airplane News, Jun 2000 by Newman, Jim

AVOID HANGAR RASH

To prevent hangar rash during final assembly, cover your workbench with an old towel or rug. Not only does this help you avoid making nasty dents as you move your model around, but it also catches the screws you drop.

Glenn Bolick, Mechanicsville, VA

POXY POKER

Cut a business card into strips, then use them to poke epoxy into the hinge slots. The light card gives an excellent "feel" of how well the slot is coated with glue. To keep glue out of the rotating hinge, coat it with petroleum jelly, then warm it with a hair dryer to melt the grease into it. Secure the hinges with toothpicks after you have glued them in.

Marvin McKelvy, Centralia, MO

PROPER PLUGGING

If you accidentally cross-connect your speed controllers so that the battery is connected directly to the motor, the motor can start suddenly at full power. To avoid this, make sure your controller plugs don't match those of your battery.

Angelo Mantas, Skokie, IL

DELTA DILEMMA

Delta wings and other sharply swept wings can present a problem when you attempt to glue on the leadingand trailing-edge sheeting. A strip of bubble wrap taped to the leading edge will prevent the rubber bands from "sliding" along the wing's swept angle. Short sticks provide an anchor for the rubber bands that hold the trailing edge in place while the glue sets.

Robert Kenton, Reno, NV

HOT TIP

To remove wheel-collar setscrews that have been secured with thread-lock, hold a hot soldering iron against the collar as you twist the Allen wrench. The heat softens the thread-lock so you can free the setscrew.

Bill Griffith, Bakersfield, CA

PATCH ME THROUGH

If your covering is punctured, use 2-inch-wide (50mm) packing tape for temporary field repairs. Apply some strips to pieces of wax paper-if you wish, precut a few patches with a sharp modeling blade-then place them in the bottom of your flight box just in case.

Roy McGuckin, San Diego, CA

THE CA BLUES

Like many modelers, Dennis cannot tolerate CA fumes, so he developed a different technique to attach carbon fiber to wing spars. He paints the spar with Balsarite, applies the carbon-fiber strip, then activates the adhesive with a hot iron. When the carbon is firmly bonded, he brushes on a coat or two of epoxy. Best of all, his only cleanup is to toss away the disposable brush.

Dennis McFarlane, Highland, IN

SKI STABILITY

Keep your skis pointing down the runway by gluing a piece of 1A-inch-square (3mm) spruce to the ski bottom. This keeps your model on its heading instead of allowing it to skid sideways with its nose pointing into the crosswind.

Bob Robert, Durrington, Wiltshire, England

SAW AUTOPILOT

This smart device keeps vour model saw square and upright while you cut thick sheet wood. Use a table saw to cut the l,-inch-thick (l3mm) wood block (a). Glue a guide strip (b) to the bottom, and glue a strip magnet to one edge (c). The magnet holds the saw upright yet allows it to be slid back and forth (d).

Ed Braddy, Evergreen Park, IL

NON-ELECTRIC FLASHER

Because gliders fly far and high, they're sometimes difficult to see. Apply "chrome" Mylar tape to the wing and fuselage. As the craft turns, the tape will flash brightly in the sun, and you'll be able keep track of it.

Mark Brock, Newton, KS