Hints & kinks

Model Airplane News, Feb 2001 by Newman, Jim

SEND IN YOUR IDEAS. Model Airplane News will give a free, one-year subscription (or one-year renewal, If you aeady subscribe) for each idea used in "Hints & links." Send a rough sketch to Jim Newman, c/o Model Airplane News, 100 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877-4606 USA. BE SURE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ARE CLEARLY PRINTED ON EACH SKETCH, PHOTO AND NOTE YOU SUBMIT. Because of the number of ideas we receive, we can't acknowledge each one, nor can we return unused material.

OBNOXIOUS COVERING That is how our contributor describes covering film that unwinds off the cardboard tube like a clock spring! To keep the material under control, he unwinds it completely, then tapes the end of the film to the tube. He tightly rewinds it, then secures the ends with a pair of clothespins, leaving enough loose film with which to work.

Warren Gillette, Elkridge, MD

HOLE IN ONE Drill several holes at a convenient spacing around your bench so you can mount a swivel reading lamp where it will be most convenient. Richard Bond, Valencia, Spain

BREATHING EASY Drill 3/32-inch-diameter (2.5mm) holes through the ribs and spar webs along the length of the wing, then pierce a small hole in the covering at the tip or in the center section. The wing will be able to vent expanded air on a hot day or when the plane is descending rapidly from a great height. Note: many years ago, noted modeler and altitude record-holder

Maynard Hill crushed several ribs in his model's wing when the air pressure couldn't equalize on descent.

Angelo Rossi, St Louis, MO

SHORT SHORTS It took the unaided consumption of three Toblerone chocolate bars, says Eric, to create this holder for short scraps of balsa sticks. The triangular tubes are stuffed into the cardboard tub cut from a breakfast-cereal container. Many of the short pieces can be used in conjunction with the triangle stock tool also shown in this column.

Eric Marsden, Horndean, Hampshire, England

MOTORIZED TOOL MOUNT This simple mount made from a wood block, 1/16-inch (1.5mm) aluminum strip, rubber sheet and a hose clamp secures a Dremel or similar motorized tool and allows it to be held in a vise without damage.

Jay Wallace, Ashland, OR

STRAPPED IN Not only does this builder use double-sided tape to hold his side-mounted servos in place, but he also cuts a little strap from an aluminum soft drink can, bends it to shape with pliers, then screws it to the platform over the servo. Thin foam tape between the strap and the servo will help it to stay snug.

George C. Scrimshaw, Carmel, CA

SANDING ON THE CORNER When you need corner-or triangle-stock, it's often for corner reinforcement, so use your short scraps of square stock. Saw or rout a 90-degree V-groove in a short, flat board; glue a stop at one end of the groove; then drop your scrap stick into the groove, and plane down until it stops on the board. Now you have a piece of triangle stock.

George Thompson, Napanee, Ontario, Canada

ON TARGET Another method of disguising the on/off switch is to turn the push/pull rod into a gunsight. Set it up so that you push it on and so that you won't push the switch to "off" as you release the model. A modified clothespin around the shaft prevents an accidental switch-on while you transport the model.

Jack Dundas, Ridgeville, Ontario, Canada

DEPTH CHARGE A pair of hardwood strips, cut to the appropriate width on a table saw and then clipped to the razor-saw blade, will provide you with the correct depth of cut "d" for spar or stringer slots. Just saw until the hardwood stops touch the rib or the former. Jerry McLish, Bradenton, FL

HI JIGA-JIG Use a table saw to accurately cut 3/4-inch (19mm) ply or chip board to size, then glue the parts together to create a drill jig for motor mounts. Screw the mount to the jig; make sure that it's properly aligned and that it will be securely held while you use the drill press. You'll be able to use the jig several times before discarding it.

Harold Marenburg, Orlando, FL

SOFT JAWS When you need to hold something really delicate in that big machine vise, CA together some very soft jaws from scrap balsa. A piece of sticky tape holds the jaws in place. Bill Watt, Chatham, NJ