Tips & tricks

Model Airplane News, May 2002

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THE ULTIMATE CHICKEN STICK

Do you have a golf club that you "retired" over your knee after a triple bogey on the 18th, or maybe one that's just taking up space in the garage? If you do, you have the makings of the ultimate chicken stick. Just saw It down to your preferred length; the club's padded grip makes a positive, no-slip surface for engaging the prop.

Bob Johnson, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

RESTORE GRIP TO YOUR GLOW IGNITER

The end of your glow-plug Igniter can wear out rather quickly and lose its grip on the plug. This makes it apt to fall off while you're trying to start your engine, and If it falls into the path of the prop, it can cause damage. Restore a tight fit by placing a dab of solder on the outside of each of the brass plug tabs. This will allow the steel sleeve to tighten the tabs against the plug and hold the Igniter more securely.

Roy Rault, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

GET A

CLEAR VIEW

CA has a tendency to get on everything if you're not careful-your model, your tools, your workbench and you. One particularly sticky problem Is cleaning it from delicate Items such as eyeglasses. A good "solution" Is to soak your glasses overnight In household ammonia. Find a screw-top jar or another sealable container to contain the fumes, fill it with ammonia, submerge the glasses, screw the top on and let them soak. In the morning, you'll be able to wipe the CA off the lenses with a paper towel. [email]

Vance Mosher

AND THEY KEEP THE FLOWERS FRESH, TOO!

The water tubes that florists push onto the bottoms of flowers to keep them fresh make great small parts containers for modelers. Their rubber stoppers tightly seal the tops to hold in screws, washers, etc. They also make great holders for hobby knives. The tubes are available In two styles--pointed and with rounded ends. The pointed ones can be dropped Into screwdriver slots on your workbench or field box for easy access. Take home a bunch of flowers to earn some points with your lady, and you'll get some useful hobby-parts containers In the bargain!

Manny Duarte, Everett, WA

IF YOUR WING IS AJAR ..

Making minute adjustments to wing dihedral can be frustrating without some sort of adjustable jig. If you don't own one, try a simple screw-top jar. Prop the wing panel so that the jar gives you nearly the angle you want, then screw the jar lid up or down to dial in the fine adjustments.

Jim McCoul, Sterling Hts., MI

SMOOTH BENDING TUBE

Fuel-tank assembly often requires that you bend a piece of brass tube at a relatively sharp angle for the vent line, and this can cause the tube to collapse. A good technique to produce smooth bends Is to insert a length of standard copper household wire (14-2NMD works with an -inch-diameter tube) into the tube, past the bend radius. Bend the tube gently, starting with the open end and progressing toward the radius. The wire is soft enough to bend with the tube but will prevent it from flattening out. When you have the angle you want, pull out the wire by hand or with a pair of pliers.

Darryl Carpenter, Goderich, Ontario, Canada

SECURING

SERVO WIRES

At one time or another, most of us have had to fish for a servo extension wire that slipped back inside the wing; but there Is a solution. Cut a 3/16-Inch hole in the bottom of the red plug from an old bottle of epoxy. Across the hole, cut a slot that's just wide enough to squeeze the connector at the end of your servo extension through. Trim the access hole in the wing to fit the plug, and you'll never have to go fishing again, This trick also works well for hold-down bolts.

Richard Rader, Bridgeport, WV

NO-SLIP SHEETING TIP

If you have trouble with wood sheets slipping out of position when you glue two together, "pin" them with toothpicks. Clamp the pieces In the position you want them, then drill two or three guide holes through them. Insert the toothpicks to maintain proper alignment while your glue dries. If you need a flat weight to press the wood down as the glue dries, simply break off the toothpick at the surface of the wood. With balsa, It's a good idea to strengthen the guide holes with a drop or two of CA before you insert the toothpicks.

Walt Calkins, Kansas City, MO