Tips & tricks

Model Airplane News, Oct 2003 by Ethier, Paul C, Tescari, Mark, Gembrowski, Steve, Hankins, Bill

REACHING OUT

Need a simple, cheap tool to install a nut in a hard-to-reach place? Take a length of 2-56 rod that's threaded on one end, and attach a plastic or nylon clevis. Now remove the part of the clevis without the pin, and you'll have a small "finger" that will hold a nut or blind nut. You can bend the rod to almost any shape to get the nut where needed. Paul C. Ethier, Chicopee, MA

MORE THAN ONE USE

Many modelers use a lead-acid battery to energize the power panel mounted in their flight box. A lead-acid battery has many disadvantages associated with it, not the least of which is its corrosive nature. Why not get double duty from your cordless drill battery instead? Simply make a patch cord to attach to the battery's terminals, or use the alligator clips from the power panel. The drill battery has enough juice for a full day of flying, and you'll no longer have to worry about acid spills if it tips over.

Mark Tescari, Muskegon, MI

HIDE THE ANTENNA

Tired of having the last few inches of your receiver antenna whipping around when you fly your model? Here's a simple technique to hide the end of it. Drill a hole in the vertical fin's leading edge, and glue in a short length of inner Nyrod. Slide a piece of heat-shrink tubing over the antenna, and insert the antenna into the fin. Put some tension on the antenna, and apply heat to the heat-shrink tubing-a clean, neat installation.

Steve Gembrowski, Pinconning, MI

HANDY CARVER

Do you have to carve some balsa, but you've lost or misplaced your razor plane, and the hobby shop is closed? Here's an alternative that's as near as the gadget drawer in your kitchen-a vegetable peeler! This handy tool works great to carve leading edges, turtle decks and other areas where you need to remove balsa quickly and easily. Don't let your wife in on the secret, or you'll be peeling potatoes!

Bill Hankins, Sacramento, CA