TIPS & TRICKS

Model Airplane News, Jun 2004 by Mitch, William, Miller, Reg, Orndorf, Don, Mulholland, Fred

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all wrapped up

Prepainted foam ARF park flyers are very popular these days because they are quick and easy to build. A lot of them have molded fuselage halves that must be firmly held together while the glue dries, and most modelers use tape for that. Unfortunately, though, when you remove the tape you may also remove some of the paint. Here's a simple solution.

Head over to your local fabric shop and purchase elastic strips and Velcro. Cut the elastic to various lengths, and sew or staple a square of Velcro on each end; the straps are now ready for use. The next time you glue a fuselage together, tightly wrap several of these elastic straps around it. If needed, place a piece of wax paper over the seam where the strap rests so it won't be glued to the fuselage. Voila! No more pulled-off paint!

William Mitch, Hebron, IN

smooth operator

Razor saws are handy for cutting various materials, but their teeth sometimes "snag" the material, especially during long cuts on hardwood. Here's an old woodworkers' trick that works equally well for modeling. Rub a slightly damp bar of soap on both sides of the saw blade. The soap acts as a lubricant and helps the razor saw cut smoothly without catching its teeth on the cut edges.

Reg Miller, Durand, MI

measuring up

Do you ever find it difficult to take inside measurements from confined areas such as the inside of a fuselage or between wing ribs? You can make a simple measuring gauge using two pieces of telescoping brass tube. Cut suitable lengths of V4-inch-o.d. and %2-inch-o.d. tubes, and insert the smaller tube inside the larger one and then collapse the mechanism. Place the gauge in the area to be measured, and pull the tubes apart until they touch both sides, mark and withdraw the gauge and measure its length, and you'll have the inside measurement you need.

Don Orndorf, Millersburg, PA

open and say ahhh

All RC models have devises that attach the pushrods to the control surfaces. Some clevises, especially metal ones, are difficult to spread apart; many a fingernail has been broken trying to do so. This easy-to-make tool falls in the "Why didn't I think of that?" category. On a piece of 3/16inch-diameter brass tube that's 2 � inches long, flatten one end to form a smooth taper. To make a handle, drill a 3/16-inch-diameter hole � inch deep into a piece of wood, then glue the round end of the tube into the hole in the wood. To ensure a more secure hold, insert a pin through the tube and the wood handle. Slide the tapered end of the tool through the clevis near the pin-presto! The clevis will open effortlessly.

Fred Mulholland, Tampa, FL

William Mitch, Hebron, IN

Reg Miller, Durand, MI

Don Orndorf, Millersburg, PA

Fred Mulholland, Tampa, FL