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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Chuck Schultz on October 21, 2015, 07:18:20 AM

Title: Control Lines
Post by: Chuck Schultz on October 21, 2015, 07:18:20 AM: How do you get the control lines to be the exact length??? ~^
Title: Re: Control Lines
Post by: badbill on October 21, 2015, 07:30:14 AM: Quote from: Chuck Schultz on October 21, 2015, 07:18:20 AM
How do you get the control lines to be the exact length??? ~^

Order them from Tom Morris ! %^@
Title: Re: Control Lines
Post by: john e. holliday on October 21, 2015, 08:25:12 AM: Yeah that is the easiest way. Myself I bought two bulk rolls of .015 from MBS Model Supply aka Melvin Schuette. Make the ends on the roll. Roll them out and cut over size to have material to work with. Before cutting put a little stretch pull on the lines, then cut and finish the ends. I usually get within a 1/4 inch. I don't know how Tom Morris does it but I've only had one set come out exact. That is the reason I have a line clip maker so I have line clips in 1/16th inch increments. It takes patience and practice to get it right. The reason I buy in bulk is I fly different events and a few different plane types other than stunt.
Title: Re: Control Lines
Post by: Motorman on October 21, 2015, 09:56:06 AM: Just stake the lines and a tape measure then pull them tight and wrap the lines around something at the mark you want.

MM
Title: Re: Control Lines
Post by: Don Hutchinson AMA5402 on October 21, 2015, 10:41:30 AM: Make one line, both ends finished, Put one end on second line, hold the other end up in the air a few feet along side the first line, pull them to get a slight sag, align the second line exactly next to the first line, mark the end of the second line and then finish it. Should come out really close to same length. I do this on the sidewalk in front of my house. I stick a piece of music wire in the walk for the first ends and work freehand at the other end.
Title: Re: Control Lines
Post by: Tim Wescott on October 21, 2015, 10:45:45 AM: I have a jig with bits of 4" PVC pipe epoxied to a board so that one wrap around the pipes is five feet. There's bits of 1/16" music wire made into headless nails and driven into the board. I make up a line end, wrap it around the pipe enough times to get the right length, then make up an end on the appropriate nail (many of my lines end up being exact multiples of five feet eyelet to eyelet). Then I repeat for the other line.

I get three out of four right, and the fourth one is either a bit off (1/8 to 1/4") or exactly five feet off -- but I've been getting better at counting.
Title: Re: Control Lines
Post by: Dave_Trible on October 22, 2015, 04:16:13 PM: If you have an adjustable handle it doesn't matter...... You can make major or super- fine adjustments between flights at the field. Of course I use a cable handle which makes it simple.

Dave
Title: Re: Control Lines
Post by: Randy Powell on October 22, 2015, 04:44:34 PM: I buy line material from McMaster-Carr. Generally I get 900' or so at a time. Good for 6+ sets or so. I use a jig not unlike what Tim described.