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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: BrianW517 on October 19, 2011, 05:58:02 PM

Title: Elevator & Flap Hinge Material.?
Post by: BrianW517 on October 19, 2011, 05:58:02 PM:   H^^ D>K #^ I've used cloth material for over fifty years on my control line airplanes, for hinging elevators & flaps. I found some, 1"x 3' length of "Nylon" cloth in my parts box. It may be a goldberg product.
   My question is: whether you can attach this "Nylon Material", in the same manner, as you would the cloth material?
  I use clear dope to attach the cloth to the balsa. Will dope penetrate the nylon enough, to make it secure, in attaching to the balsa trailing edges? The nylon may hold up to glow fuel longer than cloth, before it's needed to be replaced?
  I have some planes, that the cloth hinges have rotted on, while hanging in the garage for decades, and need replacing .
  Any ideas , on how to install, cloth or nylon hinge material, to balsa, as used for hinges. n~ :! H^^
Peekaboo
Title: Re: Elevator & Flap Hinge Material.?
Post by: john e. holliday on October 20, 2011, 08:31:03 AM: As Ty states, predope the surfaces . Then put the nylon hinges in place. Make sure dope is really thin when you put the hinges down. H^^
Title: Re: Elevator & Flap Hinge Material.?
Post by: Gene O'Keefe on October 20, 2011, 01:51:36 PM: I would use some type (your preference) of GLUE to adhere the cloth hinges. JMHO after 50 yrs.
Title: Re: Elevator & Flap Hinge Material.?
Post by: Avaiojet on October 21, 2011, 09:58:57 AM: No issues with stiffness along the cloth hingline, when painting the control surface in place?

CB
Title: Re: Elevator & Flap Hinge Material.?
Post by: john e. holliday on October 22, 2011, 08:44:19 AM: No problems so far on the planes I have done the doped hinges on. In fact I think they work better than when I used Ambroid or even SIGment glues. Mucho neater and no worry of glue bleed thru while doping. H^^
Title: Re: Elevator & Flap Hinge Material.?
Post by: BrianW517 on October 22, 2011, 11:59:53 PM: Quote from: BrianW517 on October 19, 2011, 05:58:02 PM
H^^ D>K #^ I've used cloth material for over fifty years on my control line airplanes, for hinging elevators & flaps. I found some, 1"x 3' length of "Nylon" cloth in my parts box. It may be a goldberg product.
   My question is: whether you can attach this "Nylon Material", in the same manner, as you would the cloth material?
  I use clear dope to attach the cloth to the balsa. Will dope penetrate the nylon enough, to make it secure, in attaching to the balsa trailing edges? The nylon may hold up to glow fuel longer than cloth, before it's needed to be replaced?
  I have some planes, that the cloth hinges have rotted on, while hanging in the garage for decades, and need replacing .
  Any ideas , on how to install, cloth or nylon hinge material, to balsa, as used for hinges. n~ :! H^^
Peekaboo

H^^ My memory has been jogged! The nylon material is from Goldberg for reinforcing Engine Mounting Areas and Wing to Fuselage Attachment Points. I now remember using the nylon on building my Cosair & Hellcat, when I was a kid, decades ago. I used the nylon material for the elevator attaching points on my 1/2A Jump N Bean the other day, and the dope stiffened up the hinge area. I went to Hobby Town down the street from me, and they didn't know what cloth hinge material is. I wen to a local Fabric/Craft Store and the lady looked at me as if I was Nuts! I did find a half dozen possibilities in fabric, but I'm not sure if it'll stiffen up with the use of dope. ;D n~ H^^
Title: Re: Elevator & Flap Hinge Material.?
Post by: Bill Little on December 06, 2011, 04:25:39 PM: Hi All,

The Goldberg nylon works....... I have a 40 plus year old Buster that they are still good to go.

My choice now for "cloth hinges" is *nylon taffeta*. The really thin stuff. It is nylon so it won't rot, it basically disappears if you do a decent finish on the model and you can install them with dope or glue. Available at any fabric store, cheap. I run them the entire length of the elevator or flap giving sealed hinge lines automatically.

An added plus is that they are extremely limber and not as critical on installation as nylon pin hinges.

Big Bear
Title: Re: Elevator & Flap Hinge Material.?
Post by: Tim Stagg on December 07, 2011, 11:09:23 AM: Bill,

Question on running the length of the surface.

Do you sew two strips together, and then put the sewing seam as the hinge point?

Or do you just alternate top and bottom along the whole edge as the traditional approach??

Thanks

Tim
Title: Re: Elevator & Flap Hinge Material.?
Post by: Bill Little on December 07, 2011, 11:30:54 AM: Quote from: Tim Stagg on December 07, 2011, 11:09:23 AM
Bill,

Question on running the length of the surface.

Do you sew two strips together, and then put the sewing seam as the hinge point?

Or do you just alternate top and bottom along the whole edge as the traditional approach??

Thanks

Tim

Hi Tim,

I alternate the traditional over/under top and bottom. I usually use 2" wide strips on the flaps and 1" wide on the elevators. Gives extremely free moving surfaces easier than aligning the pin hinges. A tiny bit aff and they are not as free as the *taffeta* hinges.

Bill
Title: Re: Elevator & Flap Hinge Material.?
Post by: larry borden on December 07, 2011, 03:59:38 PM: I still use this method of hinging, using Ambroid. I've used the nylon hinges and prefer 'old skool'. I still use silk and dope.