Flap/Elevator Hinges State of the Art?

[Steve Hand]

Is there such a thing? I would like some in-put on what a lot of you have used, especially as it pertains to close tolerances with the wing/stb and no bind flexability. Thanks

[Garf]

I know of a lot of different choices, but i'm interested in what the pro stunt people use.

[Randy Cuberly]

The Klett hinges marketed by Carl Goldberd were the "benchmark" for a long time and still are but they've become very difficult to get hold of.  It's my understanding that someone special ordered a large amount recently but I'm not sure  (can't remember who it was Maybe Brett Buck???)  I would like to find out as mys supply is nearly exhausted.
I've tried just about everything else on the market and most don't measure up.  They're either too sloppy or too stiff (mostly the latter).

The Du-Bro large hinges can be used if the pins are removed and a single wire replacement fashioned but getting the right size wire is another problem.

Small aluminum tubes with music wire linking them together is another option but quite a bit of work.


Randy Cuberly

[Rudy Taube]

Steve,

You may find these useful for CLPA:

http://www.robart.com/Hinge.aspx

I have been using them for many years. They are much easier to install than the flat hinges, they work smoothly, and are very strong. Used with their drill guide, perfect alignment is easily achieved. When you epoxy them into one side, you just bend them down to 90 degrees with the surface while they dry then insert into the other part (EL, AL etc.). After years of abuse in my planes I have not had one fail or pull out.

RE: getting a close slot.

Reasonably close is more than adequate if you seal the gap on the bottom with tape.

 http://www.hobby-lobby.com/spoilers.htm#Gap

Sealing the gap will help in many ways. The only better way I know of is molding a convex LE perfectly into a concave TE. This seems to be a lot of work, but I have seen it on some outstanding Sailplanes. I'm sure this type of LE, TE is available commercially somewhere in Europe, but I don't know where?

I hope we hear from some CLPA "Pro Stunt" experts on this. I would be interested to see what they use?

[Steve Hand]

I have used the Klett hinges and they were good, but even at that, when you got into the package some of those even found the trash can. Anybody else like to weigh in who is building or has built a top notch flyer? I do like the minimal spacing you get from wing to flap with the Kletts.

[Clint Ormosen]

The Du-Bro large hinges can be used if the pins are removed and a single wire replacement fashioned but getting the right size wire is another problem.

Randy Cuberly

What is the problem with the pins that come in the Du-Bro hinges? These are the hinges that I use in everything I build and have no problems whatsoever. The larger the flap or elevator, the closer I make the spacing between the hinges.

[RC Storick]

I use Randy's arrow hinges. Shaped like a arrow head.