Portable flight stand

[PJ Rowland]

I will firstly say - I emphatically did not come up with this idea - nor do I take any credit for design or concept of construction.
Obviously I did build it - and engineer what needed to be done to make it work for my model.

I saw Paul Walkers portable stand in a photo on Stunthanger a few months ago and decided to try to engineer my own version / copy based on the photo's I had avaliable - I decided not to disrupt his Nats prep asking silly questions about it - when it was obvious how it went together. With a little patience and ingenuity I came up with my own version. I decided not to make it as big ( His is approx 4 ??ft in height to allow you to work at a comfortable height. )  - I have to get it over and small portable / lightweight was the order of the day. Mine sits approx 1 1/2 - 2 ft from the ground.

Basically - because the Nats is flown over concrete, I wanted something that was light / portable that I could set up in a flash to work on the engine or start the engine upside down without fear of concrete rash on the fuse.

Once again - Thanks Paul for another great idea . I certainly would not have come up with that on my own.

I dont know how many others have these - but I also know Ted Fancher has/had/used/uses one

Breaks down into 5 Main Pieces.
1 Main unit
2 support legs
2 lower support feet.

All in a convienient go anywhere solution for your modelling needs.

[Dick Pacini]

What size pipe did you use?  Any idea what thread you saw Paul's in?

[PJ Rowland]

15 mm Pipe

and yes

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=8851.0

[Steve Helmick]

15mm = .59", a bit under 5/8", which isn't a size we got here, of course. I'd go with 3/4" or even 1". When these are all glued up solid, they don't come apart, but with slip fits for travel, they'll tend to come apart at inconvenient times. I would either drill and secure the joints with some sort of pins, screws , or strap the joints with bungees.

I use and like this one: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXE974&P=ML


It's inexpensive, sturdy, and disassembles into 3 pieces that are easy to deal with. There's two tray compartments in the base (yellow) that is handy for tools and small parts...easy to see them there, and even keep them organized. The only negative so far is that the rubber strip on the cradles can leave black marks on the plane. I haven't found a great solution, but just draping a bar towel over each does the job ok, if I have two bar towels at hand. If not, then paper towels, or dirty sox (last option!).   Steve

[PJ Rowland]

Steve - the way I designed it - most of the main parts are glued together - the slip fit cannot come apart becuase gravity and the weight of the model re holding it down. The legs go in sideways so - unless the model is moving lef tto righ by itself, it cant come apart.

[Steve Helmick]

Steve - the way I designed it - most of the main parts are glued together - the slip fit cannot come apart becuase gravity and the weight of the model re holding it down. The legs go in sideways so - unless the model is moving lef tto righ by itself, it cant come apart.

Yeah, I have one that also shouldn't come apart, but does. If it does, it's not good, so be careful!  Steve

[Howard Rush]

Rather than tote that to the US, you can just use mine at the Nats.  I keep one in Indiana and one here. 

[PJ Rowland]

Thanks Howard

I needed one anyone for the times i'm here flying by myself. I need to look carefully at what gear I do bring over - and what I dont - If It can't be packed away easily and transported - I'l use yours.

Steve - Its pretty simple - the vertical weight of the model pushes down on the legs - forcing them in place. You would probably need to see how its engineered to fit together. Parts are glued parts that aren't hold weight.

[John Stiles]

Yeah, I have one that also shouldn't come apart, but does. If it does, it's not good, so be careful!  Steve

A packade of those mini bungie cords would slove that problem though....just a wee bit of extra work and a 1/8th" bit.

[Bill Little]

Hi Pj,

Nice work.   One thing I do is take the heat gun and bend the pipes that the wing sits (before I add the foam padding) on to a kinda "airfoil" shape.  Doesn't take much effort nor time and lets the models sit a bit better in the stand.

Big Bear