Tape shrinkage?

[Dennis Toth]

Has anyone experienced hingline tape shrinkage? I have been playing with my Rescue Ringmaster for over a year, finally seem to have things trimmed fairly good. However last week I was trying some very light 5S 1350mah TP pack that I had almost no turn for the OTS Climb. It was very soft, did a big loop but not a corner for the climb. Now this pack made the ship pretty tail heavy as the CG was back at 2 1/4" so I though well maybe its the balance. However, I had just gotten a new 4S 1800mah HobbyStar pack that still fit in the nose (they are only 77mm long) and just slightly heavyer than the TP which was good cause it needed to have the CG at around 1 1/2" so I fit it all up but by chance looked at the elevator and noticed I only had about 6 - 8 degrees of up. Checking further it look like the tape was preventing the elevator to go to full throw (about 20 deg). I then removed the tape and BAM full elevator throw.

Now I have been taping hinglines for over 30 years and never had an issue with the tape restricting the movement. On this model when it was first finished I taped the hingline and had full movement. Over the past year of playing with this ship I never touch the elevator or gave it much thought. I think I used 3M frosted tape, I usually use packing tape and stripe it down to the width I need but got lazy. Anyone ever have this happen?

Best,   DennisT

[Brett Buck]

Has anyone experienced hingline tape shrinkage? I have been playing with my Rescue Ringmaster for over a year, finally seem to have things trimmed fairly good. However last week I was trying some very light 5S 1350mah TP pack that I had almost no turn for the OTS Climb. It was very soft, did a big loop but not a corner for the climb. Now this pack made the ship pretty tail heavy as the CG was back at 2 1/4" so I though well maybe its the balance. However, I had just gotten a new 4S 1800mah HobbyStar pack that still fit in the nose (they are only 77mm long) and just slightly heavyer than the TP which was good cause it needed to have the CG at around 1 1/2" so I fit it all up but by chance looked at the elevator and noticed I only had about 6 - 8 degrees of up. Checking further it look like the tape was preventing the elevator to go to full throw (about 20 deg). I then removed the tape and BAM full elevator throw.

Now I have been taping hinglines for over 30 years and never had an issue with the tape restricting the movement. On this model when it was first finished I taped the hingline and had full movement. Over the past year of playing with this ship I never touch the elevator or gave it much thought. I think I used 3M frosted tape, I usually use packing tape and stripe it down to the width I need but got lazy. Anyone ever have this happen?

   If you mean Scotch "Magic Mending Tape", then no, because that is far too fragile and prone to splitting. So I don't know if ti also shrinks.

      If you are applying it right, then shrinking would not normally cause restriction. The tape needs to pass between surfaces right across the hinge lines, not accordian fold or "roll".

     Brett