Rubber Bands?
04-04-2003, 05:41 AM
#5
Senior Member
Rubber Bands?
Hey Two Stroke...
A suggestion for adding a little more life to those rubber bands. Get a small plastic jar with a screw-on lid, or a Zip Loc bag, and a small sack of Kitty Litter. Fill the jar or Zip Loc half full with the Kitty Litter. After each flying session dump those fuel soaked rubber bands in the Kitty Litter container and close it up. Shake well then stash it away for the next session. Before putting them on for the next flight stretch each band and inspect it for "stretching." If you see signs of the band fraying or having some separations, dump it and reach for a new one. The fuel residue eats up the bands, but the Kitty Litter soaks it up and dries out the bands. You can get several flights with this procedure. Worked well for us back in the good old days. Good flying.
A suggestion for adding a little more life to those rubber bands. Get a small plastic jar with a screw-on lid, or a Zip Loc bag, and a small sack of Kitty Litter. Fill the jar or Zip Loc half full with the Kitty Litter. After each flying session dump those fuel soaked rubber bands in the Kitty Litter container and close it up. Shake well then stash it away for the next session. Before putting them on for the next flight stretch each band and inspect it for "stretching." If you see signs of the band fraying or having some separations, dump it and reach for a new one. The fuel residue eats up the bands, but the Kitty Litter soaks it up and dries out the bands. You can get several flights with this procedure. Worked well for us back in the good old days. Good flying.
04-05-2003, 07:11 AM
#10
My Feedback: (41)
Rubber Bands?
I bought the right size from an office supply and then my trainer started doing loops all on its own when speeding up. Hell of a way to learn! 
Turned out the #64 from the office supply were nowhere near as tight as the SIG and the wing was lifting off the fuse a bit. Instructor didn't believe it and had to experience it for himself, at the time. Speed up angle changed, do loop! I now use SIG exclusively. Thank you very much!
Turned out the #64 from the office supply were nowhere near as tight as the SIG and the wing was lifting off the fuse a bit. Instructor didn't believe it and had to experience it for himself, at the time. Speed up angle changed, do loop! I now use SIG exclusively. Thank you very much!
04-06-2003, 04:58 AM
#11
Senior Member
Rubber Bands?
It has been said that "a rose is a rose," but a rubber band definately IS NOT a rubber band. You have to be careful when buying them to be sure you get a quality band. I don't use them any longer, but I only bought Sig's. They sold good dependable bands, and still do. So I will echo 4*60s advice, use Sig's and save yourself a lot of problems.
About the stress on some bands affecting flight performance, it happens. The model is pulling a few extra G's and all of a sudden it does "funny!" I had it happen to me when the bands were stretching allowing the wing leading edge to lift. Crazy! I kept them for household use only, and went to bolts from then on. Good flying.
About the stress on some bands affecting flight performance, it happens. The model is pulling a few extra G's and all of a sudden it does "funny!" I had it happen to me when the bands were stretching allowing the wing leading edge to lift. Crazy! I kept them for household use only, and went to bolts from then on. Good flying.
04-06-2003, 07:20 AM
#13
Rubber Bands?
Rubber Band Safety Tips:
In addition to visually quick-checking and pulling on each band before installing it, it's not a bad idea to do a "pull-up test" once you have put the wing on your plane.
Just grab the wing's leading edges near the fuselage sides, hold the fuse (at the rubber band's dowel rods is OK), and pull the wing up (assuming you have a high-wing type plane). If it pulls away easily, or shows a gap of more than about one inch when pulled, I would either toss the bands (if used), or add a few more. Generally, about ten to twelve bands works well on most trainers, but the pull test will reveal if you need more bands. Repeat the test any time you suspect a problem with deteriorating bands (especially used bands and/or on hot days), or if you notice unusual changes in the flight performance, especially with rapid elevator "up" inputs. Sometimes, you will hear a wing "snap back" against the fuselage. This could be your last warning before separation of wing and fuselage: land and check the bands immediately.
Rubber bands will deteriorate not only with age, and model fuel, but when stretched tight out in the sunlight. Sometimes you will see broken bands on a plane even before it has been flown. But if you see more than one or two broken, it's time to replace all of them. Keeping a cloth or towel tossed over the plane while shutdown helps reduce UV exposure of the bands, and keeps the radio gear a bit cooler as well.
The lifting load applied to the wing can be quite strong, and it's awful to lose a plane for a few cents worth of rubber bands. Keep an eye on the bands to insure a safe return to Mother Earth.
Regards,
Al Parry
[email protected]
In addition to visually quick-checking and pulling on each band before installing it, it's not a bad idea to do a "pull-up test" once you have put the wing on your plane.
Just grab the wing's leading edges near the fuselage sides, hold the fuse (at the rubber band's dowel rods is OK), and pull the wing up (assuming you have a high-wing type plane). If it pulls away easily, or shows a gap of more than about one inch when pulled, I would either toss the bands (if used), or add a few more. Generally, about ten to twelve bands works well on most trainers, but the pull test will reveal if you need more bands. Repeat the test any time you suspect a problem with deteriorating bands (especially used bands and/or on hot days), or if you notice unusual changes in the flight performance, especially with rapid elevator "up" inputs. Sometimes, you will hear a wing "snap back" against the fuselage. This could be your last warning before separation of wing and fuselage: land and check the bands immediately.
Rubber bands will deteriorate not only with age, and model fuel, but when stretched tight out in the sunlight. Sometimes you will see broken bands on a plane even before it has been flown. But if you see more than one or two broken, it's time to replace all of them. Keeping a cloth or towel tossed over the plane while shutdown helps reduce UV exposure of the bands, and keeps the radio gear a bit cooler as well.
The lifting load applied to the wing can be quite strong, and it's awful to lose a plane for a few cents worth of rubber bands. Keep an eye on the bands to insure a safe return to Mother Earth.
Regards,
Al Parry
[email protected]
