picard1

My Feedback: (2)

Im looking for advice.
I have a plane that will be to long to fit in my vehicle and want to convert the rudder so I can remove it. I know comp arf uses music wire to hold their elevators and rudder in place. Has anyone made their own hinges and what size music wire would use?

Thanks
Mike

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

3/32" wire is typically plenty big as the sheer value on music wire is pretty high.

picard1

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks that helps. Any websites to purchase hinges or articles for making my own?

stang151

Du-bro has several sizes of nylon hinges that have a metal pin that can be removed and replaced with a longer wire to do what you want. Tower has them.

BMatthews

For a hinge you should not need anything near as thick as 3/32.

I gather this is a pretty large model you're considering. With that in mind Dubro offers THESE BIG HINGES that use a 1.2mm cotter pin. So instead of the cotter pins use a length of suitable size music wire. 1.2mm is .047. K&S makes both .047 and .045 wire. One of those will be a nice minimal slop fit and line up well along the whole hinge line without being overly heavy. As for durability the nylon will let go before the music wire. But these hinges are designed for big models. After that it's all academic anyway.

Charlie P.

I'm with Invertmast (a sailor?) and Stang151. Toss the 3/32" cotter pin from a DuBro hinge and use a single piece of music wire. Have done this a handfull of times and never a problem.

Just make sure to anchor one end of the wire mechanically and with a 90 degree bend on one end..