ORIGINAL: jigeye
I have a Reactor 1.60 ARF with a DA-50 on the front/fiberglass cowl. Great Planes system is to use screws through the fiberglass and into the wood on the airplane. I did this and it looks and works good, however, I know the engine is going to shake them loose.
I'd like to go to a blind nut set up to ensure longevity with 4/40 bolts. Problem is I cannot get to the back side of the fuselage to insert the blind nut.
Has anyone had any experience with putting the blind nut on from the top side/aka the other way around? I could peel back the covering and secure the blind nuts with 30 minute epoxy on the outside. Dunno if they will come loose or not doing it this way as the bolt would now be
pulling against the nut, however, between the epoxy and lightly tapping the nut in place in the hard wood, I do not see an issue.
thanks,
Mike
Sorry but I have forgotten the name of the specific screws however any good hardware store should have them. The screw has a rather large screwhead, threaded for sheet-metal and come with a medium hard rubber-type thick washer with metal top attached. Using a 3/8" of thread, with a small pilot hole they dig into wood very well and STAY there. Once you thread in first time, it also adds "stay-longer" if you remove the screw and drop a tad of thin CA and let dry, then screw back in.
I use both #8 and #10.
Even after removing a cowl or other cover several times for maintenance they still hold well. No worry about a blind nut leaving its home.