The instruction pics show hinge placement but it took me awhile to figure out the best method to install everything. NOTE: this is just the way I tackled it. There may be other/better ways to do it! In a nutshell, I cut all the hinge slots, applied Hysol epoxy to the hinges and slipped them into the wing then I carefully maneuvered the flaps into position and captured the hinges one by one by carefully pushing in the axle rods into the hinges. Now the most interesting thing about my choice for these axle rods:

Airworld provides a bundle of 36 inch long 2mm wire rods for axle stock. I've used 2mm solid carbon rod for this in the past and to reduce tail weight on this aircraft I decided to use it here. Now the interesting part of my build so far:

I could not figure out how to make the two flaps and aileron removable. In a nutshell, once all the hinges are installed I:

1) Install the axle into the aileron first.
2) Then install the axle into the inboard flap (by starting the axle through the INBOARD flap hinges (actually only the most outboard hinge of the inboard flap) and traveling it outboard into the outboard flap. The problem here is that the two flaps are about 15 degrees off of straight to each other so that requires the carbon rod/axle to slightly bend around that corner as it goes into the outboard flap! Sounds crazy but it works great. NOTE: this would not be possible with the steel axles provided: that rod would not negotiate the bend.
3) After the outboard flap is installed the inboard flap is installed by inserting a long axle rod through the ROOT OF THE WING all the way through the hinges in the inboard aileron. In service this axle root end will be secured to the root rib with a little 90 degree bracket and flush head screw (there is space for it as the root rib is recessed a small bit into the wing.

Some of you may not like the idea of using the carbon rods. I'll say this: if the hinges were made out of say, metal, then carbon would not be a good choice. However, the hinges are phenolic which is basically CLOTH and thus pretty gentle on the rods. With that said, only the outboard flap requires the bendy rod so you COULD just use that one rod and inspect it at your convenience. Personally, I'm not concerned at all.

So to remove all the installed surfaces you: Pull the root rod and inboard flap, then pull the out board flap rod by arcing it through the first inboard hinge, then pull the aileron rod. EASY PEASY (ha ha ha ha ha ha . . . . . . .)

Note: Of course of maximum importance is the length of each of the three rods to allow easy retrieval/removal and you will have to discover that as you go.

Good luck to you :-)


Fortunately, the aileron axle rod passed UNDER the flap hinge for easy removal.


This shows the final length of the aileron axle to prevent interference with the flap yet leave enough to grab for removal


Flap rod arcing into place

Inboard flap axle installed from root of wing

And finally NOTE THIS!: It's quite possible to LOSE AN AXLE into a control surface during this process (ask me how I know!) and not be able to remove it easily. This could actually be a nightmare SO BE CAREFUL!