Mike's guide to hinge gluing 101...... if you encounter problems go right to step 9

1) First take the hinge and draw a line down the center. (The Sonictronic ones come in strips so mark them all before you break them
off.) You will use this mark to ensure the correct depth on the hinge. I re-open the slot with a sharp scalpel or knife and trial fit the
hinge so that it only goes in up to the mark. If you've used proper heat the covering will not lift.

2) Once you've done this to all the hinges I then go to the control surface and make sure the hinges go in slightly past the mark. This will ensure that no problems occur during installation of the surface. Take your time as nothing gets glued until everything fits perfectly.

3) Once the hinge fitting is complete, insert all the hinges into the wing (e.g.). If you've done your job, they should all line up nicely
with the mark.

4) Install the control surface onto the hinges being careful not to bend any of them. Start at one end and slowly work towards the
other end. Turn the wing over and make sure the hinges are all "in" as they can fold up or worse, miss the slot altogether! I've seen it!

5) Make sure your aileron tip is lined up and your satisfied with the centering. Slide the whole surface gently one way or the other
being careful not to move the hinges to much.

6) Place a pin (medium size T pin) between the wing trailing edge and the leading edge of the aileron in several locations along the length of the surface. Don't push to hard against it! It's just a spacer.

7) With everything double check for accuracy (Last Chance!) it's time to wick in the CA. Use "thin" and apply the CA tip to the slot. It will gulp up the CA like crazy. Three or four drops (slowly) on both sides then move to the other end and repeat. Flip the wing over and repeat the process by first wicking in CA into the original starting slot (couple/three drops each side) then go and do the other end. Make sure your not letting the glue run under the wing! It should wick nicely into the slot on each side. (If you see the glue stop wicking at any time... your done.) Try not to go crazy with the glue.

8) Rest... whew! Exercise the surface back and forth a couple times and then repeat the process working towards the center of the control surface, exercising as you go. Keep track and do not re-glue any joint. Repeat for other surface.

9) Have a cold beer. After the beer is done (very official timing here!) The CA will harden a little so just keep exercising the
surface until it's free.

10) For a final step, I cut a thin strip of clear monocote and apply it to the trailing edge of the wing and the leading edge of the aileron (the V if you will) on the bottom of the wing. This will "gap seal" the control surface very nicely and is practically invisible. Avoid touching the ca hinges with the trim seal iron, you don't want to weaken the hinge material with high temperature. I do all surfaces this way.

Hope this helps,

Mike