ORIGINAL: Jack Hyde
I believe the question was about whether the 3/16" connecting the 2 halves of the elevator is strong and stiff enough. On my .46 size 3d planes with that type elevator the piece connecting the elevator halves is 1/4" HARD wood. If you want to be sure you could replace the 3/16" balsa (if that is what it is) with 1/4" bass wood or similar, or you could laminate a piece of hardwood to the existing setup . Either way seems to require removing the hinges , fixing , replace hinges. Maybe a project for long winter nights.
no it´s a piece of hardwood and it´s quite strong, it´s just small and flexes a bit, I have thought about doubling it with another piece of hardwood or put some sort of horseshoe-ish type piece in there, I was told that doubling it with another piece of hardwood would be practicly useless, but I want a second opinion. I would not have to remove the hinges (that would be quite a job though) I think I could pull it of doubling the piece of wood "surgicly" but would it make a difference?