I haven't ever had to seal hinge gaps on my other planes. This is my first 3d airplane. It's a Funtana X 100. What is the best way to seal the gaps. You must have to leave a little slack in the tape or the covering so the ailerons will be able to move up and down, correct? Explain how you do it. Do you use tape or clear covering? Where can you get clear covering?

Thank,

Gibbs

I just asked the same question. Look at the last page of the U-Can-Do thread for a coupel of ways.

I have another question, is it really important or necessary to cover the seam? The Funtana 100 Manual says to do it but I've seen one other one without the covering and it seemed to fly great!

Gibbs

No.

The question I asked myself when I started sealing all my hinges, Was it going to hurt?..
I could not find any harm on covering the hinge line.. But I did come up with, "Maybe"
advantages more so on huge control surfaces...It's very easy to do.... Hence,
I seal all my planes now..... JMO

I always seal the hinge gap on the control surfaces. It will help stop flutter, better precise control over the plane in pattern maneuvers. I use clear Monokote or Ultrakote. Cut a long strip of Monokote just wide enough to go down between the control surface and trailing edge and Defect the control surface to the max. Cut the long strip into three pieces, it's easier to seal down than one long piece. Take one of the strips and fold it together the long way as to make a "V" so it will fit down into the control surface gap. Then it's just a matter of sealing it down. I like to have it come out of the gap and onto the trailing edge and the control surface about 1/4".

I recently was in the same situation, I noticed at the hobby shop they were selling 3M Brand Scotch MultiTask Tape as "hinge tape" It has a gloss finish, I used it to seal my hinge gaps on my Hangar 9 Extra 260 and it has been holding up very well.

To install it, I flexed the surface all the way one direction opening the gap up as wide as it would go. Then I took managable sized pieces of tape and a ruler to get the tape all the way into the gap. Then I used the ruler to squeegee (sp) the tape onto the sides of the surface and the wing. It worked out pretty well, a little time consuming but you can't even see the tape once it's on there. I've checked it several times and it has not cracked or pealed, and I'm using 3D throws on a gas plane.

I tried covering material but couldn't get it to look good and smooth.

The tape is about $2.50 at Wal-Mart.

I did not run the tape over the hinges themselves.

Don't use regular scotch tape because it will crack and fail. This stuff won't crease when you fold it over and seems to be very durable.

I've always used clear packing tape, never had a problem.

You have received two solid methods on how to do it, whether you want to use covering or Dubro hinge tape, so anything more would be redundant.

Here's my .02, seal all hinge gaps on every plane before you fly it. For an experienced builder, & pilot who wants max performance out of their plane, it is not an option..it is an absolute must. There is no such thing as "Well, it flew good without it", because it will fly better with the gaps sealed.

This is how I do it most ofthe time.

However, On my big planes I will take the time to do it in matching colors of Ultracote. so it looks nice.

And it does make a difference, you get a lot sharper control and less risk of flutter with the hinge gaps sealed.

Just the ailerons and elevators right?

Gibbs

I do all the control surfaces

Me too. Its helps reduce the risk of rudder flutter, pllus it gives you a good bit more rudder authority. Especially if the gap is large proportional to the size of the plane.

Look in the September edition of Model Aviation (assuming you are a member of AMA).

It is the 3rd part of a 3 part series starting in July on how to trim your plane.

All control surfaces, every time. Sealing the hinge gapsmakes the control surfaces more efficient. If you & I have identical setup planes, you might tell me yours flies fine. But mine will fly smoother & more precisely. This attention to detail seperates the great flying planes from the "also rans".

A good analogy, again, we have our identically setup planes. You take off on your maiden flight, & set your initial trims for pitch, yaw, roll, & that's all you ever do-- & you say you are happy with your plane. But from then on you are constantly fighting your plane to fly it straight& put it where you want it. I know that most of you have seen this at your own field. The plane won't do an axial roll, in knife edge it pulls to the canopy or belly, it pulls one way or the other in an upline, it may porpoise at different throttle settings, & so, & so on.


If you are happy to just go out and "cut up the sky", continue on as you are. If you want to grow in this hobby & improve your pilot skills, you must pay attention to detail. That starts with a plane that is built as near perfect as possible, the taken through a set trim sequence. Once the plane is setup & trimmed properly, you have a known base to work from. This attention to detail is the starting point for all the great pilots you see at your local flying field, at contests, and on the commercial dvds that we buy. My .02.

I also seal ALL hinge gaps on every airplane......

I try and get covering to match the airplane.. and as described.. cut it in a strip, fold it in half and then work it into the flexed seam..
Clear covering works well too...

I just use clear and I seal all gaps. I tried not to one a few on the first few flights and then did it and it was a good bit better control and now I do it from the start on all. I sealed the gaps on my first trainer and it was like night and day difference.


LATER


I figure it's like my floor covering buisness. If the manufacturer says to do something then they know more about this stuff than me and I do what they recomend..

Sounds like the Majority Rules. I will do this on the Funtana and all my other planes. Thanks all of you for the great advice. I like the 3M Scotch Brand Multi Task idea. I build a lot of kits, but I have an expert coverer cover all my planes. When I covered my first kit it looked like an 80 year old lady. Nothing against old women!

Thanks,

Gibbs