I couldn't believe it when I opened my new Flip and found metal hinges. I'm sure there's a good reason for it, but I just don't know what it is. Do I really need to use metal or can I substitute CA hinges instead?

Thanks

Some guys use the metal hinges, but most don't. I used Dubro pinned hinges and pinned them with tooth picks. Now if I could only get the damn YS 63 to run!!!!!


Doug

CA hinges can fail on the rudder. I didn't like the metal ones so I used great planes plastic pinned hinges. Worked great.

I have a YS63 in my flip that never gave me a problem till over the weekend. Did a elevator down to about 15' and when I hit the throttle the engine quit! Pancaked it, airframe is shot. I already have another on order. Love that Flip!

Poorbs,
You don't have to use the metal hinges, but I would definitely not use CA hinges. I used the metal hinges on mine and one hinge broke on the rudder after about 20 flights. I would recommend using a heavy duty flat plastic pinned hinge such as the Dubro heavy duty hinge like stomper recommended, or a Klett hinge.
I would also recommend using at least 4 hinges on the rudder, at least 3 hinges on each elevator, and at least 5 hinges on each aileron.
The rest of my metal hinges are holding up well so far, but I would use the heavy duty flat plastic hinges if I was doing it over again.


Stomper:
I have found that there are two main things you can do to make the YS 63 run like a charm:
1. Use a fuel with low viscosity oil and 30% nitro. I use the Magnum "DZ blend" fuel. Another good one is the Cool Power 30% heli fuel.
2. Adjust the valve clearance so it is as small of a gap as you can get, while still being able to know that you do have a gap. I don't even use a feeler gage on mine. I just adjust the gap to get it as small as possible.


Jaco:
Sorry for your loss.



Jim

OK, I'm a freak. I use CA hinges, just allot of them. I got the hinge material and cut my own, and made them very large, it has worked very well. On the rudder, I did go back and pin the hinges. I ripped out a few in the rudder.

You pin a CA hinge just like any other, I use toothpicks. I was very surprised how hard it was to drill though the CA hinge.

I used the supplied metal hinges. I used them because that's what they supplied and I wanted the 'been there done that' action. They're a pain to put in because of the epoxy. Just an unpleasant messy gooey sticky stinky task. They are a little stiff too. And I painstakenly lubed them with vasoline before gluing. If I were to do it again I would go with CA hinges.

I used CA hinges too. I pinned them with Toothpicks for extra holding power though. I have never had an CA hinge break in half though and I really wring my planes out too. Heck my H9 Edge has CA hinges and it has done every manuever I can throw at it including nasty blenders, hard walls and parachutes, waterfalls, harriers, elevators which are very abusive and still not one hinges failure. And this is a 120 size model. So when installed properly with enough of them CA hinges should not be a problem.

look this one GP Hinge use epoxy or CA and you are ready....

Thanks for all your input. I've decided to use CA hinges all the way. I extended the slots to put two side by side in each one, with a small space between. I'm using 8 in each aileron, 4 in the rudder, and 4 in each elevator. Haven't decided whether to pin or not - it's difficult to imagine all those hinges pulling out. Also, I like to soft mount all my engines - should hlep reduce vibration and stress on everything.

O.S. 46FX, APC 12 1/4X 3 3/4 or 12 X 4 prop, 15% nitro.

Smooooooooooth Landings, Bill

For a nice power boost check out the new Morris round pipe to FX conversion available at morris hobbies. This adapts the excellent rossi mini pipe to the OS FX. The power gain is phenominal. I seen a 1500+ rpm gain over the stock engine in most cases. The transition is very linear and fast too. More like a Webra or Rossi. This pipe is lighter than the stock muffler and clears the Flip3d wing better too. I used both a 12x4 APC and a 12.25x3.75 APC with excellent results in both cases. The cost is pretty pricy at 54.00 but it is worth it.

I had this pipe on my flip with a OS 50SX, and it was awesome. WIth just the OS 50SX it would fly OK and pull out of a hover slow, but was lacking that extra escape power. With the pipe it was a rocket. Well worth the $$. It does clear the wing also, since you can move it up or down. 1500+ rpm is about correct. Once thing bad however is that it screams, and when you rev the engine up, everybody will turn and look what the heck is going on. Won't work if you have noise restriction at your field.

Oh yeah, btw the OS 46FX does not like that 12.25x3.75 prop. Does not spool it up fast enough. Try a 11.5x4 APC. I also doubt that the engine will be enough for unlimited 3D. It will however be with the Rossi mini pipe. Just my $0.02