BTW, CA hinges do seem to require that all the slots on any one aileron/rudder/elevator surface be in line. The plastic is flexible one way, but seems to be less forgiving if it has any "twist" in the installation.

I think what defeats CA hinges is when they're not in line with the hingline. They start to tear from the sides. If they only had to flex up/down, they'd probably last forever. But having a twist seems sure death. And every "good value for the money" that I've seen has come with either preinstalled plastic hinges not centered and not straight or has come with precut slots that sucked.

It's interesting to me that I haven't ever seen an ARF that you had to hinge yourself, that had the garbage plastic CA hinges included. They've always had decent looking CA hinge material. Wonder if that says anything. And every one of the "great value for the price" ones all had decent hinges too but still had at least one slot on each surface that was screwed up and needed redoing.

I know that I won't buy any prehinged ARF until I can flex all the prehinged surfaces. If I see shiny plastic or see any hinge thats not straight with the hingeline, that sucker ain't going home with me.

Because IT IS A REAL PAIN TO PUT NEW HINGES INTO AN ALREADY HINGED AIRPLANE. (I finally got to the answer to your question... whewww)