Ok my wife sent me a couple of pics that sort of show the technique. I learned it from Kent Nogy I think.

My technique is to put a large threaded ball (generally with 4-40 threads) screwed into a blind nut (t nut) embedded into the flange of the hatch, maybe 3/8 of an inch from the edge (the distance depends on the slope of the hatch at that spot).

On the fuselage side, I install 2 music wires, maybe .075'' diameter, maybe 2 inches long, spaced just about the width of the shaft on the ball.

Now the way I do it, is to inset the 2 wires into slots I have milled into a couple of pieces of 1/8" ply (maybe 1/2 inch square). I CA the wires into the slots, then I keep checking the tension by snapping the 2 wires onto the ball from underneath the hatch opening (with the hatch installed obviously). You keep belt sanding the top of the little ply tabs holding the wires until the fit is tight. You should get a very nice tight SNAP action when you have it right.

After everything fits I epoxy the wire assemblies into the fuse with the hatch installed to make sure everything lines up. You can make slight adjustments by bending the wires.

marc s, you building is gorgeous, how do you make those sheetmetal brackets? Do you have a little press brake or something?


BTW, before I forget, Gordon's idea of a tensioner between the to sides will work, as will a rib.