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Old 10-02-2002 | 08:08 AM
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FHHuber
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Default Hinge slotting for dummies...

Best bet:
Get a hinge slotting tool/blade kit and put new slots beside the bad ones. If the original slots are "thick" fill then my sliding in some 1/32 (or thicker if neded...) balsa sheet and CA'ing with thin CA.

If you want to put the hinges n the original slot locations... fill the slots... but use yellow gluye, which is muh easier to cut through (even then you'll need the GP power hinge slotter to cut proper slots in it.)

The angled and offset hinges will cause significant loading of the servos, and can cause you to drain the RX batteries in less than 1/3 normal amount of flying. The loaded servo is going to be less resistant to control flutter, it could wear out faster (due to the loads making it "hunt" for its desired position, making a buzzing noize.) If the binding is severe, you could cause fatigue failure of the hinges in just a couple of flights and might even break the balsa stabilizer/control surface framework.

The elevator warp (asuming solid balsa) can be steamed out. I it returns when covering, then you can heat and bend to remove the warp again. balsa is fairly easy to bend with heat and a bit of moisture.

The good thing is... you saw there was a problem, and are going to get it fixed rather than try flying the plane anyway. A lot of beginners would have decided to "live with" the problem... and thier planes wouldn't survive long.