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Old 07-17-2009 | 04:27 PM
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shd3920
 
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Pittsfield, MA
Default RE: Need some help installing hinges

First you must slot the edges of the control surfaces. The slots must be a little thicker than you would have for CA hinges.

Next you need to lubricate the barrel of the hinges so that the glue does not bind them.
I like to use petroleum jelly for this. Be sure to coat only the knuckle of the hinge and not the gluing surface. Set them aside while preparing the control surface for gluing.

I glue the hinges at the control surfaces in two steps. I first epoxy all the hinges into the main wing, horizontal stabilizer and vertical fin using 30-minute epoxy. After I am satisfied that the hinges are seated properly and the knuckle of the hinge is parallel to the hinge line, I clean up any epoxy then allow overnight curing. The next day I finish gluing the control surfaces of the ailerons, elevator and rudder to the other half of the hinges.

The way I apply the epoxy is to coat the hinge slot with the epoxy with a toothpick, then push the epoxy into the slot with an old single-edge razor blade. Then slide the entire hinge in place until only the knuckle of the glued side of the hinge is exposed on the hinge line. Let set overnight after all hinges are installed.

Day two, attach the opposite side of the hinges into the control surface as done on day one, but all the hinges on the surface have to ready to be pushed in at the same time so you have to work kinda quick before the epoxy starts to set. Again, I put another thin coating of vaseline onto all the hinge knuckles before applying the epoxy into the slots, and then quickly align and slide all the hinges into their appropriate slots until only the knuckles of the hinges can be seen. Again, let the hinges set overnight.

When completely cured, on day three, pull on the control surfaces to be sure they don't pop out.