I'm bailing on my first attempt at using Robart hinge points. It's on a 40/60 (SIG LT-40) size plane with 1-piece balsa control surfaces (rudder, elevator and ailerons) that are tapered from 3/8" to 1/8". Both the elevator and the ailerons are pretty narrow - about 1 1/4". I'm using standard 1/8" hinge points. I've stumbled over all of the aforementioned hole alignment screwups and have chalked them up to "time served". The reason that I'm bailing is that the tapered control surfaces are significantly weakened by hole drilled for the hinge point. For grins (evil grins) I held the elevator by the tips (27" long) and very gently pushed out with both thumbs. Crack - broke at 2 hinge point holes. The length of the hinge point from the center of the knuckle to the tip is 1" and with the depth of the control surface being 1 1/4" there is very little room for any error. Yea, and I've had difficulty aligning the drill and have blown out the side of several holes.

This might fall in the "inappropriate application of hinge points" but I would like your feedback as to how to use hinge points or just bail and use either CA hinges or nylon pinned hinges (Dubro std. stuff).

TIA for your feedback.