Hi folks

I have a Finwing V2 (similar to EZStar) that I'm building for FPV and for general purpose flight. I would like to secure the two halves of the fuselage together in some way without using glue so I can open the plane back up to change electronics etc. Historically when I glue the fuselage together on other planes it becomes a real challenge to change electronics, add sensors, adjust CoG, etc.

What other means could be used to secure the fuselage together in a safe manner to ensure the plane will stay together during flight but be able to be disassembled if needed? Or is glue the only choice?

Thanks!

Double sided tape or Velcro.

http://flitetest.com/articles/ft-swa...-power-pod-kit

Double sided tape i dont know if i would trust to stay together in flight. Regular Velcro is too thick for this purpose and not 'solid' enough. Those are good ideas to build on tho. Maybe i could use plastic locking type velcro which is more of a 'solid' locking than the soft stuff. Then glue each side into a recessed slot on the foam fuselage. Then with the two pieces together there will be less of a centerline gap where the two halves meet. Hmmm

Thanks for the ideas! Keep em coming!

A hardware solution would be better. Bolts and blind nuts. Create small wood plates for the blind nuts and mount the to one side of the fuse. Secure aluminum or plastic tube screw guides in the other side of the fuse to support the bolts so that the foam does not crush.

This works best if you set up the hardware on the bolt side of the fuse first and screw on the nut plates to the bolts before securing the in the other side of the fuse. Add the proper glue to the nut plates. Hold the fuse haves together with tape while the glue dries. If the bolts end up in areas of the fuse that are solid foam, you can hollow out for the nut plates as needed.

A careful drop of oil on the threads of the bolts where they meet the nuts will prevent glue fouling the threads. I suggest using 3-4 each 4-40 bolts to hold the fuse together. If you use nylon bolts, I would use 6-32s.

We use magnets to hold cockpit assemblies on the plane. Why not use slightly larger, rare earth magnets to hold the fuselage halves together? Thanks; Ernie P.