I'm VERY new to the hobby and recently purchased my first airplane, the Alpha Trainer. I love the plane, however, my instructor found that the left wing aileron wasn't functioning properly. After sending the wing back to Hangar 9, I have received a new wing. That's the good news. The bad news is that the wing is the ARF version and not the RTF version. I didn't think this was a problem until I opened the box and the ailerons fell off the wings! After another call to Horizon support, I find that the ARF version requires me to purchase hinges (which the technician recommended CA Hinges?) and install them to the wing and alieron and glue them in place with CA.

So I go to the local hobby store, and purchase CA hinges, CA, and the small little tubes that will dispense the CA as needed. I talk to the clerk, and he tells me what I needed to do. Of course, he has YEARS of experience doing this, and I have yet to even solo my Alpha, and have NEVER even come close to doing any model building.

I have read all of the posts here regarding the CA Hinge and the pros and cons. The one thing I didn't see was what the guy in the hobby store told me was to drill a small hole on the hinge slot of the aileron and trailing edge of the wing to make it easier to apply the CA, but I'm not sure that is a good idea. I have tried a dry run by installing the hinge in the wing and then trying to attach the aileron to the hinges, and it wasn't pretty.

So that brings me to my 2 questions:

1. Is it a good idea to drill these holes?

2. How on earth is the aileron going to attach to the wing with the hinges and then allow me to glue them?

Any advice would be MUCH appreciated. And if it doesn't work out......I'll have a cheap Alpha for sale!

Thanks!!!!

You'll should already have read about grease pencil lines on the hinges, and pins to help you keep the hinges aligned while installing them... (the lines prevent the glue from staying there, and this prevents the CA from making that portion brittle, reducing hinge life. The pins keep you from over-inserting the hinge, and aid in keeping the grease line on the hinge line.)

Forget the drilled holes, they don't really do anything.

Put a drop or two of thin CA in the hole in the aileron the torque rod will slide into... take a drill bit and clean the hole. (*SAME diameter as the torque rod wire!) The CA hardens the wood, preventing the rod from wallowing the hole out as fast. The wood typically swells a bit with the CA, which is why you need to clean the hole out.

Carefully slide the hinges into the trailing edge of the wing.

Slide the aileron onto the hinges and the TORQUE RODS. Gently wiggle the aileron side to side (root to tip) and the hinges will go in easier.

With the aileron on as far as it will go (should be essentially no gap) move the aileron down appx 30 to 40 deg (the beveled front of the aileron will be flat against the wing's back edge.)

Drip 4 to 6 drops of THIN CA on each hinge from the top. You can apply one drop per hinge, and then go back and do each again.... as long as you are reasonably quick. (if you drip 6 drops on one hinge quickly... some will run off, which is not good...)

Flex the aileron up and down a few times (about 10 or 12 cycles, full deflection each way)

Flip the wing, deflect the aileron down again (the open gap is up... I'm not saying toward top or bottom of wing, just whichever side is down.) Apply 4 to 6 drops CA per hinge again.... flex the hinges again.

Repeat for the other aileron.

That should have the ailerons installed properly.

If you have any questions at this point... take the wing with the hinges NOT INSTALLED to the field, alng with the hinges, ailerons, CA... and ask one of the experienced guys to help. Should be no problem. (no one wants to see yor aileron fall off while you are flying.)

Thanks FHH. I think I understand most of what you said. I don't understand "Gently wiggle the aileron side to side (root to tip) and the hinges will go in easier" but I think the best advice for me would be the last bit of taking the wing to the field and getting a professional to help out. This evolution has made me uncomfortable because I really don't want to mess it up.

I appreciate your help!