Hello all!

My instructor recently recommended the use of hinge tape on my PT40. He noted that I did a good job in leaving little to no gap between the control surface and stationary surfaces, but recommended the tape anyway saying it would help my bird fly significantly better.

I installed the tape tonight, and have yet to fly with it. However (please continue to read before getting all upset with me) I think it really looks bad. I mean, it looks like there is scotch tape all over my nice plane! Now, this is a trainer, and I truly don't care how it looks... but I'm a builder, and have already begun looking into other kits with particular emphasis on model to real life likeness. I hear there are even competitions held annually for just that! But, I can't imagine putting that tape all over an otherwise true to life model plane.

Is the tape something you use? Is this just one of those necessary evils that, while not pretty, is needed? What do those guys and gals who compete do? Are there any alternatives to the tape?

Again, the tape stays on the trainer... I'm not one of those guys that would rather look at my plane than fly it. But to spend countless hours on a build and then finish it off with some scotch tape...

Hello...

I am by no means an expert... I am at about the same level as you, perhaps a few more flights...

A guy told me to do the same thing to my Airplane and he showed me a trainer with the control surfaces taped... Looks like CRAP [:'(]

Apparently helps, but my instructor, also an IMAC competitor, did not mention it and my bird fly’s very very well...

I can't remember the reason but I have never seen a low wing with the surfaces taped...

Someone else can answer you question better but I think it looks awful and would remove it immediately...

Cheers

Matt

I never used it and all my planes flew well. I think the benefits (I may be wrong) are that it seals the air from pasing between the tail surface and the control surface. When you pull back on the elevator, it sorta makes an undercambered airfoil, only inverted. This makes "lift" on the top, or a higher pressure, and a low pressure at the bottom, which pushes the tail down, raising the nose. The tape just keeps the high pressure from bleeding through the gap to the other side. This is supposed to make the controls more responsive. I think the effects a minimal at best, and probably not noticable by a beginner (like me ), especially on a trainer.

Another benefit on faster planes is that it stops the surfaces from fluttering. On a fast sport plane or a racer, sealing a hinge line can stop flutter that would otherwise rip the surface off and destroy the plane!

Tape prevents the migration of air from the high pressure side of the wing (or tail) to the low pressure side. This "migratory" air flow increases turbulence over the control surfaces which reduces their efficiency. It also increases overall drag & it can induce control surface flutter --- all of it bad stuff.

You don't have to use tape -- you can seal the surfaces with monocote (or whatever covering you are using). In fact, you don't have to do it at all -- but your birds will fly better if you do.

You are correct tape generally looks very bad.

However sealing the hinge will improve the control authority and generally improve the handling. As your flying skills improve the difference is easily noticeable.

Seems like the real issue is how to seal the control surface gap in a manner that shows craftsmanship. Some have a knack of sealing the gap with monocote without destroying the visual.

An easy way to eliminate the tape, but still seal the gaps is to use an iron on hinge. There used to be a commercial product available, but it is not available any more. However, you can easily make a hinge using fabric covering. This type of hinge is invisible, as it goes under your normal covering and is very strong.

Thanks for the responses guys. I thought I might just be creating an issue out of nothing. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks the stuff looks terrible. It truly detracts from the look otherwise quality craftsmanship yeilds.

CRFlyer, that sounds like the ideal solution. Do you have any more info regarding this? Might you have pictures, or a rough procedure/material recommendation?

Thanks again!

Well, instructions for making these have been posted many times, but basically, the procedure is to use fabric covering (not monokote) and cut into strips about 1 inch wide. (you may alter the width per your needs)

take two strips of equal length and place them back to back with the sticky side out. Then run through a sewing maching to sew the two together lengh wise down the middle.

Then you simply fold along the stich line and iron them on. What you end up with is two pieces of fabric covering with the stitching as the hinge. Then, you can cover as normal which will cover up your hinge material. I use white world tek fabric covering, but other brands would work just fine.

This is the only type of hinge I use any more. They are very simple to make and install. Plus, no hinge gaps.

Btw, you'll usually notice the biggest effect when you seal the ailerons, especially on planes with strip ailerons. You usually get a faster roll rate and a more "snappy" feel, ie it feels like the rotation starts and stops more accuratly.

I usually seal the gaps only on the bottom of the ailerons, so you can't see much of anything when the plane is on the ground. I also usually use a bit of covering material, so the color matches.

On my combat planes, I do the entire hinge with tape, then if I'm going to paint, I just paint over the hinge.

Unless you are a performance freak, don't worry about it unless you have a problem. Ive never used the stuff.

i've done it on all my planes and plan on doing it for everything in the future. it only takes a couple minutes and a little monokote, and like someone else mentioned, if you pick the colors and do the bottom of the surface it isn't visible anyway. (and remember there IS clear monokote...) it does improve the feel of the plane, more responsive...

it is benefitial to beginners! lots of beginners forget there is a left stick, and just peg it at full throttle and fly around. perfect conditions for flutter, which sealed surfaces can help prevent.

Maybe, but using that left stick is a better solution to the problem!

Smedsky, the fact that you have never used tape is hardly a compelling reason to avoid it. It does work & you don't have to be a "performance freak" to notice the difference.

There seem to be two camps here - those who always seal their gaps and say it helps, and those who never seal their gaps and say sealing doesn't help. Has anyone flown an airplane without tape, then taped the surfaces and made a comparison?

two Sig E's, 1 avistar, and 1 ucando of mine all flew without sealed hinges, and all were later sealed, and ALL of them showed improvement.

Yep, I've flown a plane then taped the surfaces and checked the difference. Noticeable improvement, espeically in roll. I think if your surfaces don't deflect much, the difference will be less noticeable. I honestly didn't bother on my beater-trainer, but I have it on my other planes.

I once flew my overweight Cap21 with one aileron sealed, and the other not sealed. I don't recommend this trick on an acrobatic plane, that's for sure. Not only was the roll rate noticeable faster in one direction than the other, it also seemed to affect looping and stalls. I didn't fly it that way for very long, or do an extensive testing routine, but it was enough to convince me.

Btw, I've seen several IMAC-type planes that have the surface resessed a little in to the fixed portion, or have composite layers that sit over top of the hinge area. This kind of thing gives the same sealing effect as tape. Lots of way to stop or reduce airflow through the hingelines.

OK Thanks. That's good information.

the hinge tape will help. it know it looks like crap. to get the best of both worlds, put it on the bottom where noone will see it. or, you can get white monokote and use that. it will not look like scotch tape and because the bottom is plane white, you will never know the difference.