Hi, I am in the process of building my plane and i already finished the stab. and the elevs. On the last steps of the section, it says to draw centerlines and make hinges out of CA. It says to cut them 1 inch by 3/4 inch and cut the 4 corners off so its easer to slide in. Are they talking about cutting slots in the centerlines of the stab and elevs. and inserting those 1" x 3/4" into the slots to act as hinges. If so, how deep do I make the slots. Deep enough to go through the hinge blocks inside the stab.??? Thanks alot for help

Josh

Joshua11,
Yes, you need to cut the slots in the middle of the control surface and in the trailing edge of the surface that it mounts to. You need to cut the slot deep enough for the hinge to be able to be pushed all the way into the slot. After you have the hinge cut to shape you need to draw a line across the hinge in the middle of the hinge. You'll want to push a pin through the hinge on this line. Then you can push the hinge into slot up to the pin. If it won't go all the way into the slot up to the pin then you don't have the slot cut deep enough. Take a look at the attached pictures and you can get a better idea of how the hinges should go into the slots.

As for cutting the slots. I could re-explain it here, but I have a very good section about cutting hinge slots in my LT-40 build thread. You can find the section I am referring to here:
[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3439708/mpage_8/key_/tm.htm#3527542]Pay It Forward Build Thread!! LT-40 build. Cutting hinge slots.[/link]

Take a look at these resources and see if they don't help you out. If not, please let us know and we'll be more than happy to try to get you more help.

Hope this helps

Ken

I was typing while Ken was posting! Anyway his illustration is better than my explanation.

If it's an ARF the hinge slots are probably already cut. If it's a kit you'll need to do it. If the hinge slots are already cut measure and mark the center of each CA hinge you made and insert them in the hinge slots on the stab up to the centerline you drew. Use straight pins on the centerline to keep the hinge material from going in too deep. Put the control surface on by lining up it's slots with the hinges. Remove the pins and flex the control surface and drip 3-4 drops of thin CA on each hinge. Flip it over and do the same on the other side. If you have to cut the slots yourself use a #11 razor knife and cut them just deep enough so the CA hinge will seat at the centerline you drew on them.

I guess you are building a kit? you have it right. draw a centerline on the stab and elevator for the hinges. mark off the positions of the hinges, usually 3 hinges to an elevator half, for example. use a #11 blade to cut slots for the hinges, they will be a little over 3/4" to accomadate the width of the hinge and about 1/2" deep to accomadate the depth of half the hinge. You can use a spare hinge to check the fit. Draw a line on the hinge at the mid point (this point would fall between the stab and elevator half if you glued it in) so that you can check the depth of your slot.

The best way to draw a centerline is to lay the part flat on the table, lay a pencil flat on the table and run the part along the pencil point. use playing cards and spare balsa, etc, to adjust the height of the pencil and part as needed.

peter

OHHH OK, You guys really cleared everything up for me. Not I get it...... Thanks alot for the help....well back to work


Josh