Cutting hinge slots in a fibreglass fin???
07-03-2006 | 05:36 PM
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From: BEGA, AUSTRALIA
Cutting hinge slots in a fibreglass fin???
Hi. I'm building a World Models Aure and have come up against a bit of a problem...
After having had some difficulty installing the aileron servos I looked at the next step in the instruction manual, i.e., attaching the rudder to the fin. I was looking forward to a simple step which I expected to knock over in 5-10 minutes. You can imagine my dismay as I pulled out the fibreglass fuse to find that the hinge slots had not been cut in the fin. The nylon hinge strips were preinstalled in the rudder.
How do I go about cutting (good) hinge slots in fibreglass and what tools do I need?
Thanks in advance for your advice
Xactibu
After having had some difficulty installing the aileron servos I looked at the next step in the instruction manual, i.e., attaching the rudder to the fin. I was looking forward to a simple step which I expected to knock over in 5-10 minutes. You can imagine my dismay as I pulled out the fibreglass fuse to find that the hinge slots had not been cut in the fin. The nylon hinge strips were preinstalled in the rudder.
How do I go about cutting (good) hinge slots in fibreglass and what tools do I need?
Thanks in advance for your advice
Xactibu
07-03-2006 | 07:23 PM
#2
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RE: Cutting hinge slots in a fibreglass fin???
There should be a balsa post on the inside of the vertical fin, only the skin should be fiberglass or composite. I would just line up the vertical stab and rudder in the exact position they will be in, tape them in place, measure, mark and cut a normal hinge slot with an exacto knife. I have done this before and its no big deal. Works just like cutting balsa. You just have to make the hinge slot slightly wider and very slightly deeper than the hinge it is going to receive, just like cutting into balsa.
The only sticking points would be to make sure there is no foam behind the hinges, if there is you cant use CA as it will destroy the foam. My bet would be that the fuselage skin at the vertical fin post does nothave any foam in there.
Drill a little hole right on the hingeline with a tiny drillbit, like 1/32 or even 1/64th and see whats in there, then you will know what to do. Im bet that when you pull the bit back you see wood. A little exploration to see what you are working with would be appropriate unless someone can tell you exactly what you have there.
The only sticking points would be to make sure there is no foam behind the hinges, if there is you cant use CA as it will destroy the foam. My bet would be that the fuselage skin at the vertical fin post does nothave any foam in there.
Drill a little hole right on the hingeline with a tiny drillbit, like 1/32 or even 1/64th and see whats in there, then you will know what to do. Im bet that when you pull the bit back you see wood. A little exploration to see what you are working with would be appropriate unless someone can tell you exactly what you have there.
07-04-2006 | 12:42 AM
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RE: Cutting hinge slots in a fibreglass fin???
Thanks Mike.
I looked a little more closely at the fin post and noticed that there were actually narrow "slots" just visible beneath the covering. I pushed my blade into these and found they gave way with a bit of pressure though they were a little on the narrow side. Once I widened the slots I was able to insert the hinges. Thanks again.
Xactibu
I looked a little more closely at the fin post and noticed that there were actually narrow "slots" just visible beneath the covering. I pushed my blade into these and found they gave way with a bit of pressure though they were a little on the narrow side. Once I widened the slots I was able to insert the hinges. Thanks again.
Xactibu
