I am building my first ARF....I usually buy planes from the guys at the field.

For added security can I add some hinge tape to the ailerons? I see some spacing and I guess now I am worried about flutter that I have been reading about.

mcoccia,
Yes, you can seal the gaps of your control surfaces. This will make your plane perform better and will help with a flutter situation. But it won't remedy ALL causes of flutter. This is because having a gap between your control surface and the structure it's attached to isn't the only cause of flutter in a plane. First of all you need to realize what flutter is. Flutter is the uncontrolled movement back and forth of a control surface. This is usually caused by slack or "slop" in some part of your control system. While not limited to this list, here are a few of the causes of flutter; loose hinges, poor connection of control arms to the control surface, slop in torque rods mounted in control surface, wallowed out mounting holes in control arms, wallowed out mounting holes in servo arms, servo arms loose on servo, worn servos, and control rods not mounted properly which allows them to flex. If you are experiencing flutter in your plane and you're not sure of the cause please don't make guesses as to the solution. Enlist help from a more experienced modeler in finding the problem. Flutter can and will destroy an airplane in flight in a matter of seconds. It's not a pretty sight watching a plane destroyed like this, the plane literally comes apart in the air. Very sickening to watch.

Ken

mcoccia, what type of plane is it?

Ken,

Thank you for help I am new to Airplanes...I primarily fly & build nitro heli's.

What type of tape would you recommand? I was told to use the 3M packing tape? I see they have Hinge tape for electrics but I don't think it will cut it.

It's a Venus 40 ARF.

mcoccia,
you can use plain old scotch tape or packing tape to seal the gaps of you want to. Or use can use monokote (or whatever brand of covering that you prefer). Since this is your first plane it may be easiest to just use cleat tape to seal them up. It's pretty simple to do. Deflect the control surface back as much as possible (it helps to have a second person sometimes, or use tape to hold it back). Then fold you tape in half and put it in the gap. make sure you use something to work it down on both sides of the gap so that it's firmly attached (you don't want it bunching up in the gap), and then smooth the tops down. That's all you need to do.

I do want to clarify a little what I said earlier. I should have said that sealing the hinge gaps will not usually have any affect at preventing flutter. The other things I mentioned in my above post are what should be checked if you have a flutter situation. Sealing your hinge gaps will improve the performance of your plane by eliminating air leaking through the gap.

Hope this helps

Ken

Wow!! thank you for the info. I did understand what you were saying regarding the other issue's that could cause flutter. I purchased those "Dubro Heavy Duty Control Horn System" that I will install on all the control surface's....I know it may be overkill but it will make me feel better while she is soaring through the sky

Let me offer my 2 cents for what it is worth.
If you get a good tight fit on your surfaces when you hinge your ARF taping them is not necessary. That is unless your ARF is already hinged and there is a gap.