That's a good point SafeTwire, I also like to give them a good "stretch" before putting them on.

You can see them start to crack as they get used. I never reused a cracked one

Building my first kit a GreatPlanes PT-40 trainer I have the option of using rubber bands or bolt on wings
was going to use bolt on look's much cleaner, now I don't know, any advice?

I like the bolt-on wings much better

I like bolt on wing better too, but on a trainer, I like the flexibility the rubber bands provide in a cartwheeling or wing tip landing. It can save some damage to the wing.

I use the rubber bands until they crack or break, but I do use a couple extra every time. It seems like one or two break when I take them off, so they are constantly being changed out. I like the kitty litter/corn starch in a can idea and may adopt it.

Thanks,

jack

One guy I flew with couldn't stand the rubber band method. I've done it so much now that I've gotten used to it and it's not a big deal anymore. I kind of like the "Zen" I get into while going through the process. I can pay attention to the wind, or the sounds from the flying field or even going through checklists in my mind. It has a calming effect.

I still have a Rubber band plane. I use new ones every time I go out and I stretch them some before putting them on.

As dry as a baby's bum!! not after the oil part 'Ur wife or GF would use

When my brother started flying he had a Thunder Tiger trainer with rubber banded wings. He cartwheeled it one day. The wing twisted loose like you'd think it should. The rubber bands crunched the trailing edge of his wing.

I've had two PT-60s with bolt on wings. I cartwheeled one and the wing bolts broke, and very little damage was done to the wing. Everyone's experience varies on things like this. On a plane like the PT, where the kit gives the option, I'd choose bolts.

Neither PT could survive my vertical, nose first, landings. I call them landings because they were in the center of the runway. If they had been off the runway I would call them crashes.

Me too I'm sort of out of rubber band practice. I did it for 40 years but have to let it go.

A number 67 rubber band is listed as 150x7 and a number 64 is listed as 90x7 on a size chart at
http://www.waughbands.co.nz/products/rubberbands/#sizes
I "assume" that means the loop is bigger on the 67. I also assume that means the 67 will not hold the wing as tightly as a 64. If you put on 12 to 14 of the 67s, and can still lift the wing, put on several more.

If you go up to the discount store for rubber bands all you are going to find are the 64s I used to have to buy the 67's from Sig

Cox PT-19 u-control had the wing and the firewall/landing gear/engine assembly held on with rubber bands! (Still have one)
I built the Carl Goldberg Sr. falcon way back and that wing was held on with rubber bands also. Same with a Buzzard Bombshell I built. I have several others too. You can (actually ...you have to or should) line up the wing by putting just a few rubber bands on at first, then adjust the wing in it's saddle as necessary. You can change the wing incidence easily with a shim if needed.

w8ye...you win "Eyesight of The year Award" for spotting cracks on a rubber band! lol!

You stretch a rubber band out before putting it on the plane and give the rubber band a good eyeball and you will see cracks like an old tire if you look closely on a re-used rubber band.

Yep...That works!

I found out one thing the hard way.

Winter cold and rubberbands are NOT a good mix. I have about a half-box of rubberbands on my porch now that are garbage because of the winter making them brittle

Keep them in your inside pocket until time to put them on

shd3920, If the rubber bands were in good condition before they were left out in the cold, they will be fine once they warm up. The cold will stiffen them, like most rubber product's, but the cold will not deteriorate the rubber ie; cause dry-rot or cracks. This happens when the rubber is subjected to certain chemicals, and, with age. ( I check myself daily )

Its like changing tires. Roll a tire out of an unheated shed and try to mount it on a rim. The words you will utter are not to be spoken in front of children or clergy! However...let the tire warm up by either soaking it in a drum of heated h2o or let it stand in a heated garage for a few days, and it will form to the rim like butter!

It would be interesting to take those frozen rubber bands, let them thaw out (at least three days), and give them the stretch test. Also inspect for deterioration.

It's hard to believe so much can be said about rubber bands, but I'd like to add: if you cross the first one, the wing will hold flat without wanting to tip off. So I usally cros the first set, then put a couple of sets straight, then cross the last set to help hold them on. If you put too many or too strong, you're defeating the purpose of the rubber band method, which, in the event of a crash, is to allow the wing to come off before it breaks.

Phil

I remember flying RC some 51 years ago and when coming out of a loop, the guy next to me started all kinds of commotion. Finally, he said that my wing was lifted up above the fuselage at the bottom of the loop so I took it easy the rest of the flight.

At landing, there were only two rubber bands on the wing. I suppose I had forgotten to put the others on. It was a Sterling Mambo with a Fox 15

You put only a couple rubber bands on then checked the wing for alignment, THEN, got sidetracked (Does that ever really happen?[X(]) THEN...flew! Been there...done that! LOL!

I did this with my Buzzard Bombshell. I wondered why it was so unresponsive and after a closer fly-by I rocked the rudder and saw the wing roll one way while the fuselage stayed put! Close call.

A guy came out to the field with his NextStar RTF which had been out and back a few times before. Looked like it might have been cart wheeled a couple times.

He flew it and there was all kinds of Dutch Roll wiggle action

The NextStar has a narrow fuselage and only only one rear wing bolt.

His wing would rock back and forth.

So bolt-ons are not always perfect either.