Is there a tool to cut slots for hinges..... or is there a way to easily cut them.......

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXK263&P=0]CLICK ME !!!!!!!!!!!![/link]

someone said something about a tool that looked like a double headed exacto knife..... but couldnt find one....

I made mine out of an old hacksaw blade. One end is sharpened round and the other is a "V" shape. For CA hinges just press it into the balsa. Start with the round end and square it up with the "V" end.

For larger hinges I work the opening with the nibbler tool shown - a few bucks from Great Planes.

Here's a link to the X-acto version.

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXE229&P=7]Hinge Tool [click me][/link]

And here is a short video with some good techniques for installing CA hinges.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCNjg5HkPFw

I have a set just like this, except each cutter has a red handle attached. I think it is a Great Planes product. I won it in a raffle. Prior to that, I was just cutting slots with an exacto knife.

They have worked fine for me. Not as easy as the motorized tool, of course, but better than free-handing it with an Exacto.

Edit:

My mistake. It is also a Dubro set, just with handles included for an extra $6.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXE230&P=0

Here is another one:

http://www.harryhigley.com/Tools1.htm Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

This is the same one, but the picture doesn't help much,

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXCLS2&P=7

I did buy this tool when I was building my first kit. I didn't find it any easier or more accurate than freehanding with an Exacto.

I do have the covering film trimmer from the Harry Higley website. It works OK, but I usually can get pretty straight lines with just a sharp razor blade.

That wing bolt drill guide has me puzzled. Is it really that hard to drill and tap wing bolts that you need a special jig for it?

If you don't get the hole perpendicular it will lift one side of the nylon wing bolt's head each time it's tightened down. This does two things: it will deform the balsa, or, if a plywood plate is in the wing, will eventually weaken the bolt to the point where the head seperates . . . followed shortly thereafter by the wing.

It's kind of hard to "eyeball" the angle freehand. I have a set of the Higley drill guides and they do help a lot in keeping the holes perpendicular to the surface.