Rubber Band Size for an Apprentice s15e
 

I have a couple of Horizon's planes, Champ, Delta Ray, Archer, and the Sport Cub. I wanted to move up to a larger aircraft so I bought an Apprentice s15e. When I was installing the wing, two of the rubber bands broke. I haven't even left the ground yet! That was a little disheartening! Rather than paying the exorbitant prices Horizon is asking for the rubber bands, does anyone have any suggestions as to what brands of bands and size to buy? I did a lot of searching and found many suggestions however there was not a consistent consensus that I could discern. The manual says to use eight bands and I am down to six even before a maiden flight. Not wanting to have a disaster during the first flight, I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

Most 40 size glo trainers of similar physical size use #64 rubber bands. You can buy a large bag full (almost a lifetime supply) from any office supply for just a couple of bucks. For general information, you should use 2 rubber bands for each pound the plane weighs. I.E. 5lb airplane needs 10 bands, 5 bands on each side of the wing. Chris-cross the last two you put on, that slight angle will help hold the other bands on in flight, or so the theory goes.:rolleyes:

I have been using these now for several years since I discovered them at Walmart of all places in the stationary section, and they have made the old #64's obsolete for me.

They are marketed as book markers, in a relaxed state seven inchs long and they are approximately 1/8th inch square. Have used them on everything from the typical 40 sized trainer to my forty year old Super Buckineer that has a twenty inch wing cord. The smallest is in fact my Apprentice which I sometimes use for training. On that one the seven inch band works perfectly with just a single double back.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2109539

John

Thanks to both of you!

John, Those look interesting. I only have 3 trainers with rubber band type wings left and 2 of them have a 12" cord so the bigger bands may be good. I'll look at them next time I'am in Wally World. I am not sure what plane I would use the pink ones on though!:rolleyes:

Ya sure get the ribbing over the pink ones:)

Rubber bands? Oh No, not another one?? They break, come loose, with glow fuel, they rot; there goes your wing!. Just sink a couple blind nuts and nylon bolts and forget rubber bands..You'll be glad you did after a few plane losses.

How do you do that with a foam plane? How do you fasten nuts to the plane that will hold securely?

Maybe FLAPhappy thinks lag bolts will hold in FOAM !:rolleyes: On using rubber bands he says "they break" (not if you only use new ones),"they come loose" (not if you are smart enough to install them correctly), "with glow fuel" (the OPs plane is electric),"they rot" (again, not if you use new ones), "and there goes your wing" (got to use the correct number for the plane's weight) and "bla, bla, bla". Yes, a bolt on wing is an improvement on many planes but not in all cases. IE; the OPs electric foamy trainer, and also the plane I flew today, a classic 1955 Debolt Live wire Champ powered by a .25 glo engine. New bands, the correct number, properly installed,= nice enjoyable flights and NO wing loss or movement. You just gotta know what you're doing. flymetothemoon, Ignore FLAP's advice as it doesn't apply to your Apprentice.

Indeed flymetothemoon pay no nevermind to likes of one who did not even bother to read your first post But instead just read the thread title and let loose with all the negativity. So please keep enjoying the forum:cool:

There are other reasons beyond what most just assume and among them are fidelity to an orginal design model not necessarily a scale type model.

I have a number of vintage type aircraft that would be just plain 'Wrong' without a banded wing. The most striking of which is my very vintage giant Berkeley Super Buckineer That weighs almost forty pounds and yes just would be wrong without the banded wing. It requires approximately the entire amount pictured in the photo above for flight.

John

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2109893 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2109894

I apologize to you. I was not sure if it was a foam plane. Take the advice of others here and ignore my post.

Flap's, At least you're man enough to come back and acknowledge "you stepped in it" not having all the facts with a quick shoot from the hip answer. We have all done that at some time and had to also take our verbal drubbing. That's how we keep each other in line. Your advice meant well, just not right for this guy's foamy plane. And yeah, I was exaggerating your answer with "lag bolts"! :) Have a good day.

If any one else a similar question I found that these work really well. http://www.amazon.com/Alliance-Red-Packer-Band-Approximately/dp/B008X09G18/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1437320835&sr=1-1&keywords=Alliance+Red+Packer+Band+-+Size

Alliance Red Packer Band - Size #69 Heavy Duty Rubber Band (6 x 1/4 Inches) - 1 Pound Box - Approximately 110 Bands per Pound (96695)

Just be sure to use enough to keep the wing from lifting off the fuse. No big deal unless you are LAZY > lol ENJOY !!! RED

Excellent FLAPHappy--

What happens when insufficient rubber is used you may first notice it when a loop is attempted and on the pull up the leading edge of the wing raises slightly and the airplane will react by sudden uncommanded tightening of the radius. very disconcerting but most of the time does not result in a loss of a wing. I think this occurs more often than we may admit, just caused by being lazy:)

John

Testing tensile strength
 

All this talk about wings falling off mid air and not enough rubber bands got me a little nervous. So I did a little test using my digital scale. I stretched both bands (stock) and the Alliance Red Packer Band to 10 inches in length. The stock band provided a tensile strength of 2.0 pounds at that distance and the Alliance came in a 2 pounds and 5 ounces. The Alliance band is thicker and wider and even though longer provides a higher strength. I also think the red color adds a bit of pizazz. :cool:


Now I feel better. Phew.

Attached is a picture of both bands.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2110020

[QUOTE=flymetothemoon;1207243 . I also think the red color adds a bit of pizazz. :cool:

[/QUOTE]


Ya man and you don,t have take all the static about the pink ones :):cool: