ARF hinges
 

My Venus 40 ARF comes with "CA hinge strips" that you cut down to 3/4" x 1" hinges. These are not pinned.

Are these hinges OK, or should I replace them with pinned ones? If so, what type?

Thanks,

Tycho

RE: ARF hinges
 

Go ahead and use them but pin them.

What I do is I drill a hole (can' remember the size, but it's very small) right into the middle of the slots where the hinge is going to go. I then put at least one pin in the middle of the hinge so that when I insert them it will generally keep equal amounts of the hinge in both slots.

I then insert all the hinges and control surfaces. Then deflect the surface as far as it will go and drop some thin CA onto the hinge, the hole you drilled will allow the CA to get into the slot further (wick). Once the CA has had time to dry then I turn the surface over and repeat the gluing.

Once all that is done, I then raid the girlfriends sewing chest and gather up at least 2 flat or round head sewing pins for each side of each hinge and insert them into the hinge and push them down below the surface just a little bit. Once they are in I drop some thick CA onto the head of the pin. I then cut off the other side as flush as I can get and repeat the gluing there.

I use wire nippers (not side cutters, but the kind that have the cutter on the top of the jaw instead of the side) to cut off the pointy end of the pins. This allows me to get really close and in some case just below the surface.

Others I know use 1/8 balsa dowl and drill one hole into each hinge (one hole on the control surface and one on the wing, stab, fin, etc) and Ca them in. I prefer the sewing pins as it's much more of a cleaner install.

RE: ARF hinges
 

They will be fine. Just make SURE that they are installed properly,

Here's a great "How To" that shows the correct way to install them. Read it all so you know what to do, and what not to do.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...FTOKEN=7407962

RE: ARF hinges
 

I have a Venus they worked fine. It's a really nice plane for practicing pattern, only problem is it would be nice if it was alittle bigger. Don't know your flying experiance but be prepared for it to come in hot. I saw on your other post you asked about an engine. I flew mine on an MAgnum .46 and it flew nice. But I have since but a .61 FS and it rocks.

RE: ARF hinges
 

Thanks for the suggestions.

Knighthawk2100: Regarding my experience. I'm fairly new to this. I started flying (again) back in May with my first plane, a H9 Arrow. I can do the whole sportsman patter as well as inverted flight comfortably. I just finished a Sky Raider Mach II that I will use to practice flying a low-winged tail dragger. I figured that at $70 I wouldn't feel bad if a messed up. I'm planning getting comfortable with this plane before I start flying the Venus. As far as the engine, I'm putting a Magnum XLS 52 in it.

Did anybody successfully side mount the engine and put a Pitts muffler on? Or is the cowl too narrow?

Thanks,

Tycho

RE: ARF hinges
 

Set your throws alittle less than the recommended and the plane flys smooth and stable. I used it as a 3rd plane and with the rates set low it was easy to fly. Like I said before though it tends to land fast. It's also made of very soft wood to keep it light. So it won't survive many bumbs and hard landings. It is a great plane though, and if you can do the sportsman routine then you shoulden't have a problem.