Help Please!
 

I reading the instruction manual over and over again to my Thunder Tiger Easy Trainer (before I start assembly) .... and something just seems to be "not right" in the manual (apart from the fact that some of the details are rather sketchy). I can't figure out how the wings attach to the body of the aircraft. I know usually there are two nylon screws that hold it on ... but I can't see anything like this in the parts list and I just can't see them in any picture of the trainer.

Any ideas? Hints? Or suggestions? Please ...

RE: Help Please!
 

I haven't seen that particular plane close up, but it's quite common for trainers to use rubber bands to hold the wing on. For beginners, these are a much better choice as they allow the wing to move in the event of a crash. Did the plane come with a couple hardwood dowels, and are there holes in the fuselage near the leading and trailing edges of the wing saddle?

RE: Help Please!
 

I don't recall seeing any holes in the wing saddle ... I'll check tonight because I'm at work right now. But there definately are no hardwood dowels in the kit! However I don't see any rubber bands in any of the pics of the plane ....

RE: Help Please!
 

abraxas,
I did a quick google search on that trainer and I came up with a few pictures of this trainer, unfortunately it was difficult to tell from the pictures exactly how the wing is attached. But, in you post you mentioned that there are nylon screws to attach the rear of the wing to the fuselage, so I'm going to use that as a reference. Normally, in wings that have screws to attach the rear of the wing the front of the wing is attached directly to the airframe in some manner. In most cases there is a dowel rod extending from the front of the wing, in the center point of the wing, that is inserted in a hole in the former located at the front of the wing saddle on the fuselage. Sometimes it is two dowels instead of one, but that is usually how it works. You insert the dowel of the wing into the hole in the former and then push the wing as far forward as it will go, then you use the nylon screws to bolt down the wing into position. This will hold the wing in place while you fly.

Ken

RE: Help Please!
 

Thanks for the reply RCKen ... but I was saying that I am familiar with nylon screws holding down the wing - but in this case the wing doesn't seem to be held in place by anything! And the manual doesn't seem to go into this "minor" detail!

RE: Help Please!
 

Like Ken, I also tried to find pics or a manual online, but I also only found pics that really don't show enough detail. I did come across one web site that mentioned having to drill holes for the wing hold down dowels. Another thing I remembered is that I've found that ARFs are much more likely to use metal wing hold down bolts than nylon. Sometimes I do a bit of re-engineering so I can use nylon, but other times I just go with the metal ones that were included with the kit.

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Ok ... that sounds about right ... because in one of the pics in the manual you can make out two screws coming out of the wing. But nowhere does it ever mention putting them in!

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I'm not surprised, but it's kind of disappointing that the instructions on a trainer don't cover something like this. Even the World Models Zen that I'm finishing up has a step showing attaching the wing.

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You bet it's disappointing! I mean I know the fusealage is the least expensive part of the hobby - but it's still expensive!!! You would think that the instructions would go into the most minute detail - especially for a trainer made for beginners! If I hadn't read advice given on this forum I would have never known why the gas tank has 3 outlets and what to do with that "extra" one ... it's really a shame.

RE: Help Please!
 

Ok, I've put together a diagram to hopefully show what you need to be looking for. The drawing is over simplified, but you should get the idea. Look for a hole in the former (cross member between the two fuselage sides) and there should be a hole (can be either square or round) that will serve as a hold down for the front of the wing. If the instructions are so weak on details then there may be a dowel hole already drilled into the wing for a dowel to be inserted.

If this still doesn't help is there any chance you can upload some pictures of the fuselage, wing components, scan of the the instructions??

Hope this helps.

Ken

RE: Help Please!
 

Wow! I'm impressed (now I feel bad about asking so many questions). I'll take a look at the model tonight and I'll get back to you. I'm sure I can get a few pics up if need be :) However I don't see any holes in the wing per se (but this doesn't mean that there aren't any holes under the covering as almost all holes are buried under covering).

RE: Help Please!
 

According to the additional equipment list, #64 rubber bands are needed. The #64 rubber bands are typically used for holding the wing on.

If you want to use the rubber bands, look for 2 dowels several inches long OR there may be 4 short dowels (about 1" - 2" long ) that will probably have a plastic type cover over it. The cover may or may not have a screw in the end securing the cover to the dowel.

If you want to use nylon bolts to secure the wing, it is not difficult to convert the wing to a bolt on type. Just starting out, I suggest going with the rubber band mount.

Hope this helps.

RE: Help Please!
 

abraxas,

If this is the model I think it is, I just soloed on it a few weeks ago. It uses rubber bands to attach the wing, I built it in 1994, but seem to recall having some difficulty with the instructions.

Let us know which it is.

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Ok, so I found out that this is a rubber band mounted wing. However in the parts list (and the parts) there is only 1 dowel!

Ageexpert - do you remember how you had set the wing up???

RE: Help Please!
 

On mine, there are two wooden dowels. One on either end of the wing saddle on the fuse. As I recall, the holes for the dowels were not pre-drilled.

Is it possible that the wooden dowel is twice as long as is needed? Is it long enough to be cut in half and still stick out both sides of the fuse at least 1/2"?

Once you get through most of the build, things should become more obvious as there are fewer parts to sift through and worry about losing.

Let us know how it goes.

RE: Help Please!
 

OK, I think I found the correct manual.
http://www.acehobby.com/ace/PDF/Airp...asyTrainer.pdf

On page 5 it shows a picture of the parts which includes 2 dowels. I didn't find, in my qick read thru where it says to install them. There is only one picture of one installed on pg 15 and that is poor. I may have missed something though as I was in a hurry.

I hope this is the correct manual. I imagine you will need to cut the covering ( locate holes from inside) to install dowels. You may need to go to the LHS for another dowel if you have lost one or never got it. Easier than waiting for replacement unless local dealer will replace it.

RE: Help Please!
 

I did a quick read too and didn't see it, but then I let Adobe do the search. There's one paragraph at the bottom of the left hand column on page 15:

"There are 1/4" holes in both fuselage sides in front of and behind the wing opening for the wing hold-down dowels. Cut the covering away from these holes and install the two wing holddown dowels in these holes."

Sounds like the mystery is solved, but unfortunately, he'll need another dowel.

RE: Help Please!
 

Thanks everyone! I got myself another dowel .... no problem when your dad happens to be a woodworker! (Hey dad ... I need a 1/4" dowel. Got any? Yep - over there) I completely missed that paragraph trolling through the instructions ... thanks again.

RE: Help Please!
 

Now all you need is the #64 rubber bands. We can buy those cheaper here at office supply stores. Use 10-12 of these and criss-cross at least the last pair so they don't tend to slip off the dowels as easily. The rest can/should go on any other way you like (straight front-to-back). If you lose less rubber bands the wing may lift from the fuselage during high G manuevers. This will change the incidence angle of the wing (among other things) and can be VERY bad. [:@]

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I wish I still lived in Canada ... we could buy these things in bulk all the time! Now I have to find a 'stationer' here and pray to God that the person behind the counter doesn't stare at me with their 'Huh?' look when I say I need a bag of #64 rubber bands ... I get the feeling I'm getting a bag of 64 rubber bands ...

RE: Help Please!
 

abraxas-

Glad you solved the rubber band problem. One question: I have glanced through you other posts and see no mention of where, when or how you are planning to fly your new plane. Do you have an instructor or companion there to help you learn how to fly? If not, rubber bands will be the least of your problems. Sounds like you are on the right track in getting started in R/C. A little local help will hopefully keep you from wrecking a nice plane.

If your wondering how I know, it's because I crashed two trainers while trying to teach myself.

-Scott

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Only 2, you learned quick. :D

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Oh ... I haven't mentioned where I'll be flying. Well there are two flying clubs here - one at Hal Far and one at Ta Qali. I'm a bit partial to the Ta Qali one because it's only a five minute drive from home and I've been getting some help from there. But it being Christmas time and all - and the fact that I'm so busy I haven't had a lot of time to visit lately!

Both flying sites have a pretty nice history. Both are portions of an ex-RAF runway (the Ta Qali flying field is 300 feet long) which saw action in WW2 and were used against Rommel's troops in North Africa and for the invasion of Sicily. It's kind of a nice feeling knowing that from where your little plane is taking off from REAL Spitfires, Hurricanes, Gladiators, and P-51s were taking off doing their duty.

It's actually a bit humbling.

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Sorry, I should have expanded more. I only destroyed 2 before I learned I needed an INSTRUCTOR. It might have been 3. They were SPADs, so I sort of lost count. I got pretty good at building SPAD Debonairs, though. Once I got an instructor and buddy box, I soloed after about 3 sessions. To be fair, I actually first flew 20 years ago, using my brothers' Aeromaster bipe. Flew OK, but never really learned to land all that well.

The SPAD crashes were 2 years ago when I tried to relearn by teaching myself. I was trying to learn on skis on a frozen lake. When I had my final crash, I spun in to the ice and totalled it. When I went to retrieve the wreckage, I discovered I was only about 100 feet from someone's cabin on the other side of the lake. It was at this point that I realized: these things are fast, dangerous and they fly a long ways away. I need help.

Bottom line, I strongly recommend an instructor.

-Scott

RE: Help Please!
 

abraxas-

Glad to hear it. You seemed sharp enough to have that covered, but I just thought I would check. Be thankful for a field 5 min. from your house! I have a half hour drive.

-Scott