Cradle for planes
 

I need to build a stand which will hold my planes when I work on them. I want to be able to use it at home and take it to the field. Alternatively, if there is a good stand which is available for purchase I am willing to buy that stand. I have looked at the stands that Ernst and Robart make and I don't like them. Can anyone out there either point me to a premade stand which I can buy or point me to a place on this website or elsewhere which might have pictures, instructions, etc.? Thanks in advance.

RE: Cradle for planes
 

Go to your local Home Deopt, et. al. and get some 3/4" PVC and foam pipe insulation. Them let your imagination run wild.

You can make removable legs for a field stand, and remove them for table-top use

Here's one I made for a P-38 and it cost less than $12

RE: Cradle for planes
 

Mike, I saw a picture of one on RCU made from 3/4" PVC - the stuff you get from Lowes for lawn sprinkler systems. Four tees, 8 elbows and a few feet of straight pipe covered with grey water pipe (foam) insulation to protect your planes makes a very nice, adjustable stand. It looks like two goal posts supported on a rectangular base with the goal posts centered (tee'd) along the narrow ends.

-Kurt

RE: Cradle for planes
 

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=5741538
Take a look at the one in this post. With a little woodworking skill it can easily be made. Appears to be quite adjustable. You could easily put a wider base on it too for better stability. I'm thinking of making myself one.

RE: Cradle for planes
 

I bought a set of Skil{tm} plastic folding saw horses at Lowes. These had a narrow top flange and a set of brackets that slid over them which colud accomodate a 2x4 in it's lower channel or a 2x6 in it's upper. I then fashioned a couple of adjustable craddels and mounted them to brackets. Now I unfold a saw horse slip the brackets on and I'm good to go. I love the fact that it folds flat once you remove the brackets that is.

RE: Cradle for planes
 

Got any pics? Sounds like agreat idea.

RE: Cradle for planes
 

Download the catalog from www.cermark.com and look at page 43. The 'rubber rack' is a good stand.

RE: Cradle for planes
 

I also was looking for a cradle to hold my planes. And I looked at the Robart stand, but I couldn't see spending 10 bucks (for the CHEAP one!) when it was just a piece of styrofoam. So I got a better idea. I bought a couple of the $1.79 foam coolers at Wal-Mart and cut a wedge-shaped section out of the 'bottom'. I glued the lid upside-down to the main box and there you go! Cheap-O plane stand!

I realize you might be looking for something with legs, but this works fine on a table or tail-gate.

RE: Cradle for planes
 

I just purchased a [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?&I=LXE974]Ernst Ultra Stand[/link] from Towerhobbies for $10.99. Seems to work great for the price.

Cheers
Pups

RE: Cradle for planes
 

I did an idea like the foam cooler, only you can't put too much weight on it or it will ruin the design. I took a decent sized cardboard box that was approx. 3ft long, 1f wide and about 1ft tall. I folded the (tabs, lids, whatever you call the top of the cardboard that you use to close it up) too the outside and cut a U shape into one of the long sides and a V into the other. The U-shape holds the engine cowl area and the V-shape holds the fuse near the tail. Since I am looking to sell the plane soon I didn't want to shape PVC or similar for it...maybe I could sell it with the plane...hmm.. anyways..this is a cheap idea for the bargain hunter and I don't recommend it for heavier models. Heres a pic..I hope you all get the idea with my beginner art...

RE: Cradle for planes
 

This idea came from one of the model mag's. some year ago. It's a combination of the
card board box and styrofoam. Take a box and cut the top end tabs off leave the side
tabs on and fold them inside the box. Glue a 2" thick piece of styrofoam to the inside
end of the box big enough to cover all of the box end. Then cut the styrofoam in the
end of the box to the shape you like to fit your plane. I have several of these they work
good both for transporting and working on the bench. Cheap too.