help with first ARF
 

hey guys, i have a tower trainer 40 that i just picked up, the wing joiner did not fit well out of the box, and now ive sanded it so much its no good. any one know the size plywood its made of and the angle of the cut?

RE: help with first ARF
 

From the manual
angle = arcTan(4-14 / 31) = 7.8 deg,
7.8 deg is a lot, 5 deg will do as well, the important part would be if the wings sheeting are in contact with each other.
now not must but very helpful, i like to fiberglass with epoxy all of my wings center.

hope it helps
Alex

RE: help with first ARF
 

I'm sure someone on here has this plane unassembled and can give you the dimensions of the joiner to make your own. Another option is to call Hobby Services: 217-398-0007. This is the support/repair branch of Hobbico (Tower, Great Planes, Futaba, etc.). They are always very helpful and will likely be able to help you in acquiring a new joiner..

RE: help with first ARF
 

yeah, the hinges that came with this plane are giving me a run for my money, they frayed and now i cant get them in. ARGHHHHHHHH

RE: help with first ARF
 

Try cleaning the slots out with an X-acto. If that doesn't help you can usually get CA hinges at the hobby shop. The GP and Sig hinges seem to both work really well.

RE: help with first ARF
 

i did clean them, but the hinges frayed, im calling tower tomorrow about the wing joiner, ill order a bag of hinges while im at it.

RE: help with first ARF
 

Hello Evil




I have put together two Tower Trainer .46's, Had a mid-air collision on one, and recently finished my ARF. Unfortunately, I do not have the dimensions for you, but I do agree that the hinges are TERRIBLE. All mine frayed even after extensive clearing of the hinge slots, I went to my local hobby shop and picked up some after market hinges that were very tough and went in like a hot knife through butter. I believe they were Great Planes hinges, white in color. Only a few bucks for a pack of 20 or something like that. I would call Hobbico and have them send you a replacemet joiner, easiest way to deal with it. Oh and dont forget to epoxy the wings together, i forgot that step and had to buy some extra straps. Although im sure it will be fine and it has 4 flights on it now with the current setup. Enjoy, its a great flying machine.


Ed

RE: help with first ARF
 

why not just epoxy the crap out of the wing joiner. so it's a little small, i tihnk the epoxy will be enough. as for the CA hinges, just cut a little off. as long as it's not a lot, i think you can do with a slightly smaller hinge.

my two cents.

RE: help with first ARF
 

just make sure you use good hinges on the elevator. if you lose that you lose the plane!

RE: help with first ARF
 

Tower is awesome, i have a new wing joiner on the way and hinges free, i bought the GP Hinges and like Erusso said, hot knife through butter.