Anyone know what is best for sealing hinge lines? I just lost both ailerons off my C.G Sukhoi. Ouch!

Jon, I have a roll of clear Monokote that I use to seal hinges. This works well when I get an ARF covered in something that doesn't match what I have. I only seal one side.

Use the clear of either Monokote or UltraKote. On the bottom only will stop air transfer.

However if you lost both ailerons there is another problem:
1. Were the hinges glued in properly? Earlier this year while helping a new pilot both ailerons parted company from the wing. It was blamed on bad hinges (plane was landed safely using the rudder). Later in the year found that he was glueing into one surface and then inserting into the other. This WON'T work with CA hinges as the second part won't glue plus the glue will harden the hinge too much and cause it to break.
Or
2. Were the linkages installed with no slop or play and with adequate tork servos? I have seen alierons part company of a wing on a 40% plane with less than stellar linkages. You can't use the hardware designed for a 60 size sport plane for this kind of aerobat.

Hope this helps. Ask more detailed questions if needed.

EXCAP232

This Sukhoi had about a dozen flights on it. The hinges came with the kit. Plane wasnt going too fast, well within the flight envelope, five hinges per side. Both ailerons left at the same time, exactly! Didnt fly too well rudder only. hinges broke. they were the nylon flat to round pin type. oh, well.

A buddy of mine had the exact same thing happen with a GSP Edge 1.20 size. It seems that when one goes so does the other one. Bummer when something like that happens.

Jon: I'm using those same type of hinges (epoxy hinges?) on my Sig Cap231ex. No problems yet. I hope there won't be one in the future.

Are these bad hinges to use? I'm over powering the airplane with a Moki 1.8. Any ideas on how I could rehinge if necessary?

Thanks,

Patrick

I would rehinge if i were you. I will never use those hinges again. What a pain. I loved that plane

I had an elevator half tear out of Goldberg Extra using those same hinges. I managed to land it safely with the other elevator half. I switched to good pinned 1/4 scale hinges and no further problems.