I have come to my least favorite part of kit building.... putting hinge slots in ailerons. I have the GP Slot Machine and it works great for cutting slots in the wings. But ailerons are more of a challenge. I am talking about solid balsa ailerons that are beveled at the leading edge and taper down to a thin thickness at the trailing edge. No matter whether I cut the slots by hand or use the slot machine I end either breaking through the aileron surface, and/or getting the slot misaligned with the peak of the leading edge, and/or getting the slot twisted at an angle.

Does anyone have a better way?

Here's what I use. the blades go through a slot and help to at least get the slot cut by the Slot Machine parallel to the surface of the aileron. I sometimes don't nail it as far as getting a 90 degree slot but the tool is very helpful. Just make sure to minimize the slot machines cutter teeth on the plastic guide when putting it into and removing it from the guide. The reason for this is the teeth will also cut the plastic of the tool.

The link to the http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXPU13&P=7

I use Robart hinges,you just have to drill a hole.jeffo

Thanks guys. I had my eye on the GP hinge cutting guide. I'll give it a try.

On the Robart hinges... How do you align the drill? Is aligning the drill easier than aligning the slot machine?

Robart markets an drill jig. It's worth the money. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...P?I=LXET65&P=8

Ahhhh.... Very nice. Thank you

Very nice! I need to pick up one of them!

+1

hi
i had the same trouble but it got better ones i change out the blades for new ones and i used this tool http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXPU13&P=M now i gotting so good i do it ith out the tool and just do go as deep on the ailerons ,ca hinges are good for 40 size and below i go with the robarts on 60 size and up just make sure that the hinges are well oiled before you glue them in and make sure that the hinge is in line to go up and down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnBCelaWyP8

You can run into the problem of Robart hinges breaking through both the top and bottom of a tapered surface. I drill with my fingers on both sides of where the hole is drilled so I can feel the bit. Normally you can tell when it's getting close to break through the wood.

You stop there and then see how far the hinge point will go into the hole. If you have to cut off too much of the hinge point then you probably shouldn't use them.