How big a gap in the control surface hinging should I tolerate on an A-10X? I just got one partially assembled, everything is hinged with pin type hinges except for the rudders, those also use pin type also but are not glue in yet. Normally I am pretty fanatical about minimum gaps, the way these are done the gaps are comparatively HUGE . The smallest is probably an 1/8" and the elevators are worse by quite a bit.

Looks like the entire TE is a wide piece of solid balsa and the control surfaces themselves are solid balsa so I could cut through the existing hinges, trim them flush and start over again just to one side of each hinge. Opinions? I'm leaning towards redoing the elevators and leaving the wing surfaces unchanged but adding a gap seal - the ailerons aren't so bad @ 3/32" to a smidge more...

Okay what EDF Power system is going to power this beast?
I think a gap seal will do the job.

You can gap seal, but it still looks horrible or you can re hinge it.
To rehinge it first cut through the hinges with a thin cutoff wheel. Then get a piece of brass tubing with an ID the same as the hinge pin od. Cut the tubeing about 1.5 inch long. Grinde some teeth in one end with a very thin dremel cutoff wheel. Now use this to drill out the hinge points. Use a hand drill and go slowly. Now you can rehinge it correctly, just use a little extra epoxy if the hole is oversized. Scott

Seal the gaps, yes. I would hesitate to re-do the entire hinging system, unless you can place new hinges right in the same spots...an extra set of slots for a second new set of hinges can't do much good for the integrity of the wooden parts.
Unsealed large gaps can do very funny things, aside from reducing control effectiveness. I experienced rudder reversal on a plane once, at certain speeds, turned out that sealing the gap cured it...

This will use a GWS EDF 75, right? Suggest you go brushless!

Completely unnecessary on this plane.... While the control surfaces do have some minor gaps, it is not necessary to seal them. we have many flights on the prototype, hinges glued as it comes out of the box with no adverse problems associated to the gaps. If your anal about this, go ahead and seal them with covering but the only benifit will be a tad less throw needed at the surface and perhaps a tad less drag.
Todd

LOL! Thanks for the input all. I figure about 4,000 watts ought to do the job I happen to have a pair of motor pods, ESC's anda monster battery sitting unused

Check out the electric version that flew last month here in Hawaii. http://bobenny.com/7%20May%2006.htm

I think he already did!

Did something bad happen to your A-10?

Yes, it's called hangar rash. In the process of loading the car for an event last year it fell over and snapped the tail off and broke off the nacelles. I could fix it but the plane while a great flyer had a few issues - marginal range and ESC heating issues. All related to the fact that the fuselage cross section was just too small. Everything from the high power wires, ESC's, rats nest of servo leads, main power battery and Rx all needed to occupy the ame space in the fuselage.

This A-10X should work out better, it's got about 4 times the internal space available. All the system stuff including the Robart 530 retracts transfer over so...

Hmmm...I've lost nice birds to hangar rash, too, I sympathize.
Do you have another scale twin project in mind after this A-10x thing, for this gear?
Maybe a Kerry Sterner or Royal Learjet?

I have a Yellow F-4 I may get around to at some point. Just not in the summer time

chris the electric a10x in hawaii is mine i used 2 ap900 fans it flew pretty good on half the batteries needed to fly it, it's great plane for either electric or turbine if you need pic of the hinge install let me know [email protected] and i'll send them to you, but i think the hinges on this plane are really not as important as you think just slap them on and have fun.

btw i was down at dougs hobbies last week and am going to renew my membership at pgrc so i can bring my jets home with me( to md) and fly. btw i only knew of eric from GPA hobbies that flew jets good to see i'll have company when i come back...hehehe
kevin

Chris,

Kevin's A-10xe with 2 AP-900 and Mega 22/30 have very good proform. It's a fun plane to fly with either EDF or turbin.

Hey, sorry I missed you @ Doug's . My favorite local shop...

Drop me a note when you are ready to fly. If you don't mind grass the club field @ Greenwell state park works for me, I don't get up to PGRC too often but if I had a reason...

Moving right along, I installed the fans last night and screwed everything together this morning. It's not finished yet but a good opportunity to admire it and make airplane noises .

I need to add a few more feet of servo extensions, make a battery mount and install the main retracts once the parts I need from Robart come in. Robart is OK [8D], I bought a set of 530W1's a couple years ago. Ordered 90 degree units and the package said 90 degrees but they were actually 85's. I was using them in my A-10 at the time so the 85's were OK. I called em up to ask about what parts would be needed to make them 90 degrees - side frames. "Since we screwed up, we'll send em free" Can't beat that!