Skymaster Hinges
 

Does anyone have any luck using the hinges that come with a Skymaster kit????

The ones that are knock offs of Robart hinges......

I have always used robart instead of the stock hinges.. On the BD 5 I am building the rudder hinges came glued into the rudder only.

Rather than drill them out and rebuild rudder to use robarts I just used the stock hinges...

Now that I have to rudder glued to the fin. I am seeing alot more play in the hinge pin than I am used to with Robart Hinges...

The play is a in and out movement....

Should I worry these hinges are going to wear out in 3 flights or will they be ok.....

Problem is now that it is all glued.....I dont even know what I would do to change the hinges.

Thanks for the input
Bill

RE: Skymaster Hinges
 

Bill,

I had similar probs on my 2m VJ. 2/3 hinges snapped, one during installation (with glue drying of course) and the second during radio setup.

My recommendation: cut the hinges from the side with a Dremel (just to separate the rudder), and then use a soldering iron to melt the hinges out (I used sharpened brass tubing that just fit around the hinges and drilled them out, but that was a pain), and reinstall with Robarts (they are much more resilient and 'tight').

V/R
Dave

RE: Skymaster Hinges
 

+1

Those Skymaster hinges are poor/weak imitations of Robarts and have a history of failures. I would not risk using them. Do what Dave suggests and if necessary, cut away a larger area where the old hinge was and add a dowell or hardwood piece to drill and attach the new hinge. Here's a picture of how I did it on my Skymaster big Viper.

Craig

RE: Skymaster Hinges
 

I hate it when I am right....

Down to cut hinges apart...

Thanks Guys
Bill