Hatch Latch ............ Who has the best, most secure, less obtrusive ? Must be close to flush with the fuselage panneling.

Inlet a plate and magnet on at least 2 sides of the hatch (all 4 sides if the hatch is large/and or the plane is going to be flown at high speeds).

The edge of your fingernail is normally all that you will need to open the hatch, yet a 2 magnet system on a hatch 1"x2" will stay inplace at 60-70 mph with no problems.

Yes, magnets are wonderful..... www.wondermagnet.com ......you had no idea there were so many available...

Randy

Will Radio Shack magnets work ? ? ?

The magnets from wondermagnet are very strong for their size..I have some 3/8 x 1/16 that are almost too strong. I'm using the 1/4 x 1/16 on the Hanriot access doors but the doors are pretty small, and hinged...one per door so far. I'll see how that works..I am not familiar with the magnets available at Radio Shack...

Randy

BVM makes one
Hobby lobby makes one a little bit larger
Foremost makes a flush-button style..

Jim a friend of mine uses an L shaped nylon bracket about 3/16 th wide with holes on each side of the L . Then he cuts a slot at one end of the bracket to slip over a pin or screw will work mounted in the fushlage. It makes like a snap fit. I hope that makes sense. Rich

I too try to hide all switches, charging sockets etc. under scale panels, so they cannot be seen but yet are instantly accessible. On the latest model, an 88" Hawker Hurricane, The panel is the fabric access panel on the port fuselage side. The similar one on the starboard side is just a dummy. It is held in under spring tension, but once in place, it cannot come out till the front edge is pushed in first. This then flips the back edge out, allowing it to be drawn off from the rear. Hope this is clear enough, the pics too!

Yes. Make sure you get the "Rare Earth" magnets. They are stronger than the regular ones.

I have used the rare earth magnets from Radio Shack many times and have had no problems with a hatch comming open during flight. After using them, i would not even think of using a mechanical latch.

Thanks Gyz ...... I've gone the magnetic route, and it seems to be working out very well.

I prefer them on helicopters. The 1/8 rare earth are awesome.