Hi guys,

I'm working on a plane that will be very long, and since I don't own a pickup, it will be a hassle to drive to the field and back with it. I want to make some kind of a detachable assembly half-way so it can be taken apart and put back together. I'm thinking of using five or six dowels in a star pattern with two nylon bolts, on top and on the bottom.

Don't know if that makes sense, but what would you recommend? This model will most likely not surpass 150 MPH, and is not a jet. Will the stresses be too great? Aimed weight is about 15-20 pounds.

Thanks in advance!

I have a collapsable fuselage. I simply do a figure "9" and when the fuselage hits the ground, it collapses- works every time!

... sorry, I couldn't resist.

On the serious side, what you propose is doable, but you will either have to mount your tail servos in the back half, or be content with connecting, checking, and re-trimming linkages each time you pack and unpack.

I would suggest four bolts, though, as using only two on the top and bottom will not help sideways forces (from the fin/rudder and fuselage slipping) very well. And you might consider stronger bolts (how much do really care about the tail section breaking away a crash?).

Four bolts does sound like a better idea. I will be using servos on the back half of the plane, instead of messing with re-trimming and so forth every time I fly.

Is this how some of the larger planes are attached to each other? I mean, I've seen pictures on this forum of 1/2 scale airplanes, which have to be assembled at the field. [X(]

I dunno. You might post that question in the Giant Scale Forum to see.

I am now scratch building a 1:7 C-47 with a 9.5' fuselage and 4' stab, and I will not separate for a couple of reasons. One, it will break up the scale appearance (unless done perfectly), and two, it will add weight. I'd rather live with the incremental transportation issues.

Actually, another idea comes to mind. Big planes, including my current project use carbon fiber/fiberglass/phenolic tubes to join wing pieces. This might be a start for the fuselage, although you will have the added element of tension. So, the bolts may be better overall anyway. Just rambling here- again, see what they say in GS forum.

Thanks, I'll try asking them.

One of the model mags just did an article on just this subject. I cannot recall which one or what month. It was very recent though. Within the last 4 months. Good luck with the project.

Mark Shuman