I need help designing some sort of a storage rack in my garage to store my planes. I currently have a few of those Hanger 9 racks for my wings that are working just fine, but I'd like to store the fuselages as well.

I'd like to store my planes horizontally on the wall or possible hang from the ceiling. I don't usually drain the fuel tanks (I know I'm supposed to but don't like putting used glow fuel back in my new fuel tank) so I need to keep them upright.

Do you guys have some pictures of your setups that I could see? I know that there's some cool setups out there and I'd love to get some ideas if you'd be willing to help me out.

Thanks!
Brian

Here is an idea... Kayak or bycicle hoists to hang airplanes from the ceiling... I bought a few but haven't installed them yet.

Ok, for some reason I can't post the link directly here. I bet is because a grudge between grown men that play with RC toys. With 25+ years in this hobby, I can't figure out why that is.

Go to the Giants and search for this thread. "Ceiling pulleys to lift and store planes"

Rafael

If you want to make it easy on yourself, put 2 screw eyes in the ceiling and make a loop of nylon string in each one. Loop 1 over the tail and the other over the nose and you're done. That's how the hobby shop near me hangs planes that are on consignment. That, of course, is dependent on what kind of ceiling you have. A couple of anchors in a sheetrock ceiling shouldn't have any trouble holding a 10 pound plane or putting them on a stud will handle anything, but if it's a drop ceiling with panels you'll have to attach the loops to the steel structure.

JL Power Products sell some great gear for hanging Fuselages and Wings; I use them in my garage, work great, well made.

http://www.jlproducts.net/ProductSkyHook.html

You can make a rack out of PVC pipe and fitting. Pretty cheap and they can store a lot of planes. I made this one and as you can see, hold a lot of planes. Yes my garage is a mess.


Buzz.

I use these heavy duty face-out shelf brackets sold at Lowes or Home Depot. out in the garage, the light duty single slot ones in the shop

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?...llow&cId=PDIO1

Do you have concerns about "used glow fuel" remaining in you fuel tank, slowly absorbing moisture, or turning to sludge ?

Harbor Freight has a great bike lift unit that is fantastic for storing RC plane fuselages if you have higher ceilings.

http://www.harborfreight.com/bicycle-lift-95803.html

The wall mount adjustable storage shelving systems but shop wisely or they can get pricey. Be sure to cover them with foam pipe insulation for protection. I was fortunate to get a huge bin full of this stuff and a pile of wall tracks at a tag sale for $10. Still using them today.

.

I took two 2x4s and drilled 5/8 holes thru them for dowel rods and screwed the 2x4s into the wall with the rods hanging out. I can put 3 40 size fuselages on one set of dowels or put the whole plane on one hanging from the wing. I did three of these in my shop.
The dowels are about 20".

This is about as simple and cheap as it gets. Coat hangers formed into a loop with a loop at one end and a hook at the other end and covered with some pipe insulation. Screw hooks into the ceiling. ( joists of course).

You know the fuel isn't "used" until its burnt in the engine right?.. I've been returning/draining fuel from my planes since day 1.. probably almost 40yrs now.. The only problems I've had were when I forgot to drain the tanks... one being if left in a tank for too long it will turn to gum/gell..(then its useless..as well as the whole fuel system).. another time when a tank plug decided to let loose/shrink... and it slowly seeped into the airframe/wood.. If you're ready for those issues.. just keep the fuel in your tank.. If you like to get the most out of your fuel and planes... pump it back into your fuel jug and seal it, store it in a cool dry place when not in use. There's absolutely no redeeming value in storing fuel in a model plane. Thats just my experience.

I also use the shelf-brackets... with pipe insulation for padding. They aren't cheap if you're going to do a whole wall.. but I've got mine in my "plane room" which is about a 12x14' room in the house where I do alot of my finish work and tweaking(and web surfing). I've got 15 planes and several wings on a 12'Lx8'T wall.. and some wings too. Two of which are very large. A 50cc and a 30cc.. and several .60+ size planes. The brackets are very secure... and I'm pretty sure it would take a large quake to bring anything down.. if theres a quake that big.. there will be alot more problems then my model planes(of which are very near and dear to me too.. but just sayin..)..

Here's a rack I made several years back. It's made of 3/4" PVC pipe. With tee's and elbows. It's 18" wide and run the length of my garage. It works good for planes, boxes, and other things you might want to put on it. I had a hard time finding a good angle to take a picture. I think it gives a good idea of how it's made.

I hang all my fuses by the prop along a wall from the ceiling. I screwed a 1x4 x 10' to the ceiling about 8 inches out from the wall. I then bought some eye hooks and screwed them into the 1x4 at about 1.5 foot intervals or whatever it took to separate the fuses enough. I then screwed some eye screws into the wall in the upper corner of the wall & ceiling. I put some para-cord through the eye screws and tied it to a bent a wire hook that goes over the nose cone and hooks to both sides of the prop. I pull on the cord and up they go to the ceiling. I have a hook on the lower wall to hook the end of the cord to. I don't know where I heard it but it was said that hanging a glow engine by the nose is the best way to store them as all the residue in the engine drains out of the bearings and down to the back plate. And for anybody who is worried if the prop can support the plane,,,,well that is what pulls it through the air isn't it?

I kind of like thread # 5's idea. This is what I have been doing. It isn't the answer. I think I should do some airplane burning soon. I have got some larger planes since those pics, and two more wing racks.

Airplane burning? Lol, I feel feel the same way sometimes. Let me know when you do this so I can join in the bonfire

I gotta add my "+1" to the comments that recommend draining the tank before storage. You're just asking for a (flammable!) mess in your hangar, not to mention potential airframe damage & malfunctions.

One additional point- it seems like the front bearings of many / most glow engines can benefit from being stored nose-down. The leftover oil will flow to the bearing that way, preventing rust / corrosion / etc. I store all my craft nose-down.