Four Inventive Assembly Tips

Four Inventive Assembly Tips

From servo IDs to masking tape, these useful tips will have you wondering, “How come I didn’t think of that?” To share your own helpful tip with MAN readers, send it to us at MAN@airage.com.

 

 

GET A GRIP

Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Four Inventive Assembly Tips

Converting scale aircraft to electric is becoming commonplace. Here’s a neat trick that solves a simple but perplexing problem often encountered when using a “nitro” spinner on electric-powered models. Many times, there is a problem keeping the prop and spinner aligned on the brushless motor when tightening the prop nut. Glue a disc of sandpaper to the front and back of the spinner backplate and that problem is immediately solved. You can use a 1-inch hole saw to cut the sandpaper discs and CA them to both sides of the spinner backplate.

 

 

ID ZIP TAGGING

Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Four Inventive Assembly Tips

Here’s an easy way to ID servo extensions, especially for the larger aircraft that have two or more servos on the wing or other control surfaces. Find a packet of small zip ties or cable ties that come in an assortment of colors at almost any hardware store, then use matching-color ties on the servo extensions and plugs going into the receiver. To separate the wing extensions from the other wing extensions, use a different color combination for each. Now when installing the wings, you’ll never mix up the connectors!

 

 

UPSIDE-DOWN EPOXY

Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Four Inventive Assembly Tips

Here is a trick for all builders who use epoxy (and that would be all builders!). One of the problems with epoxy is that it’s thick, and when there isn’t much left, it takes forever to get to the top when it’s turned over, especially when it’s cold. I take old 35mm film canisters (yes, you can still find them) and screw them to a 3 x 5-inch piece of wood. Put them far enough apart so that the epoxy bottles will fit in upside-down—with the caps on, of course. Now, when you want to mix a little epoxy, there’s no waiting for the glue to come to the top—it’s already there. Be careful on a hot day because sometimes there will be a little pressure and you might get more than you want.

 

HELPFUL WORKBENCH ORGANIZER

Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Four Inventive Assembly Tips

When you repair helicopters or airplanes, small screws, nuts, and bolts often have to be removed to reach broken parts. Those items can be easily lost or pushed over the edge of the workbench during a day of work before reassembly. To prevent this, place masking-tape rolls on a flat, unused surface of your workbench. They’ll serve as centralized locations for easy access during reassembly and will prevent these items from rolling off your workbench. No more losing stuff on the huge, open expanse of your workbench when searching for a small part!

 

11 Comments

  1. Can you get rid of the black bar that is on all posts starts with MAN, then on the last line Explore getting started digital edition subscribe
    this blocks most of the posts

    1. Use your Control and minus keys to reduce it.

  2. All good stuff. thanks for the help.
    I also use colored tape tabs about a half inch long to mark servo leads. you can but a stack of colored tapes pretty cheap at the harbor freight store and true value also. The sandpaper on the spinner also works well behind the spinner to move it forward and keep the spinner from rubbing the cowl or engine nose ring (Wood)
    FLY EVERY chance you get ! There’s no going back a day.

  3. Hi Guys, as far as marking the servo leads, I use craft beads in multiple colors. They can be found at your local craft store. all you need to do is pop out the wires from the servo wire plug and pass the wires through the hole in the bead and then pop the wires back in to the plug.

  4. I like the zip ties! I usually use tape but it ends up coming off at some point.

  5. Hi Guys, as far as marking the servo leads, I use craft beads in multiple colors. They can be found at your local craft store. all you need to do is pop out the wires from the servo wire plug and pass the wires through the hole in the bead and then pop the wires back in to the plug.

  6. You can also use empty medicine plastic bottles if you can’t find film containers.

    1. Yes, you can. You can even forego the bottles all together and simply drill 1/2 inch holes into a 1x3x5 inch piece of wood and the tips of the bottles can be inserted, albeit they’ll be a little less stable. Your imagination is your only limit.

  7. All you need for servo differentiation is to use a permanent marker (like gold or silver) and color both ends of the servo when it is properly aligned. In the future you have the mating figured out and the correct connection ready to go! Simple!

  8. I live in an area that can get pretty cold. I use my heat gun to warm up epoxy……….works really well

  9. love the zip tie trick, I have circuit tape on my servo leads and will now spend a little time converting as I have been concerned about the tape coming off. Now why didn’t I think of this, I’ve been moving those zip ties to different locations in my shop for quite awhile

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