Best Ways to install Hinging — Avoid Control Surface Binding

Best Ways to install Hinging — Avoid Control Surface Binding

One of the most important tasks to do with any giant scale airplane you build is to install the hinges correctly. This article shows how I did it with my Balsa USA Fokker Triplane, and with this giant scale 33% WW 1 fighter, I wanted everything just right. Let’s check out these hinges and how to install them.

Hinging Made Easy.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

I think the easiest hinges to install in a built up airplane like the Triplane are the Robart HingePoints. All you need is the Robart drill guide and a sharp 3/16-inch drill bit. (for the big hinges). Also to give something for the glue to stick to, you need to install some hinge pocket blocks. I make these slightly thinner that the thickness of the control surface so they don’t show through the covering.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

I mark the hinge locations with the surfaces held together so they line up properly. You place the self-centering guide over the mark and drill with the 3/16 inch drill keeping the bit square to the control surface edge. Once all the hinge holes are drilled, I fit the HingePoints into place and check the alignment. if all is OK I then use a round file or a round bit in a Moto-Tool to form half-round pockets to clear the hinge knuckles. This keeps the hinge line gap to a minimum.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

As you can see, the elevator edge has been rounded and the HingePoint sets nicely in the half-round space.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

Here you see the pocket blocks added to capture the HingePoints. I used 1/4-inch thick balsa and they are all installed so the hinges go into the end-grain. This increases the wood’s grip when it swells as the glue dries.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

Once the HingPoints are all in place, you can check the movement and make sure there is no binding and the surface moves smoothly.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

When the hinge is too long for the surface, you can easily cut it to length. Here I  have not yet cut the hinge to length. The covering will seal the hole in the elevator trailing edge.

Aileron Hinges

Aileron Hinges

For Flat Hinges like those from DuBro and I use the Hinging Slot cutting tool set from DuBro as well. They are easy to use and they make the job quick to complete.

IMG_0087

Here is the inner end of the aileron with the DuBro flat hinge installed. I like to install all the hinges in the movable control surface and then transfer their locations to the trailing edge of the wing.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

You can use the brass cotter pins that come with the hinges (quarter scale) or you can replace them with a length of music wire that is long enough to go through all the hinges.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

It is important to keep the clearances between the wingtip and the aileron counter-balances. 3/32-inch is about right for cloth covering.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

Depending on the thickness of your trailing edge, you can simply glue the hinges in place after covering, or you may need to glue in pocket blocks like was done on the elevators before covering.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

You should also have your control horns and servo ready so you can establish the linkage location to position the control horns. (to keep the linkages straight.)

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

I added a plywood internal brace for the aileron control horns to add regidity and minimize flex of the control surface.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

Here are the control horns screwed into place.

Workshop Tips -- Giant Scale Hinging Made Easy

Tip: For years I have used Pacer’s  Hinge Glue for all my model airplanes. Unfortunately, this glue is no longer available but a great substitute is the Formula 560 Canopy Glue from Pacer. It is basically the same formula but it is not tinted to match the color of balsa, and it dries clear. Just like when you use it with canopies, the glue sticks great to the smooth plastic of the hinges and being water based, it when you apply it to the inside of the hinge slots, it swells the wood around the hinges while it cures. This increases the mechanical bond around the hinge and really grips it and holds it in  place. In the end, I think the results are a lot better than using thick 2-part epoxy! And, if you get any glue in the hinge pivot pin, or it oozes out of the slot, you can simply wipe it away with some water to clean it up!

If you have any questions, let me know by leaving you comments below.

Cheers

GY

 

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Updated: December 13, 2016 — 3:11 PM

12 Comments

  1. Gerry a good trick to use on the hinge points is to apply a small amount of vaseline to the hinge knuckle and use a heat gun to melt the petroleum jelly so it flows into the knuckle. Any glue can then be used without fear of it binding the hinge.

    1. Very helpful article. Ron Prestin’s idea with vaseline is also excellent.

      Thanks!
      Jim

  2. Great stuff, Gerry. I use a heat gun to melt Vaseline in small metal measuring cup and dunk the folded hinge point in to quickly protect the hinge from glue.

    Also, since I build planes with large control surfaces, I add cotton flocking to long curing epoxy to make a stiff mixture, load this in a disposable syringe, then inject the glue in the hole drilled for the hinge point plus add a bit to the hinge point itself.

    Steve

  3. Hmmm. Canopy glue for hinges? I always use 2-part epoxy (30 min +) and have never had a hinge failure. To guarantee the hinge pivot remains absolutely free of epoxy, follow Steve Richman’s advice with the melted Vaseline. Always FIRST clean the hinge points with rubbing alcohol before applying epoxy.

    1. True Richard, for a long time now, 20 plus years, I have never had a hinge break loose using Canopy Glue and/or Hinge Glue from Zap. Both products are basically the same except the Canopy version dries clear. I have tried epoxy and Gorilla glue and the water based canopy glue is quicker, easier and cleans up with a damp sponge. To each his own.
      Gerry

  4. Titebond III is also a great water based wood glue that I have used for hinges. The stuff is so strong, it’s like water based epoxy

    1. Yes indeed Rob, I have in the past used Totebond. I think the water swelling the wood as it dries does the trick!

  5. Canopy glue is the best from my testing of different glues with Robart Hinge Points. Epoxy is extremely strong, but not worth the mess, cost and effort. I tested epoxy, canopy glue, carpenters glue (yellow stuff) and Elmers School Glue. The carpenter glue failed first in strain testing, it did not adhere well to the smooth plastic. Minimal difference between the remaining glue. I have a 27 year old .60 powered Astro Hog using R/C 56, a predecessor to today’s canopy glue, no failure to date, still going strong. Most of the airframe is constructed with the same R/C 56, and Ambroid. I believe the flexibility of the canopy style of glue, is not weakened from engine vibration. We tend to over engineer, use expensive and complicated methods for no reason.

  6. Gerry, could you explain why you use hinge points on the elevators and flat hinges on the ailerons. Also, I recently got a 1/4 scale Tiger Moth from Phoenix Models and it came already hinged (not glued) with ca hinges. I want to change them to Dubro 1/4 scale hinges but I thought the gap between the surfaces was too great. How did you get around that?
    All help will be greatly appreciated.

  7. If you have the option for built up surfaces (using an example) drill the leading edge of the aileron and the trailing edge of the wing before you assemble the respective components. Just tack glue them together first. You can also do this with a solid aileron by spot gluing the trailing edge of the wing to the aileron and then drilling them as a single piece. Perfect alignment every time. I glued a little 80 grit sand paper to the inside of the wings on the Robart drill guide. Never had it slip since ruining hole alignment.

  8. I have had no luck with this canopy glue sticking to anything in several tests. What am I doing wrong?

  9. Dale Womack

    I highly suggest the aerobroach hinge slotters over the dubro! the quickest & most easy hinge slotting tool I have ever used!

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