[TailTwister]

How are you guys putting the bevels in the Depron? Are you just sanding with some 220, or what?

Also, looking at the floppy disk hinges, how big are you making them?

I guess I need some foam safe thin CA for that?

How are you keeping from just gluing the surface to the plane? It would seem like the foam would instantly wick anywhere that it was touching? Maybe just a gap?

 

[Quicker]

I haven't been beveling a true triangle into the foam. I've been using my Dremel with a 1/4 inch beveled router attachment and cutting almost through the foam, but but totally, but just on 1 side...the bottom. I then run clear packing tape on the top of the hinge line and fold the control surface completely over to free up the hinge line. It gives me more than 45 degrees of throw down, so I've been very happy with this method.

 

[Alfster]

I use an Easy Touch Bar Sander with either 150, or 220 stuck to it to sand my Depron. The Depron sands really well. There are tons of different ways to hinge a Depron plane. Some guys use floppy diskette hinges, some use mini hinge-points...etc.

I have used just about every method that I have seen, but the one I use most often is just a good clear packing tape. The hinges on my Yak were done with packing tape, and the plane has lasted over 6 or 7 months without a single hinge failing. Some folks don't have good luck with taped hinges, and therefore think they are weak, but they work fine for me. I suppose it is all in the application, or technique.

The current, most popular method right now is probably the floppy diskette hinges. Just sand a double bevel on the surfaces like we do the balsa planes, and use the FD material to make small hinges, much like CA hinges. You can either use foam safe CA, epoxy, or just about any other glue that you use on foam.

I think that lots of folks are getting too fancy with these foam planes, and making things FAR too complicated with new fangled techniques, and forgetting why we started building them in the first place. And that was to take a 5 dollar chunk of foam, a few bits of scrap wood, some tape, and turn it into a plane that flies well, and that we can have hours of fun with, without any of the worry involved with destroying the plane. If you totally trash the plane, you can have another one flying that same evening, once you get your building steps in order.

Just my thoughts on the matter, nothing more.

If you need any diagrams of my methods, I can send you some.

Have fun with it !! And remember, with these foamies, there is no right, or wrong way. Just experiment, and have fun !

 

[Quicker]

I think that lots of folks are getting too fancy with these foam planes

That is exactly why I don't go to the trouble of double beveled hinge points. I don't see the need for the extra work. I too have never had a packing tape hinge fail, and I've smacked the hell out of my plane and bent a ton of the cheap GWS shafts. The hinges never fail for me, but I do spend a little bit of time and work the tape with my finger nail. Once it is totally clear I know it's a good bond.

 

[TailTwister]

You guys make perfect sense to me. Looks like I'm spending $0.03 on some tape tonight.

Thanks for the input.

The Yak is coming along good. I'll have it up soon.

 

[Quicker]

My favorite tape is "Crystal Clear". I get it at Lowe's. Very sticky and, well...Crystal Clear :lol:

Actually, I've been using it for everything. I even do field repairs on Monokote with it and it has never failed. When I made my glow powered foamy Hots I used it for the hinges and it lasted until I smashed the plane, which was about 3 months. Would have lasted a lot longer.

 

[mfeuilly]

I use over under tape hinges. I'm to lazy to join two pieces of tape together, so I use double sided tape. Its much easier, and just leaves the top of the tape sticky. It also gets like 180 degrees of throw both ways.

 

[Gordo]

Personaly I like the floppy disk hinges. They are faster for me than the tape. My tape always sticks to everything else, and there is usulaly weird movement in the lateral direction. But whatever works is the best....atleast today!

 

[BIZZARO]

I use the floppy hindges and I bevel the edges makes much better hindge lines, I made a tool out of a piece of 3/4 tri stock glued a razor blade to it and a piece of hardwood, I just use a straight edge and cut perfect 45 deg angles very fast I also use it to cut the slots for the carbon rods.On the Elev halves I used a peice of hardwood and doweled it with 2 toothpicks on each side then used a long peice of floppy hinge works real good... I can get a pic if you are interested...

here is the plane
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/My_New_ ... 693/tm.htm

 

[ChuckAuger]

I sand them puppies with 80 grit on a sanding block. Takes about 4 strokes per bevel (hush, Alf!) and floppy hinges. I'm with Gordo..I started out wanting to use tape, but I had a hella mess in no time. Floppy hinges are something like I'm used to doing, and they are so sweet when done.

 

[Gordo]

I'm doing a blue core eSledge to fill the gap for a week or 2. What can I use for hinges since it won't take CA glue?

 

[ChuckAuger]

Foam safe CA??

 

[Gordo]

Foam safe CA??

Well it is for Depron and other white foam.

 

[Alfster]

That Chuck.....just no "staying" power.......... Just takes 4 strokes..... OH MY ! :shock:

 

[ChuckAuger]

Foam safe won't work on blue foam??

 

[Gordo]

Foam safe won't work on blue foam??

Nope, at least not the one I use for Depron. I've heard there are different types of Foam Safe. And accelerator.

 

[PaulSwany]

I used foam safe CA on my BlueCor... Worked fine...

 

[adrenalnjunky]

what about using standard accellerator with foam safe CA?

guess the test it on a piece of scrap method can always be used.

 

[Gordo]

Hey Paul, which brand did you use?

 

[PaulSwany]

Bob Smith