Sig easy hinges

roddie Thu Sep 26, 2013 4:47 am

Hinging our control surfaces is one of the more "tedious" parts of model airplane construction. I have settled on Sig "Easy Hinges" for this task. The "only" drawback is that they're a "permanent" hinge (it you consider that a drawback...)

Each pc. of hinge mat'l. measures 3/4" x 1" and two of them is more than enough to hinge the elevator on a 1/2-A plane. I generally "cut" strips of hinge mat'l. 1/4" W. x 3/4" L. with scissors, which gives me 4 sm. hinges. On a real sm. plane; 4 would be enough... I generally use 6 on a 8+ in. span tail-plane. I "radius" all the corners for easier insertion into the slots of the stab./elev., that are cut with a #11 x-acto blade. HINT: a scrap strip of 1/16" plywood; the size of a popsicle stick works great for slotting 1/8" thick balsa... Just lay it against your part to be slotted, and lay the blade flat on top of the plywood, which "centers" it for the slot. Carefully push the blade into the balsa, keeping firm pressure downward to keep the blade level. Painless neat slots...

Thin CA glue is used at final assembly to anchor the hinges. One drop on ea. side of the hinge "wicks" into both surfaces for a permanent bond. For added security, you can put 3-4 "pinholes" on ea. side of the hinge bearing area in the balsa... but if you're "covering" your pcs. before assy., you may not want to do this.

Here's a pic of a stab./split elev. using 6 Sig Easy Hinges.

Sig easy hinges Stab_e10

Sig #SH710 "Easy Hinges" link

http://www.sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmart.exe/DetailProduct.html?L+Sig+gpyo4049+_Dimagefile_02SIGSH710_2ehtml_01uzup_02N_01num_02SIGSH710_01

Mark Boesen Thu Sep 26, 2013 5:00 am

Yep, that's what i do/use. Sig used to give those out as prize/promo for contests. I think i got enough to last a lifetime...not that i got a overwhelming supply, i'm north of fifty and don't build much.

**Cribbs74** Thu Sep 26, 2013 3:04 pm

Easy hinges were my staple on 1/2A CL until I figured out how to do thread hinges. I like how the easy hinges look, but they are very stiff.

I never thought the stiffness was an issue until I flew the same plane that I had used easy hinges with stitched hinges. World of difference between the two when it came to controlling the plane, much more fluid.

That is my experience, but the easy hinges do work just not as well. In my humble opinion anyway...

Roddie, I like your slotting method very good idea!

Ron

roddie Thu Sep 26, 2013 3:36 pm

Cribbs74 wrote:Easy hinges were my staple on 1/2A CL until I figured out how to do thread hinges. I like how the easy hinges look, but they are very stiff.

I never thought the stiffness was an issue until I flew the same plane that I had used easy hinges with stitched hinges. World of difference between the two when it came to controlling the plane, much more fluid.

That is my experience, but the easy hinges do work just not as well. In my humble opinion anyway...

Roddie, I like your slotting method very good idea!

Ron

Thanks Ron, What size were you cutting your Easy Hinges to when you "were" using them? Maybe if you tried cutting them down to 1/8" W. x 3/4" L. and used less of them... you'd get the control sensitivity you're looking for? Maybe you've tried that... as I stated; I cut mine to 1/4" W., but may try 1/2 that width on my next project.

Incidentally... I also have great luck joining a split elevator, using the drill-guide that comes with the Dubro #216 Kwik-Hinge Slotter pkg. I bend-up an .062" m/w "U"-brace and use the guide and a 1/16" drill bit... twisting with my finger/thumb... get's it done.

Is there any info here at CEF on the "stitched hinges"? I'm curious now!

**Cribbs74** Thu Sep 26, 2013 6:45 pm

Hey Roddie,

Yeah I cut them in half and then in half again so whatever that amounts to. I never use more than 3 on 1/2A surfaces. They do work fine and look good. The stitched hinges offer no resistance whatsoever.

Do a search on stitched hinges or take a look at my PDQ/Brodak baby clown build thread in the modeling section.

Ron

Found it...

https://www.coxengineforum.com/t1850-old-school-stitched-hinges?highlight=Stitched+hinges

andrew Thu Sep 26, 2013 8:43 pm

I use EZ Hinges on planes up to about .15 sized --- for larger, I usually use hinge points. I also use a piece of balsa to support my Xacto blade or razor blade for centering the slot. I try to use the thinnest blade possible to keep the slot tight. Before inserting the hinge material (cut to about 1/4" wide for 1/2A), I drill a vertical hole all the way through the wood about where the center of the hinge material will be. A piece of 1/16" sharpened brass tubing works well or sharpened 3/64" music wire.

After the hinge is inserted, I add CA to the hole only on both sides. This ensures that the CA will wick all the way to the back of the slot, to both edges and out to the hinge line. I never add CA to the hinge line since CA does not disappear or shrink due to evaporation --- it just leaves cured CA in the slot and tends to stiffen the hinge.

I have had CA hinges fatigue and stress fracture after long usage, so a hinge check should always be included in your preflight.

**Cribbs74** Thu Sep 26, 2013 11:28 pm

I have had easy hinges break upon impact. Not pretty as they usually take a lot of wood with them when they pull free. On the other hand the rest of the model is so trashed that a broken hinge is the least of your problems Wink

roddie Fri Sep 27, 2013 12:15 am

Cribbs74 wrote:Do a search on stitched hinges or take a look at my PDQ/Brodak baby clown build thread in the modeling section.

Ron

Found it...

https://www.coxengineforum.com/t1850-old-school-stitched-hinges?highlight=Stitched+hinges

GREAT "THREAD" Ron!!! (pun intended) Smile

Thanks for digging that up for us!

Rog

**Cribbs74** Fri Sep 27, 2013 12:23 am

No problem,

Glad to help, please don't think I am frowning on easy hinges as I am not. I have plenty of models that utilize them still and they fly fine.

I very recently got turned on to stitched hinges and I liked the result. Not as pretty, but In this case I don't mind messing up aesthetics for the sake of performance.

Just wanted to lay out some options.

Ron

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