Log in
Search
Latest topics
» Stealth SB-Xby Admin Today at 8:28 pm
» ST .35 STUNT / VOODOO / ZERO POINT ZERO NITRO
by TD ABUSER Today at 7:45 pm
» SUPERTIGER .15 PROJECT
by TD ABUSER Today at 7:42 pm
» For sale -- Cox Custom Carburetors for Tee Dee engines
by sosam117 Today at 5:23 pm
» WHERE ARE YOU BUYING YOUR FUEL AND GLOW PLUGS...?
by TD ABUSER Today at 4:35 pm
» Waiting for Engines from Ken Enya
by sosam117 Today at 4:33 pm
» Unusual Cox 049 cylinder - Need help identifying
by anm2 Today at 4:12 pm
» Jim Walker Bonanza etc.
by rsv1cox Today at 2:57 pm
» What's the Best Reed for Cox Reed Valve Engines.
by roddie Today at 1:37 pm
» Fuel choice
by 1975 control line guy Yesterday at 4:01 pm
» "Fall S.M.A.L.L." Video 3.
by GallopingGhostler Yesterday at 2:37 pm
» Gifted Fox
by Ken Cook Yesterday at 11:12 am
Cox Engine of The Month
August-2024
balogh's
![](https://i.servimg.com/u/f95/15/46/86/41/1_balo14.jpg)
"Cox TD09 R/C Beast of Burden featuring Kamtechnik head and DIY metallic fuel nipple"
![](https://i.servimg.com/u/f95/15/46/86/41/sponso12.png)
PAST WINNERS
balogh's
![](https://i.servimg.com/u/f95/15/46/86/41/1_balo14.jpg)
"Cox TD09 R/C Beast of Burden featuring Kamtechnik head and DIY metallic fuel nipple"
![](https://i.servimg.com/u/f95/15/46/86/41/sponso12.png)
PAST WINNERS
A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Page 1 of 1
A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Someone emailed and asked me for some help on CA hinges, so I threw together a little video. I started on it after bedtime, so I just shot it, cut it, and uploaded it fast without adding any title page or captions. Gotta get my beauty rest, y’know…
The Dirty Mark
The Dirty Mark
batjac- Diamond Member
Posts : 2360
Join date : 2013-05-22
Age : 61
Location : Broken Arrow, OK, USA
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Thanks for that Dirty Mark. I liked the way you bent them in the middle, I am going to start doing it that way
akjgardner- Diamond Member
Posts : 1554
Join date : 2014-12-28
Age : 65
Location : Greensberg Indiana
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Well done.
My Camel bought at a flea market has those hinges but are unsecured. I think I will use your system when I get around to finishing it. But, how did you cut the slots?
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation F4_cam10](https://i.servimg.com/u/f21/19/15/28/33/f4_cam10.jpg)
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation F4_cam11](https://i.servimg.com/u/f21/19/15/28/33/f4_cam11.jpg)
My Camel bought at a flea market has those hinges but are unsecured. I think I will use your system when I get around to finishing it. But, how did you cut the slots?
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation F4_cam10](https://i.servimg.com/u/f21/19/15/28/33/f4_cam10.jpg)
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation F4_cam11](https://i.servimg.com/u/f21/19/15/28/33/f4_cam11.jpg)
rsv1cox- Top Poster
Posts : 10928
Join date : 2014-08-18
Location : West Virginia
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Good video. I like the way you pre - work the hinges.
NEW222- Top Poster
- Posts : 3895
Join date : 2011-08-13
Age : 45
Location : oakbank, mb
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Ditto that. I've avoided CA hinges like the plague, but I might give them a try now. I think I'll sticky this thread. Ken suggests I use them on the flaps for my current repair. I wish I hadn't already punched holes for stitches. But I may use one at the innermost end of each flap, since there is a wider gap there.akjgardner wrote:Thanks for that Dirty Mark. I liked the way you bent them in the middle, I am going to start doing it that way
Rusty
_________________
Don't Panic!
...and never Ever think about how good you are at something...
while you're doing it!
My Hot Rock & Blues Playlist
...and never Ever think about how good you are at something...
while you're doing it!
My Hot Rock & Blues Playlist
RknRusty- Rest In Peace
- Posts : 10869
Join date : 2011-08-10
Age : 68
Location : South Carolina, USA
Cutting hinge slots and beveling
Thanks for the comments, Guys.
To answer how I cut the slots, I went ahead and did a second vid on slotting and beveling.
Here's a link for the Great Planes tool. The Goldberg tool you'll just have to hope to find on your local hobby shop shelf as NOS.
Hope it helps,
The Dirtier Mark
To answer how I cut the slots, I went ahead and did a second vid on slotting and beveling.
Here's a link for the Great Planes tool. The Goldberg tool you'll just have to hope to find on your local hobby shop shelf as NOS.
Hope it helps,
The Dirtier Mark
batjac- Diamond Member
Posts : 2360
Join date : 2013-05-22
Age : 61
Location : Broken Arrow, OK, USA
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Thanks Mark , That's the way a friend I was building /flying with years ago had showed me and I had forgot how to wick the CA bend and exercise , after I had heard so many on here say that it would stiffing the hinge unusable . I will have to give this a try again // stitched hinges are nice but ... take time and sometimes I just don't have it for building // we never taped over but did mono-cote yes it was larger RC planes 40 size ![RC Plane](/users/3015/29/34/60/smiles/1702820958.gif)
![RC Plane](/users/3015/29/34/60/smiles/1702820958.gif)
getback- Top Poster
Posts : 10326
Join date : 2013-01-18
Age : 67
Location : julian , NC
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Good techniques, thanks for the share.
PeterJGregory- Gold Member
- Posts : 144
Join date : 2014-07-28
Age : 61
Location : Hudson Valley, New York
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Those are cool tools. I cut my 1/2A hinge slots with an X-acto knife too.. and have been using Sig Easy-Hinges. I use the #17 chisel blade and a "step-plate" at the edge of a table-top. The #17 blade is 1/4"w. This photo shows a piece of 1/8" balsa. I find/make a small rectangular step-plate (approx. 1/2" x 2") from 1/16" thickness stock. Could be plywood, plastic/laminate or in my case I had .060" aluminum handy. I place it at the edge of a tabletop with the balsa behind it and sometimes a fence clamped behind the balsa. It gauges to the center perfectly and guides the blade into the edge squarely. The blade is positioned on the step-plate with the ground bevel on it's end, facing up. Working off the edge of a table keeps the knife's collet/handle from contacting the work. I use my left hand to firmly hold the work-piece down.. and my right hand for exerting firm finger-pressure on the blade, which holds it down and keeps it square. A careful rocking/pushing action into the wood takes just seconds to complete. The #17 blade is long-enough to make a deep slot.. and you can mark the blade for depth of cut too. Marking the "up" side of the blade also helps prevent from using the wrong side. You want to see the chisel's bevel facing up.. or else the slot will be off-center.
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation Roddie10](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/roddie10.jpg)
For comparison.. the #18 chisel blade is 1/2"w. and fits the larger collets/handles. 1/2" is much wider than I cut my hinges. I typically cut mine 1/4" to 5/16"w. x 1" long and round the edges like Mark does.
I just made this example with the wider #18 blade this morning. It took longer to post one pic than it did to cut three slots. I used a maple strip for a backing-fence.. C-clamped to the tabletop, which helps keep my concentration more on the hand doing the cutting. I had to shim-up my step-plate with tape on the bottom, to equal 1/2 the thickness of this particular piece of balsa stock. It's well worth the effort to make a good set-up. Most often.. a 1/16" thick plate is going to be perfect for 1/8" balsa.
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation 18_chi13](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/18_chi13.jpg)
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation 18_chi14](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/18_chi14.jpg)
Just another way to do it.. I like Mark's Goldberg tool for tapering. The Dubro hinge-slotting tool can be used to scribe the center of an edge up to 1/2" thick. A thumbtack fits snug in the slot of either of the two slotted attachments.
This qualifies as "quick and dirty" I think.
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation Dsc03129](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/dsc03129.jpg)
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation Dsc03130](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/dsc03130.jpg)
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation Dsc03131](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/dsc03131.jpg)
I've wanted to make a V-angle sanding block for tapering. My thoughts are using two 36" lengths of 3/4" light-gage aluminum angle-stock with abrasive paper on the outside face(s). The pair would fit (angles facing up) into a 36" long groove/slot cut in a board with end-blocks to keep them from sliding. A slot would support the whole length of the angle-stock. The outside of the angles can be shimmed-up with blocks, to establish the taper you desire.
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation Roddie10](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/roddie10.jpg)
For comparison.. the #18 chisel blade is 1/2"w. and fits the larger collets/handles. 1/2" is much wider than I cut my hinges. I typically cut mine 1/4" to 5/16"w. x 1" long and round the edges like Mark does.
I just made this example with the wider #18 blade this morning. It took longer to post one pic than it did to cut three slots. I used a maple strip for a backing-fence.. C-clamped to the tabletop, which helps keep my concentration more on the hand doing the cutting. I had to shim-up my step-plate with tape on the bottom, to equal 1/2 the thickness of this particular piece of balsa stock. It's well worth the effort to make a good set-up. Most often.. a 1/16" thick plate is going to be perfect for 1/8" balsa.
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation 18_chi13](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/18_chi13.jpg)
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation 18_chi14](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/18_chi14.jpg)
Just another way to do it.. I like Mark's Goldberg tool for tapering. The Dubro hinge-slotting tool can be used to scribe the center of an edge up to 1/2" thick. A thumbtack fits snug in the slot of either of the two slotted attachments.
This qualifies as "quick and dirty" I think.
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation Dsc03129](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/dsc03129.jpg)
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation Dsc03130](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/dsc03130.jpg)
![A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation Dsc03131](https://i.servimg.com/u/f68/18/50/45/90/dsc03131.jpg)
I've wanted to make a V-angle sanding block for tapering. My thoughts are using two 36" lengths of 3/4" light-gage aluminum angle-stock with abrasive paper on the outside face(s). The pair would fit (angles facing up) into a 36" long groove/slot cut in a board with end-blocks to keep them from sliding. A slot would support the whole length of the angle-stock. The outside of the angles can be shimmed-up with blocks, to establish the taper you desire.
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Just a note to say....CA hinges are NOT the best way for Control line models as they are way too stiff
I admit I like them for servo controlled surfaces but prefer MUCH loser hinges for CL models....favoring sewn or pre-made barrel hinges... I even make my own barrel hinges frequently from CF rod and CF tube but it is an acquired technique
and the tried and true method of a brass / aluminium tube with piano wire pin works well with zero stiffness
OTOH this set of posts are excellent ways to locate and use the danged things
again not Poo Pooing the methods of using the CA hinges....just that they are usually too stiff for 1/2a use IMO
I admit I like them for servo controlled surfaces but prefer MUCH loser hinges for CL models....favoring sewn or pre-made barrel hinges... I even make my own barrel hinges frequently from CF rod and CF tube but it is an acquired technique
and the tried and true method of a brass / aluminium tube with piano wire pin works well with zero stiffness
OTOH this set of posts are excellent ways to locate and use the danged things
again not Poo Pooing the methods of using the CA hinges....just that they are usually too stiff for 1/2a use IMO
fredvon4- Top Poster
Posts : 4007
Join date : 2011-08-26
Age : 69
Location : Lampasas Texas
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
I agree Fred. I used to use the small Dubro pinned-hinges.. but they took a lot of time and care not to break-through a 1/8" thick control surface using their hinge-slotting tool and wood pick. They do however permit the elevator/flap (sans linkage) to deflect downward with gravity alone. A CA hinge is not going to do that. As I mentioned for 1/2A size airplanes.. I cut the CA hinges to about 1/4" width.. and I'm careful not to use more than needed to get the job done. They're QUICK.. when compared to most other methods of hinging. I need all the help I can get when it comes to cutting down on building time!
![Laughing](https://2img.net/i/fa/i/smiles/icon_lol.gif)
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Roddie said "I need all the help I can get when it comes to cutting down on building time! Laughing
"
could not agree more...been working off and on with 5 simultaneous builds since last September and just now starting the covering
My production line method did not work out as planned
I must have missed the cut down to smaller (reading too fast some days.) but I can see where that technique would work fine for many 1/2a models with the CA hinges
"
could not agree more...been working off and on with 5 simultaneous builds since last September and just now starting the covering
My production line method did not work out as planned
I must have missed the cut down to smaller (reading too fast some days.) but I can see where that technique would work fine for many 1/2a models with the CA hinges
fredvon4- Top Poster
Posts : 4007
Join date : 2011-08-26
Age : 69
Location : Lampasas Texas
CA Hinges
Thanks Mark, just in time for the Flite Streak FredVon sold me.
Randy
Randy
musman69- Moderate Poster
- Posts : 19
Join date : 2021-11-17
Age : 70
Location : Rosharon TX
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Thanks Mark.
Excellent Vid!!
We all have our preferences and I fight shy of the CA hinge as they can be a little stiff if the glueing is over done.
For 1/2A control line and similar small models I prefer the very old fashioned method.
In the old kits decades ago we used to get a 1/2" strip of cotton banding which we had to cut to 1" lengths and to use circa three pairs of hinges for each half of the elevator.
The pieces were glued on with balsa cement so one hinge would be made thus......
Cement one half of the hinge to the top of the elevator stab.
Feed it underneath the hinge line and glue the other half to the elevator.
Cement the other half of the hinge to the bottom of the elevator stab, feed it through the hinge line and cement to the top of the elevator and adjacent to the first half of the hinge.
When all hinges are in place, rub balsa cement over them with the finger to seal them.
Wait 5 minutes and enjoy chewing the balsa cement off the fingers and spitting it off!!!
Remember that boys????.......Oh what fun.
I do not think we can get that tape any more so I use 1/4" strips of kite nylon which is super strong.
These hinges allow the elevator to drop by gravity and it will bend 180 degrees back on itself either way.
Super free movement.
But I am an oldie and set in my ways by these old methods.
Excellent Vid!!
We all have our preferences and I fight shy of the CA hinge as they can be a little stiff if the glueing is over done.
For 1/2A control line and similar small models I prefer the very old fashioned method.
In the old kits decades ago we used to get a 1/2" strip of cotton banding which we had to cut to 1" lengths and to use circa three pairs of hinges for each half of the elevator.
The pieces were glued on with balsa cement so one hinge would be made thus......
Cement one half of the hinge to the top of the elevator stab.
Feed it underneath the hinge line and glue the other half to the elevator.
Cement the other half of the hinge to the bottom of the elevator stab, feed it through the hinge line and cement to the top of the elevator and adjacent to the first half of the hinge.
When all hinges are in place, rub balsa cement over them with the finger to seal them.
Wait 5 minutes and enjoy chewing the balsa cement off the fingers and spitting it off!!!
Remember that boys????.......Oh what fun.
I do not think we can get that tape any more so I use 1/4" strips of kite nylon which is super strong.
These hinges allow the elevator to drop by gravity and it will bend 180 degrees back on itself either way.
Super free movement.
But I am an oldie and set in my ways by these old methods.
Woody- Gold Member
- Posts : 133
Join date : 2022-04-20
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
I used CA hinges only once and don't care for them. I prefer pinned hinges and I glue them in place with white glue. Should any glue get into the hinge line it easily breaks away when the hinge is flexed. I've never had one come loose.
I usually remove the factory pin and replace it with a thin piano wire that goes through all of them.
This facilitates repair or recovering should you ever have a crash.
I usually remove the factory pin and replace it with a thin piano wire that goes through all of them.
This facilitates repair or recovering should you ever have a crash.
706jim- Gold Member
- Posts : 464
Join date : 2013-11-29
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
Some CA hinges are garbage...the ones that have the fuzzy outer layer seperate from the inner smooth layer delaminate. These are the ones that need to be pinned.
Another problem is using too much CA..then having the hinge material get brittle and fail.
If I'm building a .40 sized rocket...then pinning is a must..but I pin these hinges for 1/2A flight loads mainly due to paranoia and the fact that pinning is easy to do.
I probably pinned these hinges.....but I'm not sure...
https://youtu.be/lcRfpaS7rdE
Another problem is using too much CA..then having the hinge material get brittle and fail.
If I'm building a .40 sized rocket...then pinning is a must..but I pin these hinges for 1/2A flight loads mainly due to paranoia and the fact that pinning is easy to do.
I probably pinned these hinges.....but I'm not sure...
https://youtu.be/lcRfpaS7rdE
TD ABUSER- Gold Member
- Posts : 224
Join date : 2020-11-01
Age : 68
Location : Washington
Re: A Quick and Dirty CA Hinge Installation
I confess, I like the CA hinges, but have had some break after extensive use.
My approach:
1. Slot the surface and drill a hole centered where the hinge will be inserted.
2. Insert the hinge, but don't drill it. Add CA to the hole; with the hinge intact, CA will wick out from the center to the edges, but not to the hinge line. Add CA to both sides.
3. Once cured, now drill through the hinge and pin. (toothpick or bamboo skewer)
My approach:
1. Slot the surface and drill a hole centered where the hinge will be inserted.
2. Insert the hinge, but don't drill it. Add CA to the hole; with the hinge intact, CA will wick out from the center to the edges, but not to the hinge line. Add CA to both sides.
3. Once cured, now drill through the hinge and pin. (toothpick or bamboo skewer)
![-](https://2img.net/i/empty.gif)
» The Dirty Duo
» Canadian Variant P-51 Build
» FF trim tab 'hinge'
» No good,,dirty,,rotten!!!!!!
» building a Guillows kit P 40
» Canadian Variant P-51 Build
» FF trim tab 'hinge'
» No good,,dirty,,rotten!!!!!!
» building a Guillows kit P 40
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum