Note: Before proceeding to hinge the rudder.
read completely through the section on
Installing CA Hinges. Do not use any glue
until after the tail surfaces are covered.
few times to provide more clearance (it is
really the back edge of the blade that does
the work here in widening the slot).
INSTALLING CA HINGES
The hinge material supplied in this kit
consists of a 3-layer lamination of mylar and
polyester. It is specially made for the purpose
of hinging model airplane control surfaces.
Properly installed, this type of hinge provides
the best combination of strength, durability
and ease of installation. We trust even our best
show models to these hinges, b u t it is
essential to install them correctly. Please
read the following instructions and follow
them carefully to obtain the best results.
These instructions may be used to effectively
install any of the various brands of CA hinges.
The most common mistake made by modelers
when installing this type of hinge is not
applying a sufficient amount of glue to fully
secure the hinge over its entire surface area;
or, the hinge slots are very tight, restricting
the flow of CA to the back of the hinges. This
results in hinges that are only "tack glued"
approximately 1/8" to 1/4" into the hinge
slots. The following technique has been
developed to help ensure thorough and
secure gluing.
A. Cut the hinge slot using a # 11 blade in a
standard #1 knife handle. The slots should
be about 3/4" deep. The CA hinges provided
have a thickness that fits this type of slot
very well. Cut off the corners of the hinge at a
45 degree angle and trial fit the hinge into the
slot. If the hinge does not slide in easily, work
the knife blade back and forth in the slot a
CAUTION: Do not drill this hole when
hinging a foam wing, as this hole would allow
too much CA to penetrate and cause damage
to the foam.
B. Drill a 3/32" hole, 1/2" deep. in the
center of the hinge slot. If you use a Dremel
MultiPro for this task, it will result in a
cleaner hole than if you use a slower speed
power or hand drill. Drilling the hole will twist
some of the wood fibers into the slot, making it
difficult to insert the hinge, so you should
reinsert the knife blade, working it back and
forth a few times to clean out the slot.
C. Insert the hinges and install the control
surface. Verify the left-right positioning of the
control surface and close up the hinge gap to
1/32" or less. It is best to leave a very slight
hinge gap, rather than closing it up tight, to
help prevent the CA from wicking along the
hinge line. If you have cut your hinge slots too
deep, the hinges may slide in too far. leaving
only a small portion of the hinge in the control
surface. To avoid this, you may insert a small
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