Tricks for easy wing strut attachment?
Robert Scott
I have a couple of high-wing models that I really like to fly; a 71" World
Models J-3 Cub ARF/Saito .56 and a kit-built 72" Unionville Hobby
deHavilland Beaver/Thunder Tiger .40. But I'm finding many times when I'm
looking over the models hanging on the shop ceiling, deciding which ones
I'll bring to the field to fly, I pass them by because of the hassle of
attaching the functional wing struts with tiny screw (Beaver) or tiny screws
and nuts/bolts (Cub).
I have read that some folks attach the struts to the wing with hinges, so
they stay attached to the wings and fold flat for transport. At the
fuselage end, I've heard of the small plastic ball/socket joints used, for a
simple snap-together fit.
Do you have a favorite set-up or clever trick for quick and easy wing strut
attachment?
Thanks for any tips,
desmobob
"Medicine is the keystone of the arch of Socialism" -- Vladimir Lenin
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the
gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
--Winston Churchill
Tim Wescott
> Hello Gentlemen,
>
> I have a couple of high-wing models that I really like to fly; a 71" World
> Models J-3 Cub ARF/Saito .56 and a kit-built 72" Unionville Hobby
> deHavilland Beaver/Thunder Tiger .40. But I'm finding many times when I'm
> looking over the models hanging on the shop ceiling, deciding which ones
> I'll bring to the field to fly, I pass them by because of the hassle of
> attaching the functional wing struts with tiny screw (Beaver) or tiny screws
> and nuts/bolts (Cub).
>
> I have read that some folks attach the struts to the wing with hinges, so
> they stay attached to the wings and fold flat for transport. At the
> fuselage end, I've heard of the small plastic ball/socket joints used, for a
> simple snap-together fit.
>
> Do you have a favorite set-up or clever trick for quick and easy wing strut
> attachment?
>
> Thanks for any tips,
Just thoughts:
Hinges should work fine even as structural elements, because the loading
on a strut should be strictly along it's length.
Plastic ball and socket joints would definitely be a weak link -- if
you're just using the struts for show, these would work fine, but if you
want them to be load bearing consider that you're basically hanging a
good part of the weight of the plane from them.
_If_ the struts are just for show, you could just drill holes in the
fuselage sides, make the ends of the struts out of wire, and just plug
them into the holes. But this wouldn't bear any weight.
--
Tim Wescott
Control system and signal processing consulting
www.wescottdesign.com
Robert Roland
<desm...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>Do you have a favorite set-up or clever trick for quick and easy wing strut
>attachment?
I have seen ordinary steel quick links used.
--
RoRo
Tim Wescott
Oy, but I wasn't thinking with my last reply! Those ought to be much
stouter than nylon ball & socket joints -- and you can get the 1/4 scale
ones that are stouter yet.
And yes -- I've seen them used, too, I just forgot :-(.
Robert Roland
wrote:
>Oy, but I wasn't thinking with my last reply! Those ought to be much
>stouter than nylon ball & socket joints -- and you can get the 1/4 scale
>ones that are stouter yet.
Ball links are actually quite tough. I think they'd work just fine on
Robert's 70+ inch models. He would, of course, have to install them so
that the load occurs in the right direction, otherwise they'd pop
right off. In helicopters, the ball links take considerable loads, and
they're pounded back and forth 2000 times a minute or so.
--
RoRo
Robert Scott
"Robert Roland" <fa...@ddress.no> wrote in message
news:90u5o5hgc4qohtrle...@4ax.com...
I've seen a Cub model at the field that used hinges on the wing ends of the
strut and a plastic ball/socket on the fuselage end. It seems like a very
convenient and easy to build system, but I was concerned about the direction
of the load on the ball/socket as Roland mentioned, as well as the possible
loosening of the joint due to frequent disassembly/reassembly, which I don't
think the ball/socket links are intended for.
I like is the attachment method used on the new L-4 Grasshopper e-power
model that Horizon sells. The wing end of the strut (double ended) has a
small pin sticking out of the outside of each branch of the strut and a pair
of small cylindrical receptacles on the wing. You just squeeze the two ends
of the strut together a bit, line up the pins with the receptacles, then let
go and the pins slide into place. I couldn't tell what they used on the
fuselage end. (I probably didn't make that very clear... there's a photo of
it in the model's photo gallery at Horizon's website; it's a nice looking
little airplane.)
I may try to replicate this set-up in my Cub but it's not applicable to the
Beaver, which has single, not "Y" struts.
Good flying,
desmobob
desmobob
What I really like is the attachment method used on the new L-4
Grasshopper e-power model that Horizon sells. The wing end of the strut
(double ended) has a small pin sticking out of the outside of each
branch of the strut and a pair of small cylindrical receptacles on the
wing. You just squeeze the two ends of the strut together a bit, line
up the pins with the receptacles, then let go and the pins slide into
didn't make that very clear... check out the model at Horizon's website;
it's a nice looking little airplane.)
I may try to replicate this set-up in my Cub. The Beaver is a little
simpler because it has just a single strut (but man, those screws are
tiny!).
Good flying,
desmobob
--
desmobob
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
desmobob's Profile: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=92227
View this thread: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1197604
Robert Scott
don't know what I did, but sorry for the duplicate info.
Good flying,
desmobob
Nigel Heather the-heathers.co.uk>
of silicon fuel tube over them.
Cheers,
Nigel
__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4893 (20100224) __________
The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
MJKolodziej
"desmobob" <desmobo...@rcgroups.com> wrote in message
news:desmobo...@rcgroups.com...
>
> What I really like is the attachment method used on the new L-4
> Grasshopper e-power model that Horizon sells. The wing end of the strut
> (double ended) has a small pin sticking out of the outside of each
> branch of the strut and a pair of small cylindrical receptacles on the
> wing. You just squeeze the two ends of the strut together a bit, line
> up the pins with the receptacles, then let go and the pins slide into
> place. I couldn't tell what they used on the inboard end. (I probably
> didn't make that very clear... check out the model at Horizon's website;
> it's a nice looking little airplane.)
>
> I may try to replicate this set-up in my Cub. The Beaver is a little
> simpler because it has just a single strut (but man, those screws are
> tiny!).
>
> Good flying,
> desmobob
As far as screws go, I change out many screws for cap screws and use a hex
driver. This make many tasks easier.
mk
(microfasteners.com)
Robert Scott
"MJKolodziej" <mjmwcsREMOV...@htcomp.net> wrote in message
news:hm8rc3$s3$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
I already did that, but I generally forget to bring a screwdriver-style hex
driver of the appropriate size and end up using a tiny L-shaped allen wrench
that I keep in my field tool box. :-) I'll go to the Tower Hobbies site
right now and add a driver to my shopping cart!
Good flying,
desmobob
MJKolodziej
"Robert Scott" <desm...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:E_OdnWBj1aH01BXW...@earthlink.com...
and couple extra of the most needed.( I misplace things)
mk
Robert Scott
>
>>
>> I already did that, but I generally forget to bring a screwdriver-style
>> hex driver of the appropriate size and end up using a tiny L-shaped allen
>> wrench that I keep in my field tool box. :-) I'll go to the Tower
>> Hobbies site right now and add a driver to my shopping cart!
>>
>> Good flying,
>> desmobob
>>
> I became a believer. I got a set for the flight box and one for the shop,
> and couple extra of the most needed.( I misplace things)
> mk
On my work bench, I have a set of metric and a set of SAE by Wiha. What
nice tools! I put two less expensive sets in my shopping cart... I'll try
to fit them in my field tool box.
Good flying,
desmobob