How do you normally connect your control surfaces on scratch built small electric airplanes ?

Many ARFs recommend just using tape. Others provide plastic hinges that are connected using foam safe glue.  Most people I know substitute epoxy for the glue, since epoxy on foam seems to provide a much more solid bond.

I myself have been cutting small strips of plastic from X-Ray sheets or from plastic tea cups, and using them as hinges, even on ARFs.  They are fixed by cutting small slots on both foam surfaces, and then very small amount of epoxy is carefully used to put the hinge in place.

What about you ?

Yes X-ray film works very well.

Also, try fiberglass cloth wetted with epoxy. It not only provides a realiable hinge but also it strengthens both the ends of the surface to which it attaches. FG is 100% duarable and will last for years.

-Ismail

I have found plastic visiting cards to be great Hinges . These are very close to the hinges you get with Arf's
sai

I cut hinges from old floppy disks and use foam safe CA to fix them in slots cut in control surfaces of foam planes.They never failed me so far.

I go with taped hinges along the complete edge of the control surface. Provides good strength to counter the inherent flimsiness of foam.

rajeev

Hi Rao, that is a very interesting choice/use of material   

What part of the floppy disks do you use ?  The outer shell or the actual platter itself ?  Also, are you refering to the older 5.25" (1.2MB) disks ?

Hi Anwar,
I mean the internal round disk of 1.44 Mb floppy disks.

2- layers of packing tape also serves the purpose. but keep in mind the glue sides should be joined and some space should be there for the surface to move. For thermocole it is tested.

Strapping tape or fiber tape is better as it lasts longer and amazingly very strong.

i am using a new method as substitute for plastic hinges.
check this link

http://www.rcindia.org/tools-materials-and-building-techniques/hinges-from-waste/

sandeep

I too use rectangular pieces of floppy's inner magnetic disk!

MEROG

Quote from: rcforall on March 21, 2009, 02:54:41 PM
I have found plastic visiting cards to be great Hinges . These are very close to the hinges you get with Arf's
sai

Great illustration on how to use old credit cards etc for this purpose: from ModelAirplaneNews.com