AeroTech Pitts Python 50cc

Many thanks Brian for the offer. Hinges I have are 20mm wide. Have to arrange a meet up.

Phil, I have a set of hinge cutters too, I'll keep them in the car for when we next meet, Sat PM?

Yes, Saturday afternoon assuming I have not been frazzled by then.

To keep out of the Sun done some more work on the Pitts. Thanks to David for the hinge cutting tool but it was too small. Had to buy in the full kit from Elite Models along with another can of glow fuel.

Anyways, As the model was designed for CA hinges the slots helped centering the tool. First time using Kavan hinges and the tool made it easy to cut and fit the hinges until it was time to cut slots in the stabiliser. :dry: The outer slots were easy but the inner hinge slot was a b****er. The kit builders have built into the stab centre third a hard wood section. I can understand why as it will give the stab extra strength but the cutter did not want to know. Tried a small drill to gradually eat away some wood depth but not very successful. As the hinge will not fully insert as I would've liked I have opted to add an extra hinge a few cms away from it where I can get the full depth. (I hope the ruddy wings are not the same because there are 20 hinges to do) Going to use Formula 560 adhesive to glue the hinges in.

In the second image you can just make out the hardwood insert

Next time you need to cut hinge slots in a hardwood spar give me a shout. I have a Dremel tool and a table to mount it on the bench. Very accurate, very quick.

Probably or hopefully I won't be building another new plane but will bear your offer in mind. This is the first time I have come across a hardwood insert in that position. IF I had known i would've sorted it out BEFORE installing stabiliser. Oh well, live n learn.

Four flat hinges installed in elevator halves using Formula 560. When cured fully overnight in these temperatures I will glue them into the stabiliser. They are a firm fit on their own. I managed to dig out some more hardwood and only had to reduce the inner hinges by 4mm.

My next task is hinging the ailerons. The ailerons have a 22mm thick beveled edge with 10mm of depth. There are 5 slots per surface, 20 to do in total. Luckily the precut slots for Mylar hinges avoid that hardwood insert in centre which is for the horns. So, need to get into the right mind set and start slotting for flat hinges.

Formula 560 grabs very quickly yet on the bottle says 3 hours work time. Not very helpful when you are trying to align multiple hinges all at the same time. Elevator halves now fixed in. Now the dreaded bit, slotting 20 hinges or 40 times whatever way you look at it. Again some expletives used here again. Dry fitting trials okay but as soon as you think glue the little devils play up. Finally got there, not a 100% perfect in my view but will have to do.

Help!. Control horns. The ones supplied are really nice, aluminium with a bearing installed for the clevis. These horns use three screws to secure. "Manual" (a picture book in reality) says trial fit then remove some covering and using Med CA, refit them and tighten down into the hardwood insert in the wing No unsightly bolts, etc on top side of surface. BUT here is the problem I could with some advice on. The supplied clevis are for 2mm rod! I really need to use 3mm. I thought maybe use 3mm metal quick links but the pins are loose in the bearing. The bearing designed for a 2mm pin. I have a sneaking feeling I may to use 6 bolt through horns which is a shame plus more £ notes.

I have done a little net surfing and cannot find what I think I need.

Edit: Rod length for the ailerons is very short, approx 2 3/4 inches allowing for the ball link. But the elevators would be in the region of 6 inches, the latter not good for 2mm rods.

Update: As there will be some clevises left over (I am using my Miracle rudder horn) I decided to drill out a clevis at 2.5 mm to take a 3mm rod. Winds in nice and tight so will go down that route. There were no control rods in the box so I will cut down some Miracle 3mm rods and thread as necessary for correct length. Can now move on to fitting the servos.

One other thought, is it worth using carbon rods fitted with 3mm ends instead of metal or is the weight saving negligible?

Wind and rain means indoor jobs. Today I checked all the servos in their boxes with my servo tester. Installed the two elevator servos. Made a star ton installing the aileron servos and then it dawned on me that I only three and I need four! Checking my original invoice, yes my error. The afternoon rummaging through the components on the bench with regard to flying wires. It appears that I had most of the bits required. Then I remembered that some time ago I bought a Hangar 9 Beast 100 flying wire kit. Now I have all I need to set them up. Maybe tomorrow I will cut down the 3mm control rods to 130mm and thread the cut off end with 3mm die. That will enable me to connect the elevator surfaces.

Progress may be stalled till Monday or Tuesday as waiting on the missing servo, a handful of 500mm HD servo leads and a 100mm rudder horn.