Control Surfaces - Scratch Build Tips

by FliteTest | March 13, 2013 | (31) Posted in Tips

With the popularity of our speed build (scratch build) kits, Chad wanted to share some fast tips on control surfaces for your scratch built RC aircraft!

When cutting the chamfer for your hinges, a sanding block is another great option. Simply hot glue sandpaper to a piece of plywood and use it in place of a razor.

Make your own control horns by cutting a zip tie and drilling a hole for your push rod.  

Another great tip for repairing and strengthening your hinges on your foam board airplanes is by squeegee-ing a thin bead of hot glue into the seam.  

Hopefully these tips were helpful!  Be sure to leave a comment or with any tips that you have!

Thanks for watching! Check out the links below to learn more about the speed build kits and other scratch build tips!

 

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

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COMMENTS

sailorJohn on March 30, 2013
Hobby King is making a bevel cutting tool. I posted a utube video using home made tools using wood blocks with razor blades mount the razor blades with #4 screws ,one not extending far enough to cut through hinge paper and one mounted to a block cut at 45 degrees for angle cuts agan not cutting through the bottom paper.Razor blades mounted this way make clean cuts and last an unbelievely long time much much better than razor knives .
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ProjectFlightDesign on March 18, 2013
Thanks! Some great tips here, I may start incorporating this
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lFritZl on March 14, 2013
Thanks, the zip ties is a great idea, however if i could add to this: i would 5 minute epoxy them on/in, I've lost a good few foamies to hot glued control horns coming off in maneuvers. anyway keep up the good work.
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mmerry2 on March 14, 2013
CONTROL HORN TIP: Beside using zip ties for control horns, popsicle sticks, gift cards and old credit cards work well too.
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jlt1968 on March 15, 2013
What kind of hot glue do you all use when bulding your planes? What I have is a generic craft glue and has a short working time. In the videos it looks like the hot glue being used has a long working time.
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Ralphtsp on March 16, 2013
Great tips, thanks for sharing them. When I went to make the sanding block I used an old gift card. It has worked real good and the little bit of flex it has is nice sometimes. I notice it is always close to the front in the mess of my work bench, I use it frequently. Thanks again, keep up the good work.
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liveyourdreamsRC on March 13, 2013
Cool, thanks, and keep it up. Just got my hero 3 black a couple days ago and can't wait to use it. Bixler please do a review of your T-copter soon, and also one of the FT cruiser.
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ronnie.burchfield. on March 13, 2013
what is the ft cruiser ? i have not heard of this plane. did they build a new one ?
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zev on March 13, 2013
yup, it is a new duel engined one.
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liveyourdreamsRC on March 14, 2013
exactly, but they haven't released a vid yet on it- the review or the build. If your wondering about the T-copter, you can see Bixler's design in the last few scens in the upper right corner of the GoodYear blimp episode.
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cloud9photos on March 13, 2013
Awesome idea using the zip ties!
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Axl on September 18, 2013
Awesome tips thanks
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Tetlowj5003 on December 17, 2013
how big do i make the control horns?

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lecrote on August 29, 2014
I used john tips for half way cut and it works great.
For control horn i use dental floss on stick.
Dan
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Control Surfaces - Scratch Build Tips