C A Hinges for C/L

Has anyone out there used the thin, CA type hinges for C/L use? They are a breeze to install, but have some tendency to want to spring back to neutral, just wondering, Thanks, Dave Markley

Some have tried them, yes. The biggest problem is what you already stated: They offer resistance that is unwanted. For RC installations they have a servo to overcome the excess forces such as this. In our installations we want the entire control system to be as free as possible.

One thing I have already discovered about Alexander Shrek's plane that he had at the worlds and the Nats, the controls are very free. This should be your goal. I wouldn't use those hinges for CL purposes.

I have used them and I never noticed any problem. They do produce some centering force, but this is different then having barrel type hinges that bind. Given the choice between sticky controls and CA hinges I would choose the CA ones. I switched to barrel hinges on my current plane mainly to keep Kim Doherty happy
Pat MacKenzie

Dave,
I fly both RC and UC. I have used the hinges you speak of on both. I find when flying RC it requires very little movement to make the plane change directions and I almost never do a 90 degree turn as the speeds are so much higher than UC. The movement on my control line ships is more violent and I use more travel in flying the pattern. When used in my UC ship they broke rather quickly but in my RC ships they are still going strong. It's a real pain to put new hinges in, rather do it right the first time if you know what I mean.

I have some slightly different CA hinges with the Brodak Pathfinder ARC....they seem flexible...almost like being made of TYVEK....
I will install them and report.

See Ya

I use ca hinges on rc and cl. When new for cl, I flex them a 100 times or so to relax the stiffness. Sometimes I poke holes at the hinge line with a pin to help too. A pain but it works. Never had a problem and been using them at least 15 yrs on engine sizes up to 60rc and 40cl.

For 35/40 size cl I cut the hinges smaller (about a 1/2" wide) and put a slit down the middle for ca to wick better. There are different thicknesses of the hinge material so the width changes depending on who's material is used. Sig's hinge material is the thickest I've found...and I have Rocket City hinges that are thin, slotted already, wick better, are weaker but flex better.

I've taken apart a bunch of crashed planes and checked the ca hinges. Most only saturate the trailing edge approx 1/4" deep if not slotted down the middle. The rest is along for the ride.

Nice informative tip for this beginner. Thanks,
Nick Vanmatre

Sometimes I poke
>holes at the hinge line with a pin to help too. A pain but
>it works. Never had a problem and been using them at least
>15 yrs on engine sizes up to 60rc and 40cl.
>the ride.

Ron B.
F4Fguy

The Old Toilet Paper Cure! It never tears on the holes!

Thanks for all the information guys, I really appreciate your input. Again Leonard, thanks for keeping this forum up and running, it is a wealth of information to the novice and expert alike, Dave Markley