Plane Storage Racks

I would like to expand on Ben Woolslayer's question about workshops. The storage problem and solutions are what I would like to know more about. How are some good ways to store planes? I hang some by the leadouts, hang some by the tail wheels, and prop some up on the floor. None of those ways are very good. It seems like the PVC pipe and tee type rack is a pretty good idea, but where to locate the "arms" is another question. How far apart vertically, as well as horizontally. It seems to me that horizontal distance is important because placing the "arms" under an unsupported area of the wing, like an open bay would stretch the covering, especially monokote type materials. I think maybe 6 inches apart would be alright, because that distance would allow the plane to be supported by it's center section sheeting. Any ideas? Some pictures would be nice.

Here are some pictures. http://www.clcombat.info/rack.html

To get the spacing right, measure the planes and add a bit.

Of course, these are all combat planes, but I should think the
same approach would work for stunters. Perhaps I'm wrong.

LAST EDITED ON Feb-02-04 AT 10:33 PM (CDT)
 
I have a couple of racks made from some scrap 2x4 and 1" dowel stock. Just punch them throught the 2x4, add a small brace between to handle the nose and slip some pipe insulation over the dowel and on the nose brace.

I built 2 of them, 4 planes each plus a 2 plane rack. They work fine.

Example below

Randy Powell

Edit: added picture when I got home.

The Plane Tree. Highly recommended. You can probably do without the string lights wrapped around it. Rough design on bar napkin. Final design and manufacturing De Hill. Slid down a highway at 65 mph during recent move. No damage. Unbelievable. I'm writing like Ernest. Hemingway.

Ok, it slid down the highway at 65, but whats the insurance crash rating? Did it do better than the low end Yugo?

How about a few design specs...

My kids are pretty good with K-nex (Modern Tinker Toys) and I figured I could turn them loose!

Kirk,

>>Did it do better than the low end Yugo?<<

Is there a high end Yugo?

>The Plane Tree. Highly recommended. You can probably do
>without the string lights wrapped around it. Rough design
>on bar napkin. Final design and manufacturing De Hill.
>Slid down a highway at 65 mph during recent move. No
>damage. Unbelievable. I'm writing like Ernest. Hemingway.

Mitch, that a good idea, to put it in the corner. More efficient use of space. I gotta do this, as the "Titan" covers most of my storage wall. What's your "Plane Tree" made out of? It doesn't look like wood or PVC pipe. Steve

Is my worry about resting the open bays on the tree "arms" unfounded?

With a "D-tube" or "C-tube" type wing, the model will sit a bit nose down on the spar and LE sheeting. It would not hurt to glue a flat piece of foam (instead of pipe insulation) to the supports to spread the load. Lots of stuff you could do, if you think you need to... custom fitted cradles with velvet lining, straps over the top with velcro and lace (!)...just depends on what you think you need. Steve

I built a 1/2 inch PVC pipe rack in the roof of my van covered with pipe insulation. Have hauled stunt ships all over the country hanging from the wings for the last several years with no ill effects. I would say not to worry about it.

Well OK.

No problem at all with open bays. The plane tree is built with two vertical 2x4s and three 1x4s running horizontal, making a ladder. The horizontals are held in place with metal angle pieces and covered with foam to protect any tail that might come in contact with them. The base is two 2x4s bolted 90 degrees to the uprights. The arms are 1x2 drilled with four staggered bolts through the 2x4s. Also covered with split foam. All wood stained. De built this very strong and it is extremely practical and I love it. I need another, but I keep smashing planes, so it would never fill up.

I have a very slick way of storing a lot of planes in a confined space.
Years ago, for my kids' room when we had a small house, we purchased from Sears some wheeled clothes racks. These are just made out of lightweight metal pipe and they dissasemble. they have a wheeled base and a frame that supports a bar about four feet long at the top, plus a little wire shelf above it.
I use two of these racks to store my airplanes. The planes hang from their leadouts.
One rack has four stunt planes and three or four sport planes. the other has about two dozen combat planes.
The whole pair of racks takes up very little space in the shop.
--jt

> I'm writing like Ernest. Hemingway.

That's because you drink like him too.
GET BACK TO WORK!