Fin and stab.

[dheaton]

I need some help. I am building a scratch plane and the fin/rudder is supposed to just glue onto the stab. The fin is only made from 1/8th balsa. I feel it would come off in the first little bit of wind. Any suggestions on what I can do to make it stronger? I thought about maybe putting a small piece of triangle on each side. I will include an image for you to see if I can figure out how to upload it.

[Wildflyer]

If that is a plastic covering material, you need to cut it away for the glue joint.

Edge glued might be strong enough for a small plane, but the joint would defiantly be stronger with triangle strips on each side.

Sometimes you might actually want a joint just strong enough for flying, so if you crash the rudder would just break free and not break in half.

It looks like you need to cut a little out of the rudder just in front of the hinge line, to allow the elevator to move freely.

[dheaton]

The covering is monikote (spelling).
I guess I could use it as it is but it really makes me nervous that only a 1/8th joint is holding the whole thing on.

I realize that I will need to remove the covering on those areas if I do use a triangle piece of balsa, just not sure if it needs it. This has been a hard plane to build as the plans and instructions are not very clear.

Originally Posted by Wildflyer

If that is a plastic covering material, you need to cut it away for the glue joint.

Edge glued might be strong enough for a small plane, but the joint would defiantly be stronger with triangle strips on each side.

Sometimes you might actually want a joint just strong enough for flying, so if you crash the rudder would just break free and not break in half.

It looks like you need to cut a little out of the rudder just in front of the hinge line, to allow the elevator to move freely.

[road king 97]

If its foam or balsa you can glue some round bbq squres in the rudder so it goes into the elv .If those are to big tooth pick works or for the big bucks a small carbon fiber rod cut down is the best . Just make sure they are not long enough to hit anything else inside the fuse like control rods and also use very little glue a tail heavy plane will give you the wrong kind of thrill. lol The other way is to glue a small block the same thickness on the bottom of the rudder about a inch long and then notch the elev so the that block fits into the new notch you cut into the elev . Its kinda like a dove tail on a plane ,again use very little glue. Hope this helps .joe

[Intruder38]

Just add the triangle stock. If you want to dress it up, taper each end to a point, apply some covering or paint and glue to the fin/stabilizer joint as you said at the get-go. Remove the covering where you want to apply glue. Don't go overboard with the size of the fillet; it will add weight where you don't want it.

[road king 97]

Originally Posted by Intruder38

Just add the triangle stock. If you want to dress it up, taper each end to a point, apply some covering or paint and glue to the fin/stabilizer joint as you said at the get-go. Remove the covering where you want to apply glue. Don't go overboard with the size of the fillet; it will add weight where you don't want it.

Its is a stronger way but more weight ,either way will work but if you use the triangle find a light piece of balsa for it . joe

[dheaton]

Thanks for the reply's. This is an old plane and I am just getting around to building it. The plans call for an old .05 can brushed motor with an 8-4 prop. I just purchased a ST400 outrunner to put on it so it will stick out off the plane a bit so I will probably need to add a bit of tail weight anyway.

Thanks for the help. I need to get done with all my old kits so I can start with something new. Hmmm maybe someday I need to try and fly them.

[road king 97]

Originally Posted by dheaton

Thanks for the reply's. This is an old plane and I am just getting around to building it. The plans call for an old .05 can brushed motor with an 8-4 prop. I just purchased a ST400 outrunner to put on it so it will stick out off the plane a bit so I will probably need to add a bit of tail weight anyway.

Thanks for the help. I need to get done with all my old kits so I can start with something new. Hmmm maybe someday I need to try and fly them.

I still have 480 brushed motors with gear boxes and 10x7 four bladed props on this and it flys but i just bought brushless motors to change them for next year. joe

[dheaton]

Thats a good lookin plane Joe. Did you build it or was it ready to fly?

Originally Posted by road king 97

I still have 480 brushed motors with gear boxes and 10x7 four bladed props on this and it flys but i just bought brushless motors to change them for next year. joe

[road king 97]

They dont make a arf of it ,its 100 inch wingspan and i built it from ivans plans . My build thread was here on wattflyers about 2 years ago. I scratch build all my planes cause i like building weird stuff .I just found plans for this after a long search and i will scratch build it soon. joe

[road king 97]

Let us know how the tail turns out dheaton ,it looks like a fun build . joe

[dheaton]

Will do. I am slow though so it may be a while.

Originally Posted by road king 97

Let us know how the tail turns out dheaton ,it looks like a fun build . joe

[road king 97]

Originally Posted by dheaton

Will do. I am slow though so it may be a while.

Yea i build slow to by over thinking stuff but they get done sooner or later its not a race. lol good luck . joe

[JetPlaneFlyer]

Originally Posted by road king 97

I just found plans for this after a long search and i will scratch build it soon. joe

Joe,
Make sure that there are no children or persons of fragile disposition around when you fly this thing. It's so ugly it might cause permanent psychological trauma!

Steve

[road king 97]

Yes i know Steve ,i seen the airtruk fly in a mad max movie and i wanted one ever sinse but could not find plans .Iam thinking of a foam build first but i think it will be just as hard as a balsa one. I think both will still be fun to build and my biker look scrares most at my club field anyways that dont know me so the plane will be a plus. lol joe