Spoiler hinge question - what material?

[CactusJackSlade]

Any opinions on the best hinge method to hinge my flip up spoilers?

I did a search on spoiler hinges but found nothing...

Should I just go with simple monokote hinge, or should I use a couple real hinges?

The monokote hinge would probably be easier and maybe even a cleaner way to go but will the monokote hinge start to lift ot peal after a while?

If I do use a monokote hinge should I first hinge it with clear, than go over it again with my colored monokote, or just go over it with the colored monokote, cut out my spoiler and be done with it?...

Any experience in this area anyone?

Thanks,

CJS

[Ricardo RW]

I've been using clear tape (3M or Scotch) with good results. Easy to replace, doesn't suffer very much with UV (I've been flying for two years without replacing it)

Just simple.

[Sparky Paul]

This one had the full MonoKote treatment, top and bottom for hinging.
I changed to top-only, using Coverite fabric, awaiting flight today maybe.
The full treatment was too stiff, the spoilers wouldn't flop down into the well.
I added spoilers to my other Spirit wing, which will have Coverite for the top-only hinge.. it too may fly today.
Using Sw#3 on my Hitec Flash 5.. gives 3 positions.. pitch effects are easily held with the stick.

[schrederman]

I just use Graupner hinge tape. I replace it every couple of months so it doesn't turn to permanent goo in the Texas sun. I usually just use the flap stick for completely proportional spoilers. On models with big spoilers like a Legionair or the Houston Hawk, I mix some up elevator with it. Large spoilers let me step it down, as in straight down, without overstressing the airframe.

Jack Womack:D

[aeajr]

When I cut in the spoilers on my Spirit 2 M, I used 3M HD packing tape which has a criss/cross glass reinforcemet pattern. Then I just layed the Monokote on top of that.

Works fine and is much stronger than the monokote by itself.

I did this originally without recovering the wing. However this photo showing damage to a crashed wing also shows the tape pretty well.

[flyingdogtwo]

I've found some LHS carry Zagi replacement hinge tape. Good stuff if you need thicker tape than packing, scotch, monocote type hinges.

[Tim Jonas]

I use 3M Blenderm. Great stuff, if you can find it.

[Ray Lowinski]

aeajr,

Those spoilers look kinda small, do they really work well? I'm too used to seeing things that go 1/2 the length of the wing section.

Ray

[Sparky Paul]

The spoilers on the Spirit will, if not corrected with elevator, pitch the plane down vertically after a short while. More than sufficient for normal flying.

[aeajr]

Originally posted by Ray Lowinski
aeajr,

Those spoilers look kinda small, do they really work well? I'm too used to seeing things that go 1/2 the length of the wing section.

Ray

Ray,

The Spirit is the first glider I ever flew. However the Spoilers make a big difference when landing. I had it out one day in about a 20 MPH wind, just practicing launching and landing in wind. I was having fun balancing the plane in the wind so it just hung there. I would deploy the spoilers and it would just float down, vertically, like it was on a string.

The Spoilers on my Sagitta 600 2M are about the same size and type. I don't have much time on the Sagitta, but they seem to be effective.

I don't have anything else with which to compare them.

[schrederman]

Size of the spoilers is really important depending on your intended use. If landing is all you are worried about, the smaller ones are easier to land with, in my opinion. If you have terminal velocity let-downs in mind, you need some spoiler area. There must be sufficient drag produced to prevent the model from gaining too much speed and destroying the airframe. I saw this for the first time in the '70s when I saw LeMon Payne bring his Legionair 140 down from a speck to pattern altitude in about 15 seconds.....I was hooked.....Consequently the Houston Hawk has 14 X 1 spoilers and can be used in the same way. If the RES rules didn't say the spoilers all have to all open at once, I'd do 2 sets. One set for landing and an alternative set for stepping.

Jack Womack

[aeajr]

Originally posted by schrederman
Size of the spoilers is really important depending on your intended use. If landing is all you are worried about, the smaller ones are easier to land with, in my opinion. If you have terminal velocity let-downs in mind, you need some spoiler area.
Jack Womack

Jack, can you explain that a little more? I am still pretty new at this. Sounds like you are using the spoilers at a speed brake. Is that right?

I have had the club experts tell me that spoilers will help me get out of booming thermals that might otherwise take the plane away, but I thought they were talking about killing the lift on the wing to help me get down and out. You are describing something different here, I think.

Can you expand on it?