[Tomahawk]

Hey Guys:

I have a question on elastic bands for the wing. Hobby shop only carries the standard #64 elastic bands for wings. In most cases they are fine. My Falcon will be a different story. I tried them and the elastics are stretched way past their stretch limit.
Is it ok to loop one onto the other to obtain the required length. It does create a knot. (I did try this and the length works) I was wondering if I was setting myself up for a wing failure or is this what others are doing when more length is needed to attach the wing.

Chris

[hitechflyer]

Check out Staples they have all sorts of sizes.

[Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by hitechflyer

Check out Staples they have all sorts of sizes.

I thought that too and they don't. #64 was the biggest they had. I will try some other office supply places.

Chris

[RCcanuck]

Would these fit...ive got a box of them you can have??

http://www.hhhobbies.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=128

[Frank Klenk]

Chris

On my 100 inch Dallaire Sportster I connect 3 bands together to get around the wing and no issues at all. Just don't try any pylon turns and you'll be good. Standard 64 bands I use.

[Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by RCcanuck

Would these fit...ive got a box of them you can have??

http://www.hhhobbies.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=128

Thanks for the offer. I don't think they will work. A #64 band is 3 1/2" long (measured one half of the bands circumference) I need something in the 6" range for length.
I looked up the rubberband numbering system and what a confusing mess that was. It looks maybe I need a #136 band. 6" x 1/4" x 1/16"

Thanks again for your offer.

Chris

[Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by Frank Klenk

Chris

On my 100 inch Dallaire Sportster I connect 3 bands together to get around the wing and no issues at all. Just don't try any pylon turns and you'll be good. Standard 64 bands I use.

Hi Frank. I mostly bolt my wings and don't have much experience with the elastics. I was worried that maybe the knot in the elastic would create a stress point and break easily. No hard manuvers with the Falcon but I will use 12 or 14 bands to hold the wing on.
If I can't find what I am looking for I will use the bands looped together.

See you tomorrow in London.

Chris

[Tomahawk]

Success!!!! I found 7" rubber bands at our other Dollarstore today. They are only 1/8" wide over the 1/4" for the #64 bands but they are double the thickness so it should even out. Tried them and they work great on the Falcon.
They also nicely fit the wing of my newly aquired 72" Feathered Merchant oldtimer.

I had to buy a pound of the 7 inchers as they didn't have a smaller bag. There are a lot of elastics in that bag. I guess I will have to build some more larger oldtimers to use them all up.
The pic shows the standard Sig #64 at 3 1/2" on the bottom.
Sig's #69 bands at 5" that Geff somehow scooped up at the London Swap Meet before me.
The top band is the 7" that I found today.

Chris

[OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK]

Originally Posted by Tomahawk

Hi Frank. I mostly bolt my wings and don't have much experience with the elastics. I was worried that maybe the knot in the elastic would create a stress point and break easily. No hard manuvers with the Falcon but I will use 12 or 14 bands to hold the wing on.Chris

I am not a fan of "pilling on" elastics. Too many can be as bad as too few as you can weaken the wing & create a crush point that causes the wing to fail!

The test I use is to pick the plane up by the wing & shake it up & down to see if the wing separates from the fuselage. Add elastics untill it doesn't & you are good to go - ok add 2 more if you are the nervous type!

6 or 8 #64's are about right on a .40 size trainer. I have seen guys "pile on" 18 to 24 on the same size plane & when the wing tip touches anything on take off or landing the center section explodes from the tension!

I once by mistake put my Gentle Lady up the high start with only 2 bands on & saw a lot of day light between the wing & fuse on the way up! Turned out fine but I quickly added 2 more for the next go!

[Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK

I am not a fan of "pilling on" elastics. Too many can be as bad as too few as you can weaken the wing & create a crush point that causes the wing to fail!

The test I use is to pick the plane up by the wing & shake it up & down to see if the wing separates from the fuselage. Add elastics untill it doesn't & you are good to go - ok add 2 more if you are the nervous type!

6 or 8 #64's are about right on a .40 size trainer. I have seen guys "pile on" 18 to 24 on the same size plane & when the wing tip touches anything on take off or landing the center section explodes from the tension!

I once by mistake put my Gentle Lady up the high start with only 2 bands on & saw a lot of day light between the wing & fuse on the way up! Turned out fine but I quickly added 2 more for the next go!

Excellent advice there Merv. I have to say I have also seen guys pile on the elastics.

Chris