HELPFUL HINTS
DON'T RE-INVENT THE WHEEL!
PART 4
by Murray Berman
Ever want to keep your model from roaming around the bench?? Try locking each wheel onto its axle by slipping a rubber band over the axle on one side of a wheel, then doubling the band over the tire and onto the axle on the other side of the wheel. Works like a brake.
Ever want to run a bead of white glue down the edge of a sheet of balsa, and the glue tip slips off the edge of the balsa? If you cut a V-slot on the glue tip, it will form a guide to prevent the tip from slipping off the edge. Also try pushing, not pulling the glue bottle.
Ever want to draw a straight line on a narrow piece of wood and find the ruler is hard to hold still or to keep on the dots you made as markers? Stick a straight pin into each end mark and into the middle, and slide the ruler up tight against the pins. Then draw the line.
Need exhaust extensions and can't get the right size, or you do not want to pay exorbitant prices for the blue tubing sold in hobby shops? Go to an automotive store (UAP) and look for the red radiator hose. It works just fine! You can hold it on with a plastic tie if necessary. It comes in many sizes, and is much cheaper.
Ever try to stick the male servo plug into a female (servo socket, that is!) and it won't go because you have it reversed? Paint all the sides that mate with some paint (white or red, etc.), Your wife or girl friend may be able to supply an old bottle of nail enamel, works great.
When you install CA hinges, sometimes the slot that you made is so thin it tends to disappear. Run the end of a ballpoint or fine marker pen in the slot. Then you can find the slot when you get to the hinge installation stage.
Ever have the coloured cement on Monokote or Ultrakote bleed past the edge onto the next colour after you have finished ironing? You can remove it easily with a cloth dampened with acetone or lacquer thinners. Not too much though -- just a dab!
For cutting very fine strips of covering material for use as striping, here is the method 1 have found to work best. I use a piece of wallboard to work on. Place the material tight up to a row of pins in a very straight line. Then decide how wide you want to make the strip, and place straight pins at this width beyond the edges of the material. Then hold a long ruler against these pins and keep the ruler held down (I use weights at each end of a metal yardstick) and cut the material by sliding a very sharp blade against the ruler. It takes a bit of practice to get several strips exactly the same width, but patience will overcome. Or you could go out and buy a commercial striping cutter.
And finally, if you are having trouble with a Super Tigre 3250, give me a call. I think I have it figured out now!
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