Basil Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Hi, this really must seem a stupid question, nieve at the very least. I need to buy some bands to hold on some wings and I see that they come in different sizes. How do you determine what size is required?.Is it the length between when slack or the length when taught. What sought of tension is required? I have some that I bought some months ago but they keep breaking(app 50% do)maybe sub standard. Bas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Bullit Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Inner tubes sliced make good bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarlyBird Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 For 12" between the sticks I use 8". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 You need enough tension so that the leading edge will not lift in flight, so smaller & tighter than you may first think. I'd suggest getting a variety of these in stock, they last forever if stored in the dark: https://www.slecuk.com/wing-bands/white-rubber-bands 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 I only have a few models that use wing bands and I always use 6, each lightly tensioned but it allows for at least 2 to fail in flight without serious consequences ? As for length, I tend to use what I have available but Early Bird's suggestion of 8" for 12" chord is about right. They do tend to perish more when left in tension even when the model is stored in the dark as most of mine are (in the loft above my workshop). I have no idea why. I keep the wing bands for my Das Liddle Stik in the battery compartment and they seem to be lasting quite well but 'O' rings stretched over small model propsavers always fail when stored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Walby Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 37 minutes ago, Geoff S said: I only have a few models that use wing bands and I always use 6, each lightly tensioned but it allows for at least 2 to fail in flight without serious consequences ? As for length, I tend to use what I have available but Early Bird's suggestion of 8" for 12" chord is about right. 6 bands! won nice strong fuz there, 2 straight and 2 diagonal for me! ? some talc in the bag with the bands seems to make them last longer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Griff Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Slec ones are good, various sizes and not expensive. I also use 6, 4 diagonals for self keeping. Dark stored in talced empty clean grease plastic pot with screw lid type pot. I replace any that show signs of deterioration and test them prior to fitting. Spares in flight trolley, an old shoppers trolley with wood box etc.. Wheels are great ain't they ! Seen toooo many wings come off in flight. These days it's batteries.... Yes I have used old innertube bands as well. Glow or diesel fuel and exhaust will eventually degrade the band's but they are not expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 1 hour ago, Geoff S said: I only have a few models that use wing bands and I always use 6, each lightly tensioned but it allows for at least 2 to fail in flight without serious consequences ? As for length, I tend to use what I have available but Early Bird's suggestion of 8" for 12" chord is about right. They do tend to perish more when left in tension even when the model is stored in the dark as most of mine are (in the loft above my workshop). I have no idea why. I keep the wing bands for my Das Liddle Stik in the battery compartment and they seem to be lasting quite well but 'O' rings stretched over small model propsavers always fail when stored. At least six bands for me too Geoff. I really don't like wingbands, but for the minority of models that use them -mostly gliders - I'd always use at least six. They do perish relatively quickly when exposed to the light, which is a pain when models are stored by hanging them up with the wings on- so most of those models are stored wings off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad_flyer Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Band length I find is 'shorter than you think'. As @John Lee says, you don't want the leading edge lifting in flight, so they need to be tight. 1 degree incidence change is not much band stretch, but quite a difference in aerodynamics. I keep bands in a metal tin out of the light, used ones still need frequent replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan M Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Using six bands isn't just for security, it also provides 50% more 'anti-lifting' tension than just using four bands. But don't over-do it either. You do want to wing to release in the event of an accidental arrival, else the impact energy will find the next weakest point which will be the wing itself and/or the fuselage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt Kremen Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Whilst very noble supporting the hobby shop/hobby suppliers, you will find a wider and cheaper choice via a search on the net. I have used 'First Steps' and 'Rubberbands uk' with satisfaction in quality, range, and value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Griff Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 It's amazing how many rubber bands the post office just drops on the floor... Sui able for r smaller glider s etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 hello Basil, Slec have a good selection on their site. hello Rich...i read that the PO band were bio degradable...so they might perish quickly? ken anderson....ne..1..rubber dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Can't beat rubber bands for small gliders flown over the rough, catch a wing on landing and they give with no damage instead of ripped out wing bolts or worse. Winter fix up "Mable" was converted to band's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 On 20/01/2022 at 13:42, Capt Kremen said: Whilst very noble supporting the hobby shop/hobby suppliers, you will find a wider and cheaper choice via a search on the net. I have used 'First Steps' and 'Rubberbands uk' with satisfaction in quality, range, and value. Captain, this might sound a bit nieve, but so many listed. What types are best suited for us modellers. Bas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Most good office supply shops stock all sizes and cheap !. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lima Hotel Foxtrot Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 On 20/01/2022 at 13:42, Capt Kremen said: Whilst very noble supporting the hobby shop/hobby suppliers, you will find a wider and cheaper choice via a search on the net. I have used 'First Steps' and 'Rubberbands uk' with satisfaction in quality, range, and value. What a disgusting attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Stainforth Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Lima Hotel Foxtrot said: What a disgusting attitude. Why on earth disgusting?! For rubber bands, model shops are not the only choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lima Hotel Foxtrot Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Because the attitude is about ignoring the rapidly diminishing supply of model shops in favour of online suppliers for something as cheap as rubber bands. If people think wing bands are too expensive from a LMS then that is just proof that people have been spoiled with cheap goods for far too long. Once the model shops are gone, they're not coming back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 basil, the white bands that are on Slecs web site are good value/quality...no point in going cheap...for the decent price of saving your model.....the price of decent bands compared to the price to replace a model and all the gear.......its a no brainer? ken anderson...ne...1...no brainer dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarlyBird Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Here you go Basil. Cheap as chips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 On 20/01/2022 at 09:25, Basil said: Hi, this really must seem a stupid question, nieve at the very least. I need to buy some bands to hold on some wings and I see that they come in different sizes. How do you determine what size is required?.Is it the length between when slack or the length when taught. What sought of tension is required? I have some that I bought some months ago but they keep breaking(app 50% do)maybe sub standard. Bas What's the model ? Rubber bands are sometimes a worse accident damage risk than plastic screws. IMO rubber bands are over-rated in mitigating accident damage in most models, they also look ugly & increase drag. They are one of several examples of free flight/single channel legacies that have been carried over to modern RC models often without the benefits or otherwise being fully considered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 The trouble with plastic screws is they often don't give any until they break or tear out or in the case of an Easy Pigeon complete collapse of a section of wing, all the port centre section uncovered in the pic. Repaired and about to be recovered. Sawing some way though bolts can help but I never see it done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 I'm with Pat, bands are a thing of the past, an expense no longer needed, a faff, they do nothing that wing bolts don't do better, I build to fly not to crash and not forgetting most put 6 bands on so they're secure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 38 minutes ago, J D 8 said: The trouble with plastic screws is they often don't give any until they break or tear out or in the case of an Easy Pigeon complete collapse of a section of wing, all the port centre section uncovered in the pic. Repaired and about to be recovered. Sawing some way though bolts can help but I never see it done. If the wings had been held by rubber bands, tight enough not to allow the LE to lift in some manoeuvres, would it really have made any difference ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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