Doug Ireland Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Hi Guys, Does anyone know of a UK supplier of these fancy hinges? Weston UK have just told me that they don't think they will get any more in. They can be bought from France but they charge 12€ postage for something that costs only 2.50€! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I must say I am amazed at how much feedback there has been on the hidden controls. It must have hit a nerve with a few others and not just be something that annoys me alone. Here is the latest incarnation I have seen used, this is by an ex F4c Champion. It is in my opinion a variation on the "swingee" as it relies on the device being at 45 degrees to the hinge line. Cheers Danny Edited By Danny Fenton on 03/07/2012 12:19:27 EDIT:- I've moved this post here to bring all posts about hidden controls into one place. Hope it still makes sense? Chris Edited By Chris Bott - Moderator on 06/07/2012 16:06:31 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Knights Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 The swingees can be bought as Doug states from www.Topmodel.fr and are made by a company called Horst (possibly German) of which I can find no internet site. The item appears to have been properly tooled an manufactured, which indicates some mass production, but so far TopModel appear to be the ony supplier. As Doug says, €2.50 is a bit steep, but I guess it depends how much you want to hide your hinges! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclicscooby Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 I saw them for the first time in the mag... Nifty idea, but i'm not sure about how robust they look.. Please prove me wrong ( I usually am ) but the leverage on the actual hinge, and, going off the mag pic, the plastic lever itself, look like they'd litterally POP if overloaded... Small stuff yes, but big.?! How big are they..?? I'm presuming 'normal' size... Luv Chrisie.. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Hi Doug, Rob Bulk of RBC Kits in Holland stocks Precision Secret Horns made by Kavan. Which is part of Sig Mfg. I believe Pegasus imports Sig stuff might be worth asking? As Chrisie says, and I have also said several times be careful with these on larger models...... There is a larger version that has, I think, SWEDEN molded into it, this seems much bigger and sturdier, however following a massive failure of one of these causing aileron flutter I would personally steer clear. Great for smaller slow flying models but perhaps not for the larger ones. Just my opinion...... If you really want to use them then make your own.... These are fitted to a large turbine powered Philip Avonds Fouga Magister jet. I hope Wim doesn't mind me pinching the pic If you want the link send me a PM. Cheers Danny Edited By Danny Fenton on 05/07/2012 01:03:33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Many years ago we had white swingees made n this country. They were really strong. I have a vague feeling that they were made by Mercury . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 These are the ones used in a large Petrol powered Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden built by Ian Redshaw, Ian had succesfully used them before, but in this airframe the wear was very rapid, and the flutter nearly cost the model. No doubt it survived mainly due to Ian's ace flying skills Hope you don't mind me showing the pic Ian Cheers Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam gordon-duff Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Hi- thinking of getting some for a Northstar by balsa USA. I think I will use an OS 55AX, do you think the swingee will cope? Hope so as its a water plane and would therefore help keep water from getting in via control holes. Basically define big and what you think these would be suitable for? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mannyroad Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 Danny, Having read your latest piece on the site I'm curious about these swingee hinges that to date I'd never heard of. I'm not clear of the geometry in Fig. 1 of your article, particularly how the 45 degree angle of the plate makes the control surface move up and down by simply pulling on the servo rod. I've studied the photo above of the turbine jet hinge and still seem to be missing the elephant in the room. Perhaps you could elaborate how it actually works, as my overly challenged grey cells don't quite get it.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 Hi Manny, I wrote this piece quite some time ago, it has been re done by the editorial team into an online article Try making one from bits of scrap and some pins, it really does work, as if by magic Cheers Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 RBC kits still sell them as do Kavan I believe, for smaller models they work well. For larger models most modellers have moved to RDS which is really sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen O'Neill Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 Has anybody had any luck in tracking down these Precision Secret Horns or PSHs? I searched the RBC kits website, since they went to the trouble of contacting Danny Fenton in his "True to Life" article on the current home page, but unfortunately I cannot find these "swingee" hinges. I tried twice to contact RBC Kits by email but unfortunately nobody is answering. I also checked the Kavan website, who were the makers of these hinges, but they are no longer featured on their website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Watkins Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 homemade Spangenberg Aileron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Z Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 Posted by Stephen O'Neill on 18/11/2016 11:48:47: I tried twice to contact RBC Kits by email but unfortunately nobody is answering. Stephen, I happen to know that Rob is out of the office for a couple of days, he'll be back on monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen O'Neill Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 Thank you Max, I will wait to see if he replies. Its really a longshot for me because I am gathering the components I will need to build a Dave Platt FW 190 and the Swingee is what he recommends for the rudder. Even if two of these hinges were fitted, it would still be lighter than putting a servo in the tail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Watkins Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 Doug, these hinges seem so rare, and during these lean years for manufacturers, they may be sometime out of stock, I would consider seriously paying the €12 postage from France. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 Hi Stephen, I cannot see why you want to use these hinges. They are not the best way to go these days. RDS is far better for things like ailerons, flaps etc, and for rudders Pull-Pull is far more precise, and the lightest of the bunch, allowing the servo to be positioned way up front. I don't want to disagree with Mr Platt as he is something of a hero for me, but I am not sure swingees have a role to play these days. Ian Redshaw tried some a few years back and the play after just a flight was nearly enough to bring the model down! Look at post #9 on this link just for fun.... Cheers Danny Edited By Danny Fenton on 18/11/2016 15:47:42 Edited By Danny Fenton on 18/11/2016 16:09:08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen O'Neill Posted November 19, 2016 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Thanks Danny for that early video of the maestro. I take your point regarding the reliability of these hinges and the fact that they are scarce would support that argument. Its only because of my recent enquiries, having first inspected the DP plans, that these hinge issues have come to light.Thank you also for the link to the RCU build thread as I had missed that one. There is plenty of info there that has not been covered in other build threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.