TIP: To make a cleaner "squared off" slot, pierce one side of the slot. Use the dull back side of the knife blade (on right) on the outside ends of the slot to square them up. Flip the knife blade over to pierce then square up the other side.
Here's the finished slot. With the sides cleaned up it is probably stronger than the original knife pierce.
The reason for the different sizes will be explained soon. The white ring on the right is slightly smaller diameter than the one on the left.
The burr on the inside of the rings was burnished down using the backside of a Sharpie pen.
Chris, these two pieces of advice may seem like little things but they really improve the building experience. In the past I would just jab the knife into the tube to make a slot and would usually slip and end up with way too wide a slot, or if per chance I cut it the right width, I would neglect to square off the slot ends and would have to jam the hook into the slot and end up bending or tearing the tube. Either way I would end up with a poor fitting motor mount and/or a loose motor hook.
ReplyDeleteAs well with the centering rings, I would neglect to burnish the inside and would force the ring onto the motor tube. This would end up either damaging the end of the tube or ripping the first layer of paper out of the centering ring.
Thank you for sharing all these building tips over the years. Not only have they substantially improved my building quality and experience but they have also proven helpful in other forms of construction as well.
Thanks Lonnie!
DeleteI know I've repeated some of these in the past but there are new people stopping by the blog all the time. Glad to hear the tips are helping out!
Agree with Lonnie, your blog is a treasure trove of great modeling techniques. Just wish I had the time to put them to use.
ReplyDeleteI figured out the squaring up the slot with the back of the knife long ago. I'm glad you are sharing it with others, as it really makes the job of installing the hook easier.
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