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. Start by checking the top and bottom of the wing to
see if the control surface engravings are lined up.
Don’t assume that they are and plan your cuts
accordingly if they are not. After deciding whether or
not to cut around the hinges, I usually start by
scratching the separation line with a scribing tool
Removing and Repositioning Parts while using a straight edge. If there is no engraved
channel, use labeling tape to guide your scriber. Keep
You can greatly enhance the
realism of your model aircraft running the scribing tool in the same direction as you
cut deeper.
by removing and repositioning
parts. Also, going this extra A razor saw is very useful for cutting from the edge of
mile can give you the edge in the wing/control surface in to the first hinge. Again,
modeling competitions. make sure that you are aware of the top-bottom
alignment of the engraved lines. To ensure a clean cut
This is because real aircraft are rarely seen with their
control surfaces (i.e. ailerons, elevator, rudder, flaps, trim along the intended path, it is a good idea to scribe the
path before cutting.
tabs, etc.) in their neutral or retracted position.
Furthermore, because of their demanding maintenance Repositioning trim tabs are another good way to add
needs, military aircraft are often found in the hanger (or realism. The good news is that most times they do
hanger deck) with some hatches and access panels not need to be removed. You can usually cut the sides
removed. In this article, we will summarize the basic free and then bend them up or down. A razor saw is
techniques for removing and reattaching plastic model typically the best choice for this. Another nice effect
aircraft control surfaces and parts. For an excellent, to add realism to trim tabs is to add control cables.
detailed document with lots of helpful pictures, we Add a control horn to the tab and drill a tiny hole into
recommend downloading this tutorial from the very the corresponding wing. Run a thin stainless steel
accomplished modeling instructor Mike Ashey. wire between the two.
First off, don’t be compelled to remove and reattach all After removing and cleaning up the parts to remove
of the control surfaces on your model. Think about what excess plastic, there are a number of ways to fill the
will give maxim impact versus effort and risk of damaging voids. We typically use plastic sheet stock and/or
the parts. The rudder is typically the first part to consider two-part casting resin. You can cover the control
because its deflection is usually the most noticeable. surface or wing edge by cementing on an oversize
After that, I usually consider elevators, ailerons and piece of plastic sheet stock. Once dried, you can trim
finally flaps respectively. One of the biggest factors that and sand the edges flush. This is easier than trying to
determines the difficulty of removing a control surface is manipulate a tiny piece of sheet stock that you try to
whether or not you need to cut through or around the cut to size. Another technique to fill the edges is to fill
hinges. On smaller scale models, you can usually cut the entire control surface with two-part casting resin.
through the hinge because the hinges are too small to be Mask the edges to contain the casting resin and to
noticed. As with any model build, take a close look at keep the surfaces neat from and resin spillover. Cut,
photos of actual aircraft and drawings to ascertain how sand and round the edges according to your
much spacing there is between the control surface and documentation and photos.
the wing. Also look at how much they typically deflect so
that your model is a realistic depiction. Check out Mike Ashey’s excellent, highly illustrated
book ,"Detailing Scale Model Aircraft" for much
The two most useful tools for removing control surfaces more detailed instruction regarding how to manage
are a scribe and a razor saw. Control surfaces on plastic spacing problems, filling voids, replacing hinges,
models are almost always separated from the wing by a removing access panels and much more.
deeply engraved line or indentation
