Avenger bay doors

[FieroDude]

Unfortunately, there is only one hinge on each door, so the "folded"doors like on the picture (and on the real aircraft) aren't an option without some custom work. A couple people on the forum have talked about a couple modifcations--both actual, such as cutting and then gluing the doors in the folded position, and theoretical, involving cutting the doors into two sections and creating/installing hinges.
Until someone decides to bring out 1/18 sub or destroyer (just kidding, guys), mine flies with torpedo bay closed

[aferguson]

all the doors were molded in one piece rather than hinged, as shown on the box art; a necessary cost cutting and engineering simplifying measure, no doubt.

If you want to make them hinged, the line you cut them on is scored on the inside of each door. Just get a sharp knife and score it over and over and then you will eventually be able to snap the doors in two (be patient!).

You can then just glue them correctly or get fancy and make a hinge mechanism of some sort.

[Rogue]

and make a hinge mechanism of some sort.

Anyone have a 1/18 piano hinge




R/Cers use a fabric hinge for their control surfaces, which should work fine on a TBM.

[aferguson]

i thought of using lead foil for hinges. Little strips of it glued to the inside of the door joints. Stiff enough to hold it in the position desired but flexible and very durable to withstand many openings and closing.

Lead foil used to be available from toothpaste tubes, glue tubes etc but i'm not sure where you can get it now as most of those have been replaced by plastic.

[Spudkopf]

What about trying some RC model aircraft hinges, you can by them by the bag full at most RC model shops.

I try I find my bag of that are here somewhere to show you what I mean.

[Spudkopf]

Then as usual Google is my best friend:

http://www.shopatron.com/search/101.0?q=hinge&a=8397

[Folkwulfe]

Just a thought. I've been experimenting with the hinged doors. The easiest goes like this. Buy two very small tube of Evergreen plastic and cut into segments about 1/4 inch long. Also buy a brass rod just large enough to fit into the Evergreen tubes...but don't cut the rod....yet. Seperate the two halves of the door and lay them as they would be with the door closed...inside facing up. Arrange to tube segments with the rod inserted along the seperation line between the inside face of both doors. Carefully apply a drop of CA along where the segments touch to inner face of the door...but alternate every other segment of tube to the other door (example...1st segment to the upper half, 2nd to lower half, 3rd to upper half, etc), then paint to match. By pulling the brass rod out, you can seperate the doors...with the rod in, the doors hinge as the real doors do. There are various ways to hold the doors open or closed, but I haven't settle on one way yet. Let you know how that comes out later. Right now, the fuse halves are seperated and the radio comparment is getting a massive facelift.