Hanging Models

Running out of space to store your models? Try hanging them…

… with a Reader Challenge at the end.

This tip demonstrates different ways you can store parkjets with prop slots, conventional planes with nose propellers and multirotors in the unused space near the ceiling. After writing this tip, my search on FT forums revealed a couple of great threads on the FT forums… so I invite you to join the awesome informative and funny conversation on the FT Forum to get a whole lot more ideas for wall hangers, shelving systems, hanging stacking systems, PVC pipe, ceiling hangers ets.

Thread: Hanging Aircraft (planes and multirotors) on the wall

Thread: Storing planes - what's the best way?

I don’t know about you but, I don’t have a ton of space to store models. I had them sitting on the top of pipes, propped up against the wall and laying anywhere there was space. - I laughed so hard when I saw this picture the forum...Peter’s (aka foamandtape) build area:

My basement isn’t quite that big… but as I was looking at my hobby area and it occured on me that the most unused space was near the ceiling (in my basement). Hanging foam core planes presented a challenge because I didn’t want to hang them from their wings or tail for fear of stressing out the foam core.

The Vinyl Clip Hanger

Some of my models are parkjets and they have a slot for the propeller. My first hanger was made with a vinyl clip. The clip is made from vinyl siding cut into a 3 to 5 cm strip.

Heat it up a bit and it will bend to the desired shape and hold that shape when cooled. You can see here that I used a food warming flame to warm the vinyl, but I have used a hair dryer (if you have a heat gun - that works too). Just wave it over the fame a few times and it gets soft.

Hold it in the shape you want and let it cool for a minute or two.

Drill a hole in the long arm, tie on a string and it is ready to go.

I tie a loop in the end of the string and hang it on a nail fastened in the joists. F-18 v1.

Height Challenged?

I’m not quite tall enough to reach the nail in the joists without assistance. Jumping up and down with a model on a string and trying to get the loop of string over a nail isn’t the best idea. I got tired of standing on an unsturdy bucket and getting the stepladder out was a real hassle. I think my best inventions come from being lazy...

I fabricated an arm extension by bending a coat hanger and jamming it into the end of a ¾ inch PVC pipe. The shape of the wire inside the pipe has a “V” bend that is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the pipe so it is basically press fit into the pipe. In the off season, this contraption can be used to hang and unhang Christmas lights.

The whole arm extension looks like this.

To hang a plane, I put the loop in the end of string over the hook on the arm extender and loop it over the nail while holding the plane with my other hand.  

The Figure 8 Knot around the propeller.

If you don’t have vinyl laying around to use for clips, you can use a loop in the string and wrap it around the propeller in a figure 8.

I make a loop big enough to fit over one side of the propeller and wrap both sides of the propeller blades as shown above.

The same will work for conventional planes with the motor on the front, just tie loop around the propeller.

Hanging Quad- and Tricopters

It worked so great that I wanted to hang all of my models. But what about Quadcopters? Sure, they can hang too! Using the same vinyl molding technique, I twisted some around a ½ square dowel to make the crossbar.

The second piece was molded into a tight “U” bend and glued to the cross bar.

It fits nicely around the quadcopter’s booms.

Hanging complete! Just put the loop over a hook or nail.

I hope this tip helps you get your models off the floor and into a safe place. The stack of planes can get pretty dense. How many models can you store in an eight foot space?

The answer is, lots! You can basically pile them up next to each other. I’m up to 12. I’ve got to clean my workbench - what a disaster area!

Reader Challenge

Can you identify all the models in this photo? Hint, there are 12 fixed wing aircraft. If you are an avid FT reader, you should be able to get 8 of these since they are featured in FliteTest articles or in the forum. #9 is an original builds and is in the forum and #4 and #5 are commercial). Leave your answer as a comments and we’ll see who is up on their FT plane knowledge.

HilldaFlyer - November 2015