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Baupraxis

Practical Tips

von Roland Moser
4
Airplane Shelf – Homemade, of Course

I was running out of space in my rental apartment because of my model airplanes. The first reason was the number of airplanes I had; the second reason is that I don’t always want to take smaller airplanes (with a wingspan of about 1 m) apart after flying them. So I needed a solution that didn’t require me to drill holes in the wall, because I didn’t want to do that. The result is a very flexible shelving system for model airplanes.


Here's what you'll need: Per shelf: 2 slats (e.g., 40×45 mm), 1 felt-tip pen or similar, 1 screwdriver, screws suitable for wood, metal brackets (I think these used to be called “bookcase brackets” or something like that), 1 double meter, 3- and 6-mm Depron scraps, possibly some additional foam, adhesive tape, e.g., 38 mm wide (regular 19-mm tape works too).
Here's what you'll need: Per shelf: 2 slats (e.g., 40×45 mm), 1 felt-tip pen or similar, 1 screwdriver, screws suitable for wood, metal brackets (I think these used to be called “bookcase brackets” or something like that), 1 double meter, 3- and 6-mm Depron scraps, possibly some additional foam, adhesive tape, e.g., 38 mm wide (regular 19-mm tape works too).

I mounted the sheet metal brackets in a suspended position. With just one screw! This allows the bracket to swivel, making it possible to adjust it to the wing sweep. Or to accommodate the aircraft’s specific features, such as machine guns. To protect the wing leading edge, I used Depron, which I attached to the sheet metal brackets with tape. In my case, I was able to leave the brackets vertical and simply had to attach the Depron at an angle to protect the wing tip. Additional padding with foam may be necessary. For aircraft with significant wing sweep, the sheet metal brackets must be angled accordingly. To prevent the aircraft from falling out the bottom, simply connect the two brackets with a strip of tape so they can no longer swing apart.


I mounted the sheet metal brackets so they hang down.
1/2
I mounted the sheet metal brackets so they hang down.

Here's how I did it

I cut the slats to the height of the apartment minus 1 cm. Then I placed the slats against the wall and wedged them in place with two 6-mm and one 3-mm Depron scraps (at the bottom). Next, I mounted the sheet metal brackets from top to bottom. I held the FW-190 up at the very top and then marked with a felt-tip pen where the support should go.


Detailed view. Make sure the Depron is long enough to protect the wing tips. It would be even better if it were longer than shown in the picture. You may also want to pad it with foam. And 3-mm Depron is not suitable; use 6-mm Depron instead. I placed the airplane on top of it and then secured the Depron with tape. This ensures that the wing tip protection matches the wing’s sweep.
Detailed view. Make sure the Depron is long enough to protect the wing tips. It would be even better if it were longer than shown in the picture. You may also want to pad it with foam. And 3-mm Depron is not suitable; use 6-mm Depron instead. I placed the airplane on top of it and then secured the Depron with tape. This ensures that the wing tip protection matches the wing’s sweep.

Roland Moser


6/2013
Article from the issue 6/2013


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