Just received my G40 sets to relive my childhood and I’m looking for cheap and easy flight stands.
While messing around in my junk drawer, I stumbled across a couple of inflating needles… the kind you use to blow up soccer balls, footballs, or basketballs.
I also found a couple of common pins. Sure enough, the common pins slide right into the small hole at the tip of the pump needles.
In another thread, I saw someone describe their method of heating common pins to stick into their aircraft to create the stem of a stand.
So, I’m going to try the following…
1/ clip the heads off a bunch of common pins and stick them into my aircraft (heating them first)
2/ drill small holes into my carrier decks
3/ tap 1/2” rubber washers with 1/4” holes to fit 5/16”-32 (perfect bicycle pump needle size)
4/ screw the washers onto the pump needles (2 per stand…?)
The pump needles themselves will stand upright on their own… but, the washers should provide more stability and provide a larger base for decals.
Amazon has 100 pump needles for $9 and 250 black rubber washers for $18… the wife has dozens of common pins… but, they’re cheap enough if I have to get more.
I might trim some of the pump needles to create the all important difference in heights. The trimmings might become liners for the holes on my carriers.
I think this gives me a good way to create flight stands without having to drill holes in planes and glue any magnets… not that those are bad things… I’m just looking for a cheaper and lazier way.
I’ll post pics once I get the parts and do some assembly!
