Flight Stands

Brian C

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!

Brian C

Here’s a prototype!

Standard Inflating Needle $7.99 per 100:
https://a.co/d/b5Bnl2p

Beveled Faucet Washer $33.77 for 200:
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Jones-Stephens-O25305-1-4-Beveled-Bibb-Washer-Box-of-100

Fine Common Pins $5.99 for 1000:
https://a.co/d/4f8ahE8

I’m buying enough for 200 stands… $0.24 each!

Brian C

I had to make the hole in the washer a little bigger using a 9/32” twist drill bit. A pair of pliers helped coax the inflating needle into the washer… no glue required!

Flight Stands

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