What is this used in/for?

Slick049 Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:25 pm

Saw this in a mixed lot on an ebay auction. Says "fuse". Looks like rope. Must be very slow burning.

Update
Finally typed in the right search words and watched a video about it. Interesting.

Ken Cook Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:51 pm

D/T fuse is a very slow burning fuse. They're used in free flight models. The elevator is hinged on the leading edge with hooks on the trailing edge. Directly in the middle of the fuse just under the elevator a aluminum tube is glued in. The D/T fuse goes into this tube known as the snuffer tube. Rubber bands are used to hold the elevator down into position and they're criss crossed with the D/T fuse coming out between them. When the fuse is lit, it allows the model to ascend to a certain altitude and then the fuse would burn/melt the rubber bands popping the tail up and the model would quickly descend.

dckrsn Sat Mar 16, 2019 4:58 pm

Also good for aerial Viking funerals.
Bob

GallopingGhostler Sat Mar 16, 2019 5:11 pm

I guess the C.G. Viking FF must have not been that sturdy to survive some dethermalizer stalls. Embarassed

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=9480

Never used one, but read about when in high school in the late 1960's. There was no field large enough on Oahu Island in Hawaii (except private properties inaccessible to the public) to fly FF and especially since there was a 15 mph Trade Wind blowing most the time, so I never bothered with powered free flight (although built more than my share of rubber powered FF's).

Imagine that the tick marks inked at regular intervals on the fuse (or smoulder burning rope) was burn time in minutes or fractions of?

Here they would be a taboo as we've had an extended burn ban due to lack of sufficient rain, fields are very dry.

**RknRusty** Sat Mar 16, 2019 7:50 pm

I think D-T stands for "De-Thermalizer.

GallopingGhostler Sat Mar 16, 2019 8:20 pm

RknRusty wrote:I think D-T stands for "De-Thermalizer.

True.

Sig still sells it. https://sigmfg.com/collections/accessories/products/sig-de-thermalizer-fuse

Following answers my question regarding the tick mark burn time interval.

Sig Manufacturing wrote:SIG DE-THERMALIZER FUSE
SIG MANUFACTURING
SIGSH331
$4.14

Sure-Fire D-T Fuse
Slightly smaller than 1/4", it readily fits into a 1/4" snuffer tube; it is easier to light, glows very hot and absolutely will not go out. Calibrated in one-minute marks, it saves builders a lot of lost airplanes. [5 Ft. Roll]