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Post by jetmex on Jul 20, 2004 16:46:09 GMT -7
I've got a Robin Hood 80 that's awaiting her first flight, and I have a question about the landing gear. It's aluminum, about 1/8" thick (WAG--I haven't measured it) and it tends to spread under the weight of the plane. Nothing that will keep me from flying the model, it's just annoying. Can anyone recommend an easy mod to add some shock absorbing capability to this gear? I don't need anything scale, just something that will handle a 12 pound airplane flying off grass. I also really don't want to go with heavier gear, due to the weight.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by GFReid on Jul 21, 2004 2:37:29 GMT -7
There are a couple of ways to approach it Jaime. Basically what you want to do though, is fabricate some load spreading device between the legs.
I've always used an inverted "V" shaped music wire silver soldered to the legs but that was on wire gear.
In your case, maybe a piece of aluminum. You could even use a couple of small eyebolts and stretch some bungee cord or springs between them, Piper Cub style.
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Post by JimCasey on Jul 26, 2004 15:34:38 GMT -7
Jaime,
For almost no weight, you can drill a small hole in the aluminum leg next to the axle and at the edge of the fuselage/strut bend. Run 2 2-56 0r 4-40 allthread pushrods thru the holes to make an X under the landing gear. With nuts and loctite, it'll stay put and REALLY stiffen up the gear. Even better, if you can find a bicycle spoke the right length. One end will have the mushroomed end, and the threaded end will accept the spoke nipple.
Unfortunately the new software does not allow me to insert a jpeg, or I would send you a simple sketch.
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Post by jetmex on Jul 31, 2004 10:47:49 GMT -7
Thanks for the tips, appreciate them!
I saw a pic somewhere of a stick type model that weighs about what the Robin does--had a spring bolted to the center of the gear at the fuselage, and safety wire run from one gear strut through the spring eye and then to the other gear. Not terribly scale, but it looked like it would work just fine. Just would need to figure out how big a spring to use.......
Jim, is there any way you can email that sketch to me? I have bicycle spokes!!
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