Tubby B17 Landing Gear (and wire bender ?)

[dave0498]

I'm loving the plane. I just flew it in a charity show and dropped parachute men for the kids to catch and keep, and they went nuts!
2 questions for everyone. I'd like to make the landing gear stronger. I'm thinking of redoing it with thicker wire.

1. Has anyone tried this and have any tips?
2. If I do it, I need a wire bender for the thicker wire. Any suggestions for one that will work and doesn't break the bank? In the build video he says there's a great one on Amazon that they use, but doesn't say what it is or provide a link in the notes.

thanks for any help!

 

[Liberator]

I'm loving the plane. I just flew it in a charity show and dropped parachute men for the kids to catch and keep, and they went nuts!
2 questions for everyone. I'd like to make the landing gear stronger. I'm thinking of redoing it with thicker wire.

1. Has anyone tried this and have any tips?
2. If I do it, I need a wire bender for the thicker wire. Any suggestions for one that will work and doesn't break the bank? In the build video he says there's a great one on Amazon that they use, but doesn't say what it is or provide a link in the notes.

thanks for any help!

I used this wire bender from Motion RC and heavy landing gear wire from FliteTest.
I had to drill out the landing puck holes and used DuBro 1/8inc dura collars.

 

[dave0498]

I used this wire bender from Motion RC and heavy landing gear wire from FliteTest.
I had to drill out the landing puck holes and used DuBro 1/8inc dura collars.
View attachment 253432

Awesome. Thank you! Are you happy with the stronger gear?

 

[Liberator]

I think it certainly helps. I only have 11 flights, and am still learning the right amount of throttle to land more slowly.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

I used this wire bender from Motion RC and heavy landing gear wire from FliteTest.
I had to drill out the landing puck holes and used DuBro 1/8inc dura collars.
View attachment 253432

Wow! I think I might know a younger flyer who would REALLY like this....Her hands aren't as strong as mine, and it can be a challenge to bend it for me! 😂

 

[Proptastic]

I made heavier gear with either 9 gauge or 10 gauge high tensile wire. Real close to 1/8" diameter. Now that's not the stainless steel wire we usually use, it's just galvanized steel, but very hard to bend. Maybe too strong, as it's not as springy as stainless steel. I imagine it could break through the fuselage on a hard landing. It's untested right now because I haven't actually flown those planes.

 

[Piotrsko]

You can buy stainless music wire? Gotta get out more but it sounds really pricey.

 

[SEEBO]

I bought this one on Amazon and I'm in love with it.

Amazon.com: WINMAX TOOLS AUTOMOTIVE Manual Mounting Mini Universal Bending Bender Forms Wire, Flat Metal and Tubing : Tools & Home Improvement

Buy WINMAX TOOLS AUTOMOTIVE Manual Mounting Mini Universal Bending Bender Forms Wire, Flat Metal and Tubing: Rebar Cutters & Benders - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[AIRFORGE]

I bought this one on Amazon and I'm in love with it.

Amazon.com: WINMAX TOOLS AUTOMOTIVE Manual Mounting Mini Universal Bending Bender Forms Wire, Flat Metal and Tubing : Tools & Home Improvement

Buy WINMAX TOOLS AUTOMOTIVE Manual Mounting Mini Universal Bending Bender Forms Wire, Flat Metal and Tubing: Rebar Cutters & Benders - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

I like that! Added to cart! Any issues or things you don't like about it?

 

[SEEBO]

I like that! Added to cart! Any issues or things you don't like about it?

Nothing at all. Its cheaply built but I haven't broken it yet so that speaks volumes. I saw the David using it on a Flite Test video and I'm a sucker for new tools so I grabbed one. I put some rivnuts on my big stainless table that I use as my hobby bench so I can quickly take it on and off. I hate trying to bend with pliers especially the .125"+ landing gear wire but with this tool it makes landing gear a joy to create. I'm currently working on altering the Gen 2 Legacy 3D printed gear files to use 3/16 rod and I'm looking forward to using the bender on something a bit beefier.

 

[dave0498]

I think it certainly helps. I only have 11 flights, and am still learning the right amount of throttle to land more slowly.

Thanks, I did it and I love the results.

 

[ScottInIowa]

I re-did the printed inserts to use 1/8" wire, but I must suck at landing, cuz I'm still bending 1/8" wire gear. To be fair I'm flying on two 4S 4000s. I think I'm going to upsize it even more. Might try to fit in some of the old school 'springy' gear with a loop if I can find some that fit

 

[dave0498]

I re-did the printed inserts to use 1/8" wire, but I must suck at landing, cuz I'm still bending 1/8" wire gear. To be fair I'm flying on two 4S 4000s. I think I'm going to upsize it even more. Might try to fit in some of the old school 'springy' gear with a loop if I can find some that fit

Agreed. I thought about trying to get Timber Evolution gear on there, but I couldn't figure it out.

 

[SEEBO]

I'm working on some 3d printed Super Scout XL mods but afterwards I'll be working on modifying the landing gear for a few different models to use 3/16 wire. I'll definitely add the Tubby to that list. So far its the Legacy V2 gear and rear gear for the Twin Otter.