Inq
Elite member
Cool!
Sounds like a worm-gear arrangement. Gear can't rotate the gear. Sounds like a great design. Got a link?
What Did You Fly Today
- Thread starter Wildthing
- Start date
Cool!
Sounds like a worm-gear arrangement. Gear can't rotate the gear. Sounds like a great design. Got a link?
mastermalpass
Master member
Cool!
I can't remember which ones I got and there are far too many options to link, so I'll just advise what to search: "Servoless Retract" will find you the drives. "Retractable landing gear" will find you the struts and wheels to stick on to them.
Some retracts have a rod to go into a tube gear, some retracts have a tube to go onto a rod gear. Some you can buy as an all-in-one set. Rod diameters and gear lengths vary, so you'll want to pay close attention to the specs.
Adam F
New member
I flew for the first time ever today! I also crashed it pretty well, so I've got some projects to keep me occupied for a while.
I started out with the powered nose, crashed it badly a few times, and went to a local high school parking lot in search of thermal updrafts, which didn't work great because apparently it was too cold, and there were lots of obstacles (light posts and trees), and I most definitely wasn't flying "3 mistakes high". I switched to controlled gliding, then after I built up my confidence more I went back to the powered nose (I stuck to the trainer wing w/o ailerons as it seemed a little easier for a beginner). I don't have many photos or videos of the flight, but I have pics of the aftermath:
View attachment 234821
How bad is it? I don't know how bad is destroyed and how bad is just a flesh wound. I'm assuming I'm going to need to make a new power pod at least. The BBQ skewers ripped through the foam and one of them snapped.
If I'm looking to get more foamboard to replace parts, what should I look for? Does regular dollar store foam board work? It seems like most foam board doesn't have the same foam-sandwiched-between-paper thing going on that maker foam does.
Thanks!
I started out with the powered nose, crashed it badly a few times, and went to a local high school parking lot in search of thermal updrafts, which didn't work great because apparently it was too cold, and there were lots of obstacles (light posts and trees), and I most definitely wasn't flying "3 mistakes high". I switched to controlled gliding, then after I built up my confidence more I went back to the powered nose (I stuck to the trainer wing w/o ailerons as it seemed a little easier for a beginner). I don't have many photos or videos of the flight, but I have pics of the aftermath:
View attachment 234821
How bad is it? I don't know how bad is destroyed and how bad is just a flesh wound. I'm assuming I'm going to need to make a new power pod at least. The BBQ skewers ripped through the foam and one of them snapped.
If I'm looking to get more foamboard to replace parts, what should I look for? Does regular dollar store foam board work? It seems like most foam board doesn't have the same foam-sandwiched-between-paper thing going on that maker foam does.
Thanks!
danskis
Master member
@Adam F what a great start. Good idea to just glide it. Did you rebalance it - check the CG - after the motor came off or did you glide it with the motor on? You don't need to stick with Adams in the nose. You can use balsa, paint stir sticks or harder foam board. Just check the CG when you're ready to fly again. You probably won't get a thermal till you get about 50 feet up.
mastermalpass
Master member
That first pic looks like the fuselage has been bent out of line with the wings. You'll wanna straighten that out and glue a couple lolly sticks on to hold it straight.
The power pod seems fine. Unless that torn rear part was where it mounted to the plane, in which case you can patch in some fresh foam to replace just that part that was broken and maybe reinforce it with lolly sticks.
As you can probably tell, you'll be using quite a few lolly sticks in your first year of flying. Hell, I've been flying for 7 years and stuck four lolly sticks to one of my planes last month! 😁
That sounds like a good first day. I dented my metal barn with my first flights. Dollar Tree foam board works well, it's just not water proof but steer clear from the premium foam boards, like at Hobby Lobby, since they're twice as heavy. You're off to a good start!
Rhaps
Elite member
Woohoo! It flew, it landed!
So, if you need appliance repair in Tehran this is the place.
CrshNBrn
Elite member
@CrshNBrn @mastermalpass,
I've never had retracts. Still working up to that level of flying and not crashing. I'm pretty hard on just music wire LG.
I'd like to do some retracts on some of my models. Probably not... on the WW I planes, but...
I'd like to 3D Print them. I just checked the Resources and don't see any. I also checked the whole forum, but I'm not sure if the search was valid. I didn't see any hits there either. Checked Thingiverse and they have one. I downloaded it and inspected it. It appears to rely on the servo to keep it vertical while on the ground.
Are production ones like that? I would have thought any good side loading would just strip the servo gears and fold up the LG. Or are they relying on some big honk'n, metal gear servo capable of 10 kilograms? And when flying any G loads trying to pull them down would have to be resisted by the servo... eating up your power. I would have thought they'd have some form of locking like a real plane. They don't rely on the hydraulics to hold them up/down.
You seem much more savvy than I when it comes to 3D printing, so I have no doubts you could probably design one yourself!
As for me, I like to try to build with whatever I have on hand, which in this case was an extra electronic retract, so I bought another one to match and stuck them on Big Spit using some 4mm wire from the hardware store and 3 inch Dubro wheels. They are probably too small for the size of the plane, but have held up so far after a couple of landings. I'm sure you've seen on the forum how folks from time to time put gear on their foamboard planes- some people do the wheel wells up fancy and really make it look nice.
I'm not a retract expert (other than having to purchase them frequently when they break from my crappy landings), but it would seem they are usually aligned perpendicular to the direction of the force applied. In other words, the gear bends sideways from the servo rotation. I've never had a problem with G-forces or a power drain from their use, but I do cuss them frequently on my store-bought planes. Usually I bend the landing gear wire and have to remove the whole servo to bend it back.
Inq
Elite member
Well, that last landing was Dandelion light!
Question - Since your build is ENTIRELY my catalyst for one of my FTFC23's... and I won't have time to put the retracts in it (if it even makes it in February). How bad was it launching your big airplane. Are there any gotcha's I need to do differently?... considering I'm still getting advice on launching the FT DR-1 that I need since I've never hand-launched?
Brian B
Elite member
Have not installed them yet, but these sound do the job for a trail dragger. Uses a work gear for locking.@CrshNBrn @mastermalpass,
I've never had retracts. Still working up to that level of flying and not crashing. I'm pretty hard on just music wire LG.
I'd like to do some retracts on some of my models. Probably not... on the WW I planes, but...
I'd like to 3D Print them. I just checked the Resources and don't see any. I also checked the whole forum, but I'm not sure if the search was valid. I didn't see any hits there either. Checked Thingiverse and they have one. I downloaded it and inspected it. It appears to rely on the servo to keep it vertical while on the ground.
Are production ones like that? I would have thought any good side loading would just strip the servo gears and fold up the LG. Or are they relying on some big honk'n, metal gear servo capable of 10 kilograms? And when flying any G loads trying to pull them down would have to be resisted by the servo... eating up your power. I would have thought they'd have some form of locking like a real plane. They don't rely on the hydraulics to hold them up/down.
VGEBY Retractable Landing Gear. https://a.co/d/0fxZuU1
Timmy
Legendary member
Today was beautiful so I took out my new glider.
I tried out the wing I made for my old glider on it and the glide slope is amazing. A bit too draggy tho so I prefer the first wing. But these two wings made me realise how much I've improved at building. You can even tell just by looking at the two wings. Anyways my new glider is a blast. Its sporty but also glides well and has plenty of power on 4s. The only thing left is a name for it
P.S. I gotta bring somone with me next time to film
I tried out the wing I made for my old glider on it and the glide slope is amazing. A bit too draggy tho so I prefer the first wing. But these two wings made me realise how much I've improved at building. You can even tell just by looking at the two wings. Anyways my new glider is a blast. Its sporty but also glides well and has plenty of power on 4s. The only thing left is a name for it
P.S. I gotta bring somone with me next time to film
shadeyB
Legendary member
looks awesome buddy, get a camera mounted on your hat, yes an extra person actually filming is what we all need LOL
CrshNBrn
Elite member
Got a little exciting around 1:48 there, didn't it? Beautiful plane!
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