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Author Topic: Wooden landing gear  (Read 1686 times)

Offline PerttiMe

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Wooden landing gear
« on: October 20, 2011, 09:46:33 AM »
I noticed that Allan Perret did his Ringmaster Deluxe with a laminated wooden landing gear. Maybe there's others but I missed the landing gear detail.

Being more comfortable working on wood than metal sheet or even synthetic fibers, that sounds like a neat idea to me.

Does it have any drawbacks? Are there any rules of thumb to get it strong and rigid enough? Which materials work best?
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Offline Geoff Goodworth

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Re: Wooden landing gear
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2011, 03:15:03 PM »
There is a detailed set of instructions on the Airfield Models web site. http://www.airfieldmodels.com/

However, I guess we will hear from John Miller on this as I think he had a problem with delaminating on a ply landing gear he tried on the Two Bits Bipe.
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Offline John Miller

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Re: Wooden landing gear
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2011, 03:57:04 PM »
Geoff, thanks for posting the link to the excellent how to site. It uses a much better method, imho, than I used on my Bipe. I had delamination problems on mine due to using the wrong epoxy. I used regular epoxy glue, and it started to de lam after a few hard landings.

I replaced the wood laminated gear, with a very nice CF  gear set I purchased. The wood gear was lighter though.

I want to use this type of gear on several designs, and now, thanks to the article link, I have a much better idea how to proceed.  H^^
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Offline Steve Helmick

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Re: Wooden landing gear
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2011, 08:27:57 PM »
Quote from: Geoff Goodworth on October 20, 2011, 03:15:03 PM
There is a detailed set of instructions on the Airfield Models web site. http://www.airfieldmodels.com/
<edit>

Geoff, I had trouble finding the article on the moulded wood LG, but found it with search on the 2nd try. This link should help others. It might not be a bad idea to include something to reduce the chance of splitting, like a layer of 2 oz fiberglass or Kevlar cloth?   H^^ Steve


http://www.airfieldmodels.com/information_source/how_to_articles_for_model_builders/construction/wood_landing_gear/03.htm
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Offline Geoff Goodworth

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Re: Wooden landing gear
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2011, 08:38:25 PM »
Steve, are you suggesting fibreglass cloth around the outside of the ply composite. The web site instructions talk about six layers of 1/64 ply with 8oz cloth between ply layers 1 & 2 and 5 & 6 with 2oz cloth between each of the others.

Paul has suggested to me that five layers of ply should be sufficient for models up to about 50oz.
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Offline Steve Helmick

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Re: Wooden landing gear
« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2011, 09:39:34 PM »
Allan's LG used veneer, not plywood. John's LG used CF and plywood, and failed. From what I'd read here, I thought veneer was the way to go, but would want something to prevent splitting. I'm also concerned with bolting the LG to the model, and axles. One neat idea requires more neat solutions that need to be dealt with. Not a bad thing, but there are new riddles to be solved with every new technique. I've seen a local poet use CF tubes for axles on his "dog". I'm looking forward to seeing his new "AmpAct", tho.  ;D Steve
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"The United States has become a place where professional athletes and entertainers are mistaken for people of importance." - Robert Heinlein

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Offline Geoff Goodworth

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Re: Wooden landing gear
« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2011, 10:22:27 PM »
Steve—poets and dogs :o ;D How late is it there? :##
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Offline Steve Helmick

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Re: Wooden landing gear
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2011, 11:09:41 PM »
Only just after 10pm. From the clues, you should be able to figure who the JCT member is...  LL~ Steve
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Offline Mark Scarborough

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Re: Wooden landing gear
« Reply #8 on: October 21, 2011, 09:12:07 PM »
Steve, those of us who know,, know,,  ~^
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Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: Wooden landing gear
« Reply #9 on: October 21, 2011, 11:57:42 PM »
Quote from: Steve Helmick on October 20, 2011, 09:39:34 PM
From what I'd read here, I thought veneer was the way to go, but would want something to prevent splitting.

Layers of veneer top & bottom, and one cross-grain in between.

Or layers of veneer laid ten or fifteen degrees off the bias, so the grain is mostly longitudinal but still keeps things from splitting away.

No one ever said that plywood has to have sheets laid with the grain at 90 degrees, all evened out and everything.  In fact, back when plywood was the high-tech stuff to build planes out of there were all sorts of grain arrangements.

Quote
I'm also concerned with bolting the LG to the model, and axles.

Thinking off the top of my head, I'd say that for attachment you want to bulk up the thickness enough to compensate for the holes you drill, or make brackets that span the gear.  You probably want to thicken things up at the axles, too, and you probably want to do it somewhat gradually, lest you just snap thing apart where the doubler starts.
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Offline Geoff Goodworth

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Re: Wooden landing gear
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2011, 01:07:58 AM »
Hey guys. Can I suggest that you read the Airfield Models feature and then discuss your ideas for variations.

Given John Miller's comments, I'm searching for a suitable epoxy that's readily available in Oz.

Paul Johnson—Airfield Models site owner—has already suggested that I start with five layers of ply with heavy fibreglass cloth between the first and last laminations and 2oz cloth in the other two joints. He used six layers of ply for a 4lb model.
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