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Design => Stunt design => Topic started by: Tim Wescott on July 25, 2010, 05:31:00 PM

Title: Profile Landing Gear Mounting -- Aesthetics vs. Common Sense
Post by: Tim Wescott on July 25, 2010, 05:31:00 PM

Oh, so _that's_ why the landing gear always goes into the wing slot!

Building a semi-sorta-impression-scale profile stunt trainer, of a plane that has landing gear slanting back from the firewall.  In order to echo this, the landing gear legs aren't going to intersect either the wing cutout or the engine cutout.

So -- end the two landing gear legs with an "L", and put them into a slot in the fuselage to hold them in place?  Anyone done this?  Does it stand up to rough landings?  (I'm expecting rough landings -- it's a trainer).

Any alternatives that'll keep the L/G in position?

Title: Re: Profile Landing Gear Mounting -- Aesthetics vs. Common Sense
Post by: Russell Shaffer on July 26, 2010, 08:54:22 AM

I use a 3/8 aluminum rod with a 1/8 hole through it.  Epoxy the rod through the fuselage and stick the L bends on the LG wire into that.  You will bend the wire on bad landings but the fuselage doesn't tear up and the wire is easy to bend back. 

Title: Re: Profile Landing Gear Mounting -- Aesthetics vs. Common Sense
Post by: Randy Powell on July 26, 2010, 03:40:10 PM

I laid up a carbon gear for the profile I just finished. Works pretty well, but I imagine it's a bit too wide. Looks cool AND is pretty utilitarian.

Title: Re: Profile Landing Gear Mounting -- Aesthetics vs. Common Sense
Post by: Tim Wescott on July 26, 2010, 05:29:17 PM

Quote from: Randy Powell on July 26, 2010, 03:40:10 PM

I laid up a carbon gear for the profile I just finished. Works pretty well, but I imagine it's a bit too wide. Looks cool AND is pretty utilitarian.

I really, really ought to learn how to do that -- particularly because in a previous life I was a mold-maker at a high-end fiberglass shop.

Title: Re: Profile Landing Gear Mounting -- Aesthetics vs. Common Sense
Post by: Balsa Butcher on July 26, 2010, 05:32:43 PM

If you look closely you can see how the LG on this plane is bent forward. The L part goes into the bottom motor mount for a secure fit. The additional bend absorbs a lot of the pounding of beginner (or carrier) landings. The Brodak Guardian also has its LG mounted this way.  It may work for you. 8)

Title: Re: Profile Landing Gear Mounting -- Aesthetics vs. Common Sense
Post by: john e. holliday on July 27, 2010, 07:26:43 AM

Thanks Pete, I was just getting to go to the shop and look at my Brodak Gaurdian.  Now I use brass tubing thru the fuse as I found aluminum kept breaking in the fuse.  If you guys remember the Little Wizard,  with the Gaurdian landing gear, use rubber bands to hold the gear in place and not the clip on the verticle portion of the leg.  Still use clips on the horizontal portion.   H^^

Title: Re: Profile Landing Gear Mounting -- Aesthetics vs. Common Sense
Post by: Leester on July 27, 2010, 08:38:32 AM

My Miss BJ has that set up also, with a hardwood dowel through the fuse.