tcblr

My Feedback: (3)

Is there anyone out there with some suggestions on how to make the stock Y/A "single version" main struts offer a little more cushion for those hard landings? I plan on putting turbine in mine and even with no engine at all they don't seem to offer much as far as shock absorption.

rcav8tr

Hi tcblr

I designed and built my own set of F-18 retracts a couple of years ago as a "Can I do this?" project. What I ended up doing for mine was to incorporate two springs of different rates, that came into play at different portions of the stroke. Seemed to work pretty well on the bench, but never got test flown because the airframe had other structural issues.

I looked at dampening the springs with oil, but that just got too complicated.

Good Luck,
Ed

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

I just got me a set of used Y/A F-18 retracts and I was asking my self the same question, I think the idea of using springs with different stiffness is good, a large one been soft and a shorter one the stiff. Look at the forks on mountain bikes the how they are built and work it may give you some ideas.

keep me posted if you come up with something.

CARS II

basimpsn

My Feedback: (5)

I once change my f18 main gear springs to stiffer springs. It was a disaster. I could not taxi with out wing tip touching. On high speed taxi it will osculate badly.

good luck

Shaun Evans

Hi,

Just use them as-is. The gear can take all the hard landings you throw at it, and so can the airframe. They're not meant to act as the real ones do, just to look like they do. If you start adding springs, the thing will dance all over the runway. People have tried lots of ideas, but in the end, they usually end up using them stock. Hope this helps.

Good luck!

Steve S

My Feedback: (54)

Exactly

I am with Sean on this one!! The F18 semi scale mains are alot stronger than they might look ,why change a already good design that will withstand just about anything you can throw at them,not to mention go & lose good ground handling.Look at all the guys on here-sean,tam,etc. that are flying theirs with 12 lb Bee's,JC P80's etc and have had no problems whatsoever with the weight & loading!! I am putting the wrap up on mine now that will be getting a Wren54-I chose to use the Wren to keep everything almost as light as the DF counterpart.I am only going with one 40oz tank & a UAT since I wont need to be in the throttle much with such a light jet.This is gonna be one sweet *** combo dudes!!

Steve

mr_matt

My Feedback: (10)

Have you looked at how the Skymaster gear work?