making my own tires for composite arf mig 15
08-27-2004, 10:22 PM
#1
making my own tires for composite arf mig 15
as anyone who has tackled a comp arf mig 15, you know the landing gear are enough to drive you crazy. most issues were solved by switching to robart retracts. the mains are 105 degree gear. 100 degree mains will work fine too. my new issue was discovered last night while putting the finishing touches and checks before test flying her this weekend. the problem i found was when setting the main tires with a little tow in, when the gear closed, the tire set at an angle in the bay and hit the wing as well as the inner door. the tire is to wide and also is not to scale when it comes to the width. this made the gear not lock in the up position and left the doors open arounf 3/8 of an inch. i spoke with a rep today and he said yes there were some issues and he would check around for a cure. well, i couldnt wait all day, so i cured it. i threw away the tires that came with the kit, but i kept the wheel. i work in the orthopedic bracing field, so i had some ideas. we have different types of sheet material used for building up shoes for leg length discrepency issues. the material comes in all different types of density. i chose a firm sheet high in some type of synthetic rubber. i cut the sheet into pieces, ground out the center so that the material would slide on the wheel very tight. i had to use two pieces per wheel due to the wheel being 1 inch wide and the material being a half inch wide. i scuffed up the wheel and used a killer contact cement to glue everything together. i then trued the tire down to the desired size. this also made the tire more scale. the original tire was to wide, that is why it hit everything in the bay when tow in was applied. by the way when the original tire fit in the wheel well, when extended, there was around 4 to 5 degrees of tow out per side. anyway, the tire is very hard, fairly light, easily reproduced, and will allow my model to be first class in every way, where before the gear left a little something to be desired. why a kit as beautiful as this one would come with gear that flat out will not work is beyond me, so comp arf, i am offering my services to you in troubleshooting the mig 15 for other customers if an arrangement and an agreement can be made. i have spent countless hours rigging this model so she will be reliable, easy to troubleshoot, and easily worked on. i know feel like i know this model inside and out. the only thing left is to fly her which will be done this weekend and no later than next weekend. barry
08-28-2004, 08:49 PM
#6
RE: making my own tires for composite arf mig 15
the weather is a little rough. a front just got in. will maiden her next weekend. test ran the turbine today, though. with labor day next weekend, i have 3 days to get a suitable day. does anyone have experience flying the comp arf mig 15. any tips? thx barry
06-09-2005, 09:06 PM
#7
RE: making my own tires for composite arf mig 15
Barry,
How are those tires holding up? If they hold up well please let me know where I can buy some of that rubber. I'm looking for alternatives to the Yellow foamy tires on my F-15. Wore the new tires down significantly in 7 landings at last weeks Denver Warbird Rally. We were limited to using the short runway and I had to use the brakes pretty aggressively most of the time. At $15 piece for the mains that's something like $2-$3 per landing when the brakes are used!
How are those tires holding up? If they hold up well please let me know where I can buy some of that rubber. I'm looking for alternatives to the Yellow foamy tires on my F-15. Wore the new tires down significantly in 7 landings at last weeks Denver Warbird Rally. We were limited to using the short runway and I had to use the brakes pretty aggressively most of the time. At $15 piece for the mains that's something like $2-$3 per landing when the brakes are used!
06-09-2005, 09:17 PM
#8
RE: making my own tires for composite arf mig 15
hello tom, the tires held up fine, i eventually sold the mig, the offer just was to good, i still miss her. i pot many flights on her with no tire problems. i can get you some of the material used. let me know. barry
06-09-2005, 10:20 PM
#9
RE: making my own tires for composite arf mig 15
Barry,
Thanks for the offer. Since you responded so fast, I'm gonna wait a bit and see what other alternatives come up. Is your rubber material easy to find and get a hold of? I'd hate to bother you on shipping some over.
Thanks for the offer. Since you responded so fast, I'm gonna wait a bit and see what other alternatives come up. Is your rubber material easy to find and get a hold of? I'd hate to bother you on shipping some over.
06-10-2005, 10:06 AM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Sydney, , AUSTRALIA
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RE: making my own tires for composite arf mig 15
Currently Iam just using the BVM Mig 15 main wheels, but Intairco now make a nice scale sized main wheel set also for the Mig...
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
