jetpack

My Feedback: (1)

My first attempt at building a scale schoolyard flyer, an all balsa 1/2A Citabria from plans. However, the plans do not show how to rig up the wheels and wheel pants, they are simply shown drawn out without any hidden views and pretty much left up to the imagination of the builder....

Here is the problem - I lack imagination. LOL!

Anyways, the Wheels are 1 1/4" Perfect Streamlined Wheels, with aluminum hubs. Landing Gear itself is a piece of Duraluminum that is cut and bent to the specs shown. The Wheel Pants themselves are a combination of thin ply and balsa carved to shape. Thats about all I can give you for a start, and an end view picture from the plans themselves. Now remember all this is SMALL STUFF.

I know the plans show a bolt starting from the inside of the metal gear leg, but nothing past that. If I am going to use a bolt, the hubs will have to be drilled out larger to accept it. They are drilled for wire gear right now.

sbd-5

My Feedback: (4)

when i built the h.o.b shoestring 30 + years ago,they used a similar wheel pant contruction.they were held in place bythe screw that was used for the axle,had a nut after the wheel and before the wheel pant that appled pressore to the pant.on the outside of the pant there was a plywood u that was exactly the same sixe as the aluminun gearthat prevented the pants from rotating,don't forget to use thin washers between the screw head and nut.

jetpack

My Feedback: (1)

I see what you mean now, thanks thats a great tip and think I will use that approach.

After listening to your idea, I looked at the plans again to see how mine will go together that way, and stumbled on the question of the screw assembly itself...the plans show the head of the screw against the gear...but to me thats backwards because then you are using too many nuts in the assembly. One to jam the pant and screw to the gear leg, and two more past the end of the wheel to make up the other side of the hub, and in the process making the axle leg longer inside the pant.

Question is could the head of the screw be put to the outside of the wheel, and then just using two nuts at the gear leg to lock the assembly? Would this be weaker in landings this way?

sbd-5

My Feedback: (4)

usually the way you are talking you have no way to hold the screw head because the pant covers it.maybe a hex head will allow you to put a thin sheet metal type wrench on to hold it.