Larry Eddy

My Feedback: (24)

New HOW TO Posted: How to Install Install Robart Retracts



[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=275]Click here to read the review![/link]

Wabbit

That seems preety easy. I just got a supersportster40 mk II. I now want to put retracts on it. Has anyone ever seen a SuperSportster with retracts? I've heavd that it makes a world of difference.[8D]

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

What an excellent video tutorial!

tommy s

My Feedback: (55)

I like the looks of a plane flying with retracts but in reality flat tapered
landing gear with pants over the tires have less drag than retracted gear.
The pattern guys have known this for several years now.
Retracts on your plane will probably not make any difference except in looks.

tommy s

Stew99

It's hard for me to believe that anything in the airstream can produce less drag than nothing in the airstream. I think the movement away from retracts in pattern has more to do with the fact that given the weight and complexity of retracts, they are simply not necessary for the slower, constant speed manuevers that are popular today. A draggy plane is actually an advantage in this type of aerobatics as it helps control the speed in the downlines.

Richard L.

My Feedback: (24)

Yeah right. You are telling me that a plane with wheel pants flying at twice the speed of sound has less drag than the same plane with wheels retracted?

Wheel pants only help reduce frontal drag and smoothing out the air flowing past the wheels, much like an aero bicycle helmet used in a time trial or a wind deflector on top of an 18-wheeler to deflect air over the blunt trailer. Since wheel pants have area, they will still have form drag in addition to some frontal drag. Since drag is proportional to the square of velocity, doubling the speed will quadruple the amount of drag. Therefore, anything sticking out of the plane will hurt you greatly.

Scott Smith

My Feedback: (4)

As will the wheel well cut-outs in the underside of the wing!

Bumstead

My Feedback: (2)

Sheesh! Lighten up guys.
I think about Air Conditioning vs having the windows rolled down.
We beleive all kinds of stuff when it makes us feel good.
Faaggetahbautit!

Jackjet

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Tommy,
I can SURE tell the speed difference when my gear is down or up on the F-4 - and it has inner and outer gear doors.

Jackjet

LDM

My Feedback: (15)

In a scratch built kit or home built kit , attention to the mounting rails is critical . Good gear can bind after attachment based on slight differance in the rails. I add plastic balsa over the rails, then saran wrap while the PL Balsa is still wet , then press the gear in place over the saran wrap . Wait 24 hours , remove gear and wrap and presto you have a perfact fit custom moulded bases for the rail to fit into to .remember the plastic balsa is only added spareningly , just a little to make a nice base over the rails .Its a flawless finishe and the gear always moves freely

Guardian

Plastic balsa ? explain please...........

-Mike

LDM

My Feedback: (15)

Plastic balsa is a simple wood filler , you can also use Elmers -Wood filler . My very first attempt with Robart was on my original red box P40 . I did know how to fly a warbird but always consider myself a good builder .
All was well until I tried to cycle the retracts .They were fine before I tightened the screws into the rails . So I unscrewed the gear and they moved fine . IN-tern when tight I assumed the gear was flexing to conform to the uneven rails .
So I added the balsa filler to the top of the rails , put donw saran wrap and pressed the gear in , wait 24 hours and the redrilled my holes and re-mounted the gear . They worked great . Now remember if the rails are perfact to begin with your gear should not bind but my rails were off just a bit . The addition of the rails was a "Bash" to the desing and in-tern I was off in my angle . Best part was - I sold the plane becuase at that time I could not fly WW2 , over $800 on ebay but it was a very nice plane !!!!