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Top Flite Cessna 182 ARF

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Top Flite Cessna 182 ARF

Old 02-20-2017, 08:25 AM
  #1351  
tigerdolly
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Thanks for the reply!
Old 06-16-2017, 07:22 PM
  #1352  
WarrenDD
 
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Just got one of these...electric, all set up and flown before... Haven't even flown it yet myself... anything I should be worried about that hasn't been posted in this thread?

I liked the model so much, I just bought another one, ARF and will be putting my newly acquired DLE20RE on it... Can't believe the setup fits so nicely inside the cowl... Had to do it. Love the 182's!!!
Old 06-18-2017, 10:47 AM
  #1353  
elmshoot
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Make sure you do full stall landings The nose gear tends to be a weak link in the model as well as the full size plane. It isn't to be landed on, they are called MAIN LANDING gear, land on them us the the little wheel in the front to taxi.
Sparky
Old 06-19-2017, 11:44 AM
  #1354  
althepal88
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So, that's what that little wheel is for.
Old 06-28-2017, 07:46 PM
  #1355  
WarrenDD
 
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That's funny, all 3 of my wheels are the same size...
Old 06-28-2017, 08:22 PM
  #1356  
tigermeet
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Should be 3- 1/4" mains and 2-3/4" nose
Old 06-29-2017, 04:38 AM
  #1357  
WarrenDD
 
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They're actually the correct sizes, as you listed... That was an inside joke (only my brother would understand) and an attempt at "Thread CPR"...seeing if there was still viable life in the thread... (fishing for responses, to see who was still around and flying this model) Sorry for the confusion.
Old 06-29-2017, 05:52 PM
  #1358  
tigermeet
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Hey, no harm, no foul, lol.

This thread has seemed to have died out. I'm in the process of assembling mine.
Old 06-29-2017, 10:28 PM
  #1359  
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Just stirring the pot... I've seen 3 of these planes for sale on different sites recently... maybe the sales will bring in some more new blood...
Old 07-07-2017, 08:12 PM
  #1360  
tigermeet
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Got my Sierra nose gear strut installed today. Certainly worth the extra $$$
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Old 07-07-2017, 08:22 PM
  #1361  
WarrenDD
 
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OK, gotta ask, where did you obtain that from and how much? or just link me to it...(please)...
Old 07-08-2017, 09:12 AM
  #1362  
tigermeet
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Originally Posted by WarrenDD
OK, gotta ask, where did you obtain that from and how much? or just link me to it...(please)...
Sierra Giant Scale SPC Home Page

Darrell doesn't have the Top Flite 182 nose gear listed, just the Hanger 9 (which is bigger) but if you give him a call and let him know you need one for the Top Flite kit, he will get you lined up with one. I believe the cost is $125.00 and if you want the tork links on it (scissors)you have to let Darrell know when you order it.
Sierra makes quality landing gear and will stand up to those not quite perfect landings without bending like Robart is known to do.
Old 07-08-2017, 10:14 AM
  #1363  
WarrenDD
 
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Thank YOU...that's the info I've been looking for in the last 50 or so pages of this thread....Now all we need is the easiest way to modify the front wheel pant without reinventing the wheel...pun intended.
Old 07-08-2017, 07:21 PM
  #1364  
tigermeet
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It's fairly simple with the Sierra gear. I just cut a hole in the top of the wheel pant that allows it to slip over the strut and then cut two holes for the axle bolts to go through. The forks of the gear are removable with just one screw which allows you to slip the pants onto the strut, and then put the fork back in place. I'll post a pic tomorrow when I get a chance.
Old 07-09-2017, 08:55 AM
  #1365  
tigermeet
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Here's some pics of my nose gear pant. Pay no attention to the cracks, this one is from my late 182 kit. I filled the grove, that is molded in for the wire gear, with fiberglass and body putty and then used a Dremel sanding drum to cut the hole for the strut. If you slowly enlarge the hole, checking occasionally, you can get a nice snug fit. Don't use a drill as it will crack the clear coat of the fiberglass. For the axle bolt, I first used a small hand drill with a #61 drill bit, then slowly enlarged the hole with an Xacto knife.
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Old 07-09-2017, 12:25 PM
  #1366  
WarrenDD
 
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I don't know, the wheel looks like its sticking out quite a bit low in the last picture (the blurry one)...maybe it's just the picture.
Old 07-18-2017, 08:50 PM
  #1367  
tigermeet
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N numbers applied
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Old 07-27-2017, 08:04 AM
  #1368  
MFIGHT43
 
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Well its been a LONG time since I've been able to work on this plane! A few updates, Ive finally worked on the Robart strut install. I wanted to achieve the forward cant or rake of the nose strut like the full scale. In order to achieve that I epoxied some thin sheets of ply to the mounting block and then sanded them at the desired angle to achieve the rake. I then took some advice on this forum and glued a backer block behind the strut to support it, thus eliminating the tendency to bend backwards. Here's some pics:
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Last edited by MFIGHT43; 07-27-2017 at 08:47 AM.
Old 07-28-2017, 06:48 AM
  #1369  
althepal88
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I did the same thing with mine, and I like the results. I have finally maidened my 182. The good, it flies very well with my OS 65. The flaps are effective and require very little down elevator mixed in. I am still moving the CG back a little at a time to get a slower landing speed. The lights on the wingtips can actually be seen in broad daylight during a flyby! One of my landing lights has failed after two flights. The bad, it seems that my wheel pants sit at different angles. I elongated a slot in one to get it to match the other. My elevators did not seem to match each other, the vertical stab was a little off. I ended up making separate control rods for the elevators and beefed up the rudder as mentioned in previous builds. I read a build article from one of the mags and they indicated that "everything fit perfectly"..........well, not really. Todays arf's still have to be assembled properly to fly and sometimes that means a lot of work! If only I could cover and paint.
Old 07-28-2017, 07:35 AM
  #1370  
MFIGHT43
 
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I wish they still offered ARC versions of planes! Yeah I was a little disappointed reading all of the troubles with fit and finish on this aircraft.
Old 09-03-2017, 04:38 AM
  #1371  
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Originally Posted by MFIGHT43
I wish they still offered ARC versions of planes! Yeah I was a little disappointed reading all of the troubles with fit and finish on this aircraft.
They kinda do, but they're called KITS... I mean, come on, this plane has been out since 2009. The original people who assembled them as ARF's overseas, and might have taken pride in doing that back then, have more than likely moved on to doing something else by now. NO ARF is perfect from the manufacturer nowadays, or has ever been for that matter. Even new cars off of a fully automated computer-driven assembly line have fit and finish issues from time to time....and you expect a plane assembled by hand in a sweat-shop overseas to be perfect? Come on...perhaps the expectation of perfection out of the box is a little lofty.

I'd almost be willing to bet that if someone were to buy the kit form of this plane, assemble it themselves, and NOT run into problems with fit and finish, they'd be doing something spectacular. However, because of the current societal need for "instant gratification", also known as "laziness", they'd be blaming those fit and finish problems on the original designer/manufacturer/cutter of the parts, who have absolutely NO control of the build or it's final outcome. They'd be forgetting that the builder has the ability to modify along the way should something not fit correctly for whatever reason.

I'm just thankful that they've assembled the major components as much as they have...leaving me with far less to do than building the plane from kit form. A few adjustments to this and that, here and there, should be expected from any ARF project.

Just my $0.02 on the fit and finish complaints...
Your mileage may vary. Don't shoot the messenger.
Old 09-03-2017, 05:21 AM
  #1372  
KaP2011
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Originally Posted by tigermeet
Here's some pics of my nose gear pant. Pay no attention to the cracks, this one is from my late 182 kit. I filled the grove, that is molded in for the wire gear, with fiberglass and body putty and then used a Dremel sanding drum to cut the hole for the strut. If you slowly enlarge the hole, checking occasionally, you can get a nice snug fit. Don't use a drill as it will crack the clear coat of the fiberglass. For the axle bolt, I first used a small hand drill with a #61 drill bit, then slowly enlarged the hole with an Xacto knife.
I've assembled 2 of these planes and the wheel is definitely too low in the pant.
Old 09-21-2017, 11:52 AM
  #1373  
spacefanmick
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https://photos.app.goo.gl/ybGC8pxEyw9xM8ar2Here
here is my nose wheel pant. I completely filled in the factory groove. And made the entire assembly fit in through the top hole. And the wheel is fit in to axle after slid through the the pant.
Also. You MUST STRENGTHEN THE FIREWALL. The two large round holes on either side of the mount are a weak point. Mine broke the very first landing after hitting a clump of grass. On a very well maintained runway,add this piece of plywood or you might regret it.
Old 12-24-2017, 03:00 PM
  #1374  
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Anybody have a Robart Nose Gear for one of these that they don't need or want to get rid of, before I order one from Tower? (just trying to help someone who has one they don't want.)
Old 12-24-2017, 03:58 PM
  #1375  
KaP2011
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After having 3 of the Robart 3/8" fold up on smooth landings I can heartily recommend to get the 7/16" Robart strut. The 3/8" is too light for this plane, I had 2 of them fold up on a turn at the end of a rollout after landing.

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