Top Flite Cessna 182 ARF
#1352
Join Date: May 2016
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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!!!
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!!!
#1357
Join Date: May 2016
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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.
#1362
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Libby,
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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.
#1363
Join Date: May 2016
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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.
#1364
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Location: Libby,
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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.
#1365
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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.
#1368
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:
Last edited by MFIGHT43; 07-27-2017 at 08:47 AM.
#1369
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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.
#1371
Join Date: May 2016
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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.
#1372
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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.
#1373
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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.
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.