Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
08-17-2008, 02:14 PM
#1
Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
For those of you contemplating Bill Wallace’s scale gear ( http://www.piperj3gear.com/) for the World Models 1/3 scale J-3 Cub ARF, here is my experience thus far.
It takes a little time to get the gear from Bill so plan ahead. He fabricates these in his off time from a full time business. Mine took about 7 weeks from placing the order. However Bill communicated status, delays, etc., via email so I knew what was happening.
The gear arrives partially assembled and in gray primer. I chose to disassemble and paint it matching Cub yellow. I used TopFlite Lusterkote White Primer and Cub Yellow. It takes little primer to cover well but as with most yellow paint, it takes a ton. Used one can for the gear alone. It takes a lot of coats to achieve the golden yellow color and the match is close to the WM Toughlon covering.
Parts of the gear are hidden from view so minimal painting can be done. I didn’t think about this until part way through so coated the to be visible parts heavier.
The side struts were then covered with matching Toughlon film. I made a paper template by fitting and trimming until it fit well when taped to the strut. Transferred that to stiffer material and cut the Toughlon. Used a trim sealing iron to attach it to the strut following up with a larger covering iron. Wrapping, trimming and sealing needs to be done carefully with alternating irons as the metal pulls heat out of the irons quickly. Lastly the Toughlon was shrunk using the large iron only.
Once finished the mismatch of color became more evident at the pivot points and around the axel hub. I brushed on Testors’ #1114 bottled enamel which proved to be a perfect match. I had tried the spray can version of this paint prior to the Lusterkote but found it to be no better in the spray version. Overall for spraying the Lusterkote is more cost effective. The bottled paint is perfect for coating and touching up small areas as the paint can be applied full strength and heavy so it flows together.
The gear was reassembled using the supplied bolts and lock nuts. Silicone grease was applied at all pivot points and the telescoping portions.
Bill supplies a wad of rubberbands and two sewn leather boots with velcro enclosures. Other manufacturers use ‘O’ rings for the bungees. ‘O’ rings are made for compression so I’m not sure how long they will last. I prefer the multiple rubber band method at this point as it provides some backup plus an adjustable method for varying finished airframe weights. Small bungees may be an option too.
Overall the project took about 10-12 hours spread across a week or so, primarily to let the paint cure. I’m one of those guys who likes to dress up an ARF with small finishing touches rather than just tossing it together. They look better and it satisfies part of the building bug when there isn’t time to build from kit or scratch.
Will gladly answer any questions.
It takes a little time to get the gear from Bill so plan ahead. He fabricates these in his off time from a full time business. Mine took about 7 weeks from placing the order. However Bill communicated status, delays, etc., via email so I knew what was happening.
The gear arrives partially assembled and in gray primer. I chose to disassemble and paint it matching Cub yellow. I used TopFlite Lusterkote White Primer and Cub Yellow. It takes little primer to cover well but as with most yellow paint, it takes a ton. Used one can for the gear alone. It takes a lot of coats to achieve the golden yellow color and the match is close to the WM Toughlon covering.
Parts of the gear are hidden from view so minimal painting can be done. I didn’t think about this until part way through so coated the to be visible parts heavier.
The side struts were then covered with matching Toughlon film. I made a paper template by fitting and trimming until it fit well when taped to the strut. Transferred that to stiffer material and cut the Toughlon. Used a trim sealing iron to attach it to the strut following up with a larger covering iron. Wrapping, trimming and sealing needs to be done carefully with alternating irons as the metal pulls heat out of the irons quickly. Lastly the Toughlon was shrunk using the large iron only.
Once finished the mismatch of color became more evident at the pivot points and around the axel hub. I brushed on Testors’ #1114 bottled enamel which proved to be a perfect match. I had tried the spray can version of this paint prior to the Lusterkote but found it to be no better in the spray version. Overall for spraying the Lusterkote is more cost effective. The bottled paint is perfect for coating and touching up small areas as the paint can be applied full strength and heavy so it flows together.
The gear was reassembled using the supplied bolts and lock nuts. Silicone grease was applied at all pivot points and the telescoping portions.
Bill supplies a wad of rubberbands and two sewn leather boots with velcro enclosures. Other manufacturers use ‘O’ rings for the bungees. ‘O’ rings are made for compression so I’m not sure how long they will last. I prefer the multiple rubber band method at this point as it provides some backup plus an adjustable method for varying finished airframe weights. Small bungees may be an option too.
Overall the project took about 10-12 hours spread across a week or so, primarily to let the paint cure. I’m one of those guys who likes to dress up an ARF with small finishing touches rather than just tossing it together. They look better and it satisfies part of the building bug when there isn’t time to build from kit or scratch.
Will gladly answer any questions.
08-18-2008, 12:54 PM
#2
RE: Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
Dick, thanks for the update. I'm also ordering one of these WM Clipped Wing Cubs and want to get this gear. Didn't realize it took so long. Figured he had them already made up and shipped it ASAP. I'll be ordering mine this week. Thanks, Jerry.
08-18-2008, 12:55 PM
#3
RE: Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
Dick, thanks for the update. I'm also ordering one of these WM Clipped Wing Cubs and want to get this gear. Didn't realize it took so long. Figured he had them already made up and shipped it ASAP. I'll be ordering mine this week. Thanks, Jerry.
09-05-2008, 06:13 PM
#5
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RE: Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
took me three months to get a reply for information. I had the $$$ ready when I first emailed and was all keen to go, but gave up eventually. I suppose I was a little hesitant in parting with the $$ after waiting three months for an email............ I was wondering how long it would take to actually get the gear.
09-07-2008, 11:23 AM
#6
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RE: Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
I too have his gear on my WM 1/3rd CUB and also had to wait on delivery, communication etc.
Sent money and measurments in and still took a while.
However, very much worth the wait, nice looking and functional.
They got to me just in time as the stock gear started to give way and was being held together with small hose clamps.
Painted mine gloss black and then covered in yellow.
Only other mod I made is I added some more bolts to the mounting to the fuse.
PS:
Do you have you gear so they are a little spungee or are they pretty solid on landing/taxing?
I use small bungee chords wrapped around the hooks a couple times. I cut the metal wire off and use the hook on the chords.
Roger
Sent money and measurments in and still took a while.
However, very much worth the wait, nice looking and functional.
They got to me just in time as the stock gear started to give way and was being held together with small hose clamps.
Painted mine gloss black and then covered in yellow.
Only other mod I made is I added some more bolts to the mounting to the fuse.
PS:
Do you have you gear so they are a little spungee or are they pretty solid on landing/taxing?
I use small bungee chords wrapped around the hooks a couple times. I cut the metal wire off and use the hook on the chords.
Roger
09-07-2008, 08:12 PM
#7
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
ORIGINAL: ROGER RUSSELL
Do you have you gear so they are a little spungee or are they pretty solid on landing/taxing?
Do you have you gear so they are a little spungee or are they pretty solid on landing/taxing?
09-08-2008, 08:15 AM
#8
RE: Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
You guys had me worried about the Wallace gear turnaround. I ordered it two weeks ago and got it 9 days later. I'm getting the Super Cub from WM and painting mine gloss white. Still waiting on my DL100 though.
05-03-2012, 09:43 PM
#10
RE: Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
The web link that everyone puts out for piperj3gear.com is always wrong. Is there an alternative that anyone else knows?
I'm loosing my patience trying to find someone that makes these gears other than robart.
Any help would be great!
regards,
-Andre
05-04-2012, 09:28 AM
#11
RE: Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
ORIGINAL: andretorres89
The web link that everyone puts out for piperj3gear.com is always wrong. Is there an alternative that anyone else knows?
The web link that everyone puts out for piperj3gear.com is always wrong. Is there an alternative that anyone else knows?
I'm loosing my patience trying to find someone that makes these gears other than robart.
Any help would be great!
regards,
-Andre
http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemId=587543
05-04-2012, 03:18 PM
#12
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RE: Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
I have the Robart gear and I really like it , in fact I have4 sets of Robart gear , I have 2 1/3 Cubs , a 1/4 scale cub , and a 1/5 scale cub ... Why dont you like the Robart gear? Have you had trouble with it ?
05-04-2012, 07:58 PM
#14
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Wallace Gear for WM J-3 Cub ARF….
I have dealt with this company several times, and have never been disappointed. cublandinggear.com has even at times called me personally to make sure I would get what I wanted. I have even used their gear on a Tiger Moth by turning the gear 180*. I highly recommend this company. Cheaper than Robart and high customer satisfaction goals.
