stevenmax50

My Feedback: (1)

Iplan on building a Tiger 60 with retracts in a taildragger configuration. Any advice on which type retract to use? How many times can you actuate the gear with pneumatics? Do mechanical retracts put a load on the reciever battery? Any advice would be appreciated.

makmov

My Feedback: (1)

Pneumatics

The will cycle several times on a single air charge.

Yes, if there is a load on the servo up or down on the mech it will be a strain on the battery.

Ejiro

My Feedback: (4)

The key word here is IF. Mechanical retracts should always be set up such that no load exists at the end points, i.e. fully extended and fully retracted positions. If I were building the plane you were building, I'd probably use mechanical retracts. However, I expect that pneumatics would work just as well. It is really a matter of personal preference.

makmov

My Feedback: (1)

Often easier said than done.

AERORICH73

Steven: As a retired aircraft mechanic into model building and flying, I have found the word, KISS, the most important when building a model aircraft. Installing a mechanical system correctly, and installing a 700, or 1400 amH battery, would not cause you any electrical drain that would make your receiver to loose power. Keep in mind that in a normal situation the landing gear is retracted once at takeoff, and once for extending for landing. Checking the flight batteries after each flight would keep any low battery charge situations from occuring. There is a cost difference between the two systems you should ponder too. If you do go for the air system, I suggest purchasing the system that has the spring powered extension cylinders so that any problems with the on board air supply, you can still lower the gear for landing. Believe you can buy the Tiger 60 with gear installed.

Happy flying!!!

[email protected]

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Not at all.

My rule for retracts is:

1, if it's a Taildragger = Mechanicals

2, if it has a Nosewheel = Pnumatics

3, Avoid a nose wheel

FentonFlyer

My Feedback: (11)

.60 size non scale plane? Mechanical for sure.
I have a World Models Candyman Reno Mustang with mechanical retracts. First time out, the retracts snapped the stock white plastic horn that came with my JR servo while taxiing. Since I replaced it with an HD arm, I've had no trouble at all with them and I fly off a bumpy grass field.
A couple words of advice; Make sure you build the wheel wells large enough to accept a decent size wheel. My Mustang has what seem to be about 2 inchers and it noses ove easily. Secondly, cycle the gear a couple times after each landing to make sure you don't have any binding.
Good luck with it and post up some pics of your Tiger.

stevenmax50

My Feedback: (1)

Fentonflyer, I will start a whole new thread for this build as soon as I get the kit from Santa, aka my wife.  When that happens there will be plenty of pics and I will surely be looking to all you experianced builders to keep me from screwing up too badly.  The servo horn advice is great.  Something I had not heard yet.  Preciate it. 

stevenmax50

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks Minnflyer.  Point taken.  This will be a taildragger with mechanicals.

Wine Country Flyer

My Feedback: (5)

Yepmechanicalthat's the way to go. And here's all ya need to see if there's any current draw up or down. Just plug it in between the receiver and retracts and cycle em. It will tell ya if there's a draw. http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...?ProdID=HAN172 I had to buy one when I was doing my Hangar 9 P-40. Love it. It will also tell ya if you have a bind in any other control surfaceses.
John

dhal22

Spring Air 202 HD's are my preferred retracts.

stevenmax50

My Feedback: (1)

Could you tell me why you prefer the Springair?  I have heard that they are pneumatic extend and spring loaded for retract.  Is that correct?  If so, how does the retraction process work?  Does it release an air load and then have spring tension finish the job?  I've never seen a springair system up close and I am very curious.

combatman

A very good question here. I have a related one. What about for giant scale planes, such as the 1/5 Top Flite warbird kits? Are their reliable mechanicals available for those planes?

JimO

My Feedback: (7)

Stevenmax50 Just the opposite on the Springair. Air up, spring down. Unless the gear hangs in the well they will come down.

JimO

gmohr

Check out LADO retracts. They have built in overload protection.

Boomerang1

It's very simple to put in a another small battery for mechanical retracts & seperate the retract load from the other servo load.

It will cost you just a couple of bucks for parts plus another battery.

I also have used spring air retracts. The install is very simple (smaller control valve, just one hose to each retract) and they are fail safe, no air & the spring drives them down. I use them on a small jet. - John.

JFranco

My Feedback: (2)

This was sent to me a while ago from someone here:

Boomerang1

Yep, that's the idea. I forgot stevenmax50 was building an IC powered model, the voltages from the two packs would be the same.

I fly electrics so I tapped off the 20 volt flight battery ,via a simple voltage regulator supplying 5 volts, to power the retract servos. - John.

dhal22

as stated earlier, the Spring Air retracts (retracts.com) are air up spring down. they are very well made, good customer service and easy to work with. i also usually buy the air restrictor to slow the retract movement down.