Scratchie

Top Flite AT-6 - this will be my first build with retracts. After reading the forums, it appears that you decide on which manufacturer you want, then select the retracts based on estimated total weight of the plane. Is this correct, anything else I need to know?

planebuilder66

My Feedback: (8)

Pretty much in that order, you get the kit, find out what you want,(IE-functional oleo's or just wire) and get a set of retracts that give you the proper weight rating and angle deflection required, either 85 degrees or 90 degrees. The good thing is robart and century jet bolth make AT-6 gear for the topflite kit. So you can just get some premade and setup for it.

R8893

My Feedback: (20)

There may be specific retracts designed for a particular kit/arf make and model. Beyond that the retracts have to retract through the same angle as required for the model. Most retracts swing through 90 degrees, although some manufacturers offer other angles like 85 and 105 degrees.

Scratchie

oleo's or just wire, oleo's mean what?

planebuilder66

My Feedback: (8)

Oleo's are the shock absorbing struts you find on full size aircraft, they make oleo's for model aircraft as well, here's a link to a setfor the TF AT-6 with oleo's, and a set of robart addon oleo's.
[link]http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXES71&P=0[/link]

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXES33&P=0

The only problem with the TF AT-6, is the gear is so short, that oleo's are almost impossible to fit on it. But robart does make the gear for it.

Scratchie

use the plans to figure out how long the struts need to be?

planebuilder66

My Feedback: (8)

Problem is the severe angle they are compaired to the retract, they kinda fold up and are angled forward, you can still use the oleo's but it's going to have the wire going from the oleo to the retract bend at a steep angle, I'm sure it will hold up, but it won't really be easy with clearances for the air cylinder. If you go mechanical, it might afford you the room you need, but I like air operated, less load on the battery.

scratchbuilder46

Scratchie, go to the Robart website and you will find a set of retracts with struts for your AT-6. I used the wire ones on my first 6 and will go with the scale set on #2. Drop right in and ready to go. If you have the arf, you may need to do some plumbing as the set Robart offers are air operated. Hope this helps.