Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (Full Version)

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shotgun06 -> Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (9/26/2007 4:19:14 PM)

I will post for those interested how I'm doing the instalation of a nose wheel retract on my Long EZ 46. I know that this airplane is not available anymore and probably will not be restocked but the retract could be retrofit to a flying airplane no problem. The retract is a Hobbico unit.



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (9/26/2007 6:55:26 PM)

Should look a little more scale with the retract...Now I had to cut the bottom of the fuselage for the wheel well. I also added some 1/4'' harwood block on the platform to bring the retract flush with the bottom of the fuselage.



opjose -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (9/27/2007 3:19:26 AM)

I'm interested!



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (9/27/2007 8:57:25 PM)

I will continue to show my progress then[8D]



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (9/27/2007 9:01:25 PM)

On the first picture you can see that I began to build the wheel well with 1/8'' balsa. In the second picture, I added a 1/8'' part of plywood to the top surface of the platform. It doesn't really mather how much weight I add around the nose wheel area since the black weight you see in the second picture is actualy meant to be on that platform for balance. If it become too nose heavy, all I will have to do is remove a chunk of that weight or change it for a lighter one. Since weight is not really a problem, I will add as much reinforcement that I feel is required to the front part of the airplane.



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (9/27/2007 9:22:59 PM)

Now a little reinforcement to the front bulkhead since I made some cuts into it and not to mention that I'm adding a lot of epoxy everywhere in that area. As I was looking at the area of the main landing gear to see where it needed more glue, it became obvious to me that the next modification would be to add an air brake [:D] like the real thing...



TxDiveBomber -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (9/28/2007 3:04:49 AM)

I'm following your progress as well... Looking good so far :)



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/3/2007 6:44:38 PM)

Sorry if I'm slow to show my progress but I apparently have work to do to get my pay according to my boss...Anyway, I trial fitted the retract unit, put some epoxy on the blind nuts and completed the wheel well out of 1/8'' balsa and a block that I carved to accept the wheel.



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/3/2007 6:54:40 PM)

I had to reverse the arm that control the elevator because there was not enough clearance left as the wheel well gets in the way. Not a big deal, I had to make some room in the bulkhead as you can see in the last picture.



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/3/2007 7:07:27 PM)

I used a Dubro flex cable for steering control and a steel rod for retract activation. The steel rod is taking some room where the throttle servo is supposed to be located so I'm gonna have to use a smaller servo or move the servo somewhere else.



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/3/2007 7:25:09 PM)

I built a servo tray to hold the retract servo and the SPEEDBRAKE servo. I found an old small servo that I bought many years ago for my 7 channel EK Logictrol radio (I still have it collecting dust...), it is still like new (don't remember the brand...) and I changed the plug to Futaba. It's working perfectly and it fits in the space left in the servo tray. Now I'm going to start working on the speedbrake...



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/4/2007 9:25:50 PM)

I carefully cut the shape of the speedbrake with the front being flush with the bulkhead and the rear being flush with 1/4'' stick I glued in front of the landing gear box. The sides are cut flush with the triangular stick on the bottom sides. That makes the speedbrakes almost exactly square. I made a plywood doubler for the brake and a control arm. I've glued in between 4 Dubro hinges side by side to make it look like it's a piano hinge like the real thing.



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/9/2007 5:22:19 PM)

Last step for the speedbrake. I made a piece of plywood to fill the hole created by the speedbrake.



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/9/2007 5:31:58 PM)

To finish retract instalation, I cut the nosecone to make room for the retract. I will have to wait to install the nosewheel since I broke the leg while I was trying to bend it. I ordered an adjustable axle to fix that. Anybody know how to bend piano wire without breaking it?



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/9/2007 5:45:07 PM)

Since I'm at it, I think I will continue with the rest of the assembly. Now that hte retract and the speedbrake are installed, I will show my engine instalation. The horrible instruction manual is saying that the engine should be instaled in a way but the pictures are showing something different...funny. Anyway, I've decided to install an old K&B 40 with a J'Tec muffler and after lots of fitting and trying I found out that it would work best to go with an inverted setup. I firts made a template of the engine mount bolting pattern and located the position on the firewall where I need to drill the holes.



Sundance120 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/9/2007 7:10:30 PM)

Hi Alain:

That is one great looking speed brake modification, it fits well with the overall design, good job. I also think that the nosewheel mod is a nice job also, I may have the part you need for your gear leg and wheel mounting.

Keep going with the build, so far it looks great.

Bruce



I_Fly_Coolers -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/9/2007 10:44:36 PM)

I had the same problem breaking piano wire on an ARF I'm building. Turns out, I was trying to bend it in a bench vise- the bench vise has a sharp/square edge which was causing the wire to break at that point. I used a dremel to file a smooth egde or "notch" in the jaws on both sides of the vise, an had no problems after that. Also the notch helped hold the gear wire in place in the jaws. Hope this helps



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/10/2007 3:31:24 AM)

I will try that for sure next time.
Thanks



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/11/2007 9:41:41 PM)

I read on another thread that other people were having cooling problems because the engine is enclosed. Mine should not suffer as much since the head is sticking out a little more with the inverted instalation.



I_Fly_Coolers -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (10/12/2007 3:07:29 AM)

Looking good [:D]



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (11/9/2007 9:52:11 PM)

I have been busy lately but here some more progress on the engine instalation.



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (11/9/2007 9:57:43 PM)

I made a gear door for the nosewheel. For the elevator control rod, I added a small piece of plastic tubing where it goes through the fuselage.



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (11/9/2007 10:02:56 PM)

Can't wait to test fly it! [:D]



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (11/21/2007 4:31:31 PM)

A little more work done on the plane. I installed the aileron servos



shotgun06 -> RE: Long EZ 46 Modification - Retract Instalation (11/21/2007 4:37:02 PM)

I figured that the plastic part provided to simulate a cockpit was looking pretty dumb compared to a real Long EZ and I decided to make a balsa one. Here it is almost complete with grey primer. I also installed the wings and the winglets that I epoxied in place instead of just installing with the supplied screws.



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