I_Fly

Interesting options. The Shulman and ParkRC have different measurements so they probably are no the same. The Park RC appear to be larger, too big for the TF Corsair without cutting the spar. May or may not work in other models. The Shulman's should fit but the price tag is really up there.

SkyPilot101

If you must have 60 sz rotating retracts, Searra is the only option, yea its an air system, but they work......period!

predman

My Feedback: (7)

I just picked up a set of sierras for my tfp40 .60. I took out the century jet retracts, they still work but are developing a little slop which I don't like. Since this plane is on the discontinue list im making sure I don't lose it to a faulty gear that's why I installed Sierras!

m998hmmv

My Feedback: (2)

So, how much weight does an air system add?

dawhale

My Feedback: (20)

Predman, are the Sierra's the newest style from Sierra? Did you have to cut the main spar? In an email I asked the owner of Sierra for a drawing and he blew me off. Any chance you cold take a picture for us and post some measurements? Wondering if the air cylinders could be replaced with LADO actuators?

Thanks

predman

My Feedback: (7)

I would think they are the new ones, the bag said top flite p40 arf. I did dremel out some of the main spar but not much. There is no signs of stress there. My plane has a dle 20 up front and is ballistic fast.

dawhale

My Feedback: (20)

New style flange----------- Old style flange

predman

My Feedback: (7)

I have the old version, the work, and didn't have a problem mounting them

SkyPilot101

Has anyone tried to shorten the retract frame by relocating the two button head screws that capture the air cylinders, looks like you could shorten the end of the main frame by a good 1/4 inch, but not certain how this will affect the air cylinder geometry

predman

My Feedback: (7)

Is your concern with the main spar? I've had my tf warhawk for quite sometime and fly very often, I have yet to have an issue. Is there anyone here who has had an issue with the wing breaking from modding for the retracts?

SkyPilot101

Yes, I know others have posted the Siearra install, and have not reported failure of the wing. What I did was file the retract frame end untill I hit the air cylinder mounting screws, took off maybe 1/16 inch, which did help with the shoehorn fit. I had considered relocating the screws but choose to do as above and dremell the spar.

irocbsa

My Feedback: (12)

Yep, TF Corsair wing folded mid-flight on the second flight with FMS retracts. I had to grind the spar a bit to fit them. I reinforced it with doublers but that obviously didn't do much.

I_Fly

Two club members mentioned wing spar failures on their models and advised me not to do anything to the spar on my corsair.

predman

My Feedback: (7)

I haven't heard about about the warhawk having any wing failures, and I have one! I can't speak about the tf corsair though.

I_Fly

For those still following this thread I recently switched to the Horizon Hobby 25-46 rotating electric retracts for my Top Flight F4U ARF. The Horizon retracts have been through several flights and worked perfectly. Although they are longer than the opening it is only 1/16th of an inch and I was able to take that off the leading edge side leaving the spar untouched. Previously I had some plastic retracts that didn't work worth a darn. They would not extend in the airstream or failed to retract when the end point sensor was not working. I'll admit to being one of those that does not want to invest more in the retracts than the entire plane so some of the options here seemed excessive. I'm sure they work but don't seem practical from a cost perspective. For the money and the simplicity of use (no air equipment required) the Horizon retracts work well and seem to be holding up just fine after several flights.

m998hmmv

My Feedback: (2)

Okay, quick question: can the eflights lift an oleo strut? Do you have gear doors, do they work with the gear doors and oleos?

da Rock

I use eFlite 25-46 rotators on one of my 2 TF Corsairs. It weighs 7lb 6oz landing weight. It's an electric. The other is powered by an OS90 and weighs about a half-pound heavier. Both have nearly the same size front doors attached to the same #650 3/8" Robostrut metal struts which carry the same size and similar weight wheels. The glow one has Lado rotators that I modified quite a bit.

Both models behave the same in the air when the gear moves down or up. The two different brands seem to operate at about the same speed in the air. I have not clocked either. I have dropped the gear on fast downwind legs when landing. Originally, I planned to only lower the eFlites on base leg or final, as I originally did with the Lados, but over time I forgot.

Yes, the electric is the 50 size, but both planes weigh roughly the same on landing.

I'm looking forward to eFlite's promised 60size gear, but of course, I'm an optimist.

I_Fly

One of the problems I have with my setup is the struts. Or lack of struts. The gear has 4mm legs and the struts are set up for 5mm. I could probably use some type of spacer, adapter, or drill out the gear but decided to keep it simple and have used the basic wire struts that came with the retracts. The retract mechanics seem strong and I don't think the gear door or strut would be an issue from a weight or drag perspective. After experiencing some problems with cheaper retracts I wanted a setup that was reliable and decided to avoid adapters that might make it unreliable. If someone can find struts that take a 4mm pin or a good way to adapt the 5mm struts that I have I'd be interested in knowing about them.

SkyPilot101

http://robart.com/collections/retrac...umatic-retract

Problem solved

I_Fly

This may help with some models but it looks like they are about 20 mm or more too long for the TF .60 corsair ARF. Given the size range of 8-18lbs I'd guess it will be hard to fit in other models at the smaller end of the range (traditionally .60 size was the subject of this thread). Also, one of the reasons this thread exists is because the prior robart offering was troublesome at best. I'm interested to see what others think but I don't expect to suffer from buyers remorse.

SkyPilot101

Given the fact that I just recently installed Sieara gear in a TF Corsair 60, the Robart pneumatic gear will be a better fit. These new gear are miles ahead of the old "610" ? Robart rotators.

http://robart.com/collections/retrac...umatic-retract

Hemikiller

My Feedback: (125)

Agreed. The Sierras were a very tight fit in my TF Corsair 60 ARF and required modifications to the retract bay, rails and the spar to fit and operate properly. All the work was worth it as they look great and function as expected. I hope Robart releases a Robostrut ready version of these, the stub strut method has always been a potential issue.

m998hmmv

My Feedback: (2)

Okay, I went ahead and bought the eflight 100 degree rotators to put in my TF .60 Corsair GE kit that I've been building for 3 years. I was disappointed that it is so difficult to put oleo struts on, but now that I've done the work and have everything mounted, I THINK they will work out alright. I'm going all out scale on this project, so I had to take the 4mm wires off, and it was a job too. It took a lot of grinding and prying, but they finally came out. I then drilled the trunions out to accept a 5mm wire for the FMS struts, which are only $30 a pair, and are very tough; after that, I drilled out he collar with the rotating pin, and the collar that holds the spring tension on the strut. It took some sanding on the wire, and very careful drilling, along with some grease between the trunion and the wire, but after all that, it seems like it'll work okay. I might have to pull that wire out and do some polishing with ultra fine sandpaper, but we'll see. It is pretty impressive that the motors can lift the oleos and 3 3/4in Robart Scale Wheels. I'll post some pics in a couple days.

dawhale

My Feedback: (20)

http://www.horizonhobby.com/60-120-9...tracts-eflg520