ORIGINAL: flygilmore
As mentioned, I have the GTM oak skids on my BUSA 1/4 scale DR.1. They are scale reproductions and work absolutely wonderfully-without them, there would no doubt be problems! My DR.1 comes in so realistic and solid it is scary how real it seems. I come in with just a touch of power and touch down very softly on the mains and ''continue to fly'' the plane on the ground keeping it straight and smooth. Once the speed bleeds off (which isn't much BTW) the tail will softly drop onto the oak bungeed skid and proceed to do an ever so graceful semi ground loop to the right (more of a gradual curve) and the left wing skid does its job every time. It is such a real experience landing the DR.1 and that is why it is one of my favorite planes of all time! Even with the tall gear, I have never had a nose over and I think that is due to the scale bungeed landing gear system that I incorporated, plus, it allows the 15 pound model to touch down ever so gentle with no tendency to bounce.
My favorite plane of WWI is the Fokker DVIIF, but my favorite plane for the looks and style from WWI is the Fokker DR1. Do you have the link to GTM? I don't know if they make 1/5 scale skids, if they do I'll buy them- If not then I'll make them from scratch.
The bungeed landing gear does make a difference, I usually grease my landings with my Fokker DVII and I have to fly it as well until it stops like your DR1.
5 mph wind or greater causes havic with my Fokker DVII also, and crosswind landings or take offs are just plain deadly! So I plan on not flying my DR1 unless there is very little or no wind. I have a hand held wind gauge that is very accurate, and has saved me a plane or two in the past- so I plan on continuing to use it.
The bottom wing got busted before from the previous owner. That is why I'm putting on the skids. Without the skids the leading edge of the bottom wing will dig in the grass resulting in breaking the bottom wing.
The original owner/builder of this plane epoxied the bottom wing where it broke. It looks like he beefed it up by making the repair. People figure that a repair makes a weak spot, that's really not the case if done right.
Pete