Supra's

The older style was metal frame like this. The newer style was a green molded composite material. It had the same bolt pattern but was a slightly smaller foot print. basically models built for the old style, the new version would drop right in.

Then Great Planes started to make a purple/blue colored plastic version that was a copy, Heck it could have been from the same molds...it looked like it. But they were not quite as good as the Supra gear. Like i said a slightly smaller footprint but same bolt pattern and functionality. They are the 60 size mechanical retracts from Great planes are the ones

I never used the GP versions but worked on a couple models for and with people that had them. The good news was they were cheap like $25 compared to the $60 set of Supra gear. So I guess in the scheme of things buy a pair of them and when one goes belly up just chuck it and replace with a new one.

The strut bender is for when the struts bend back and you need to starighten them out. The groove in the tool is used to hold the strut at the base, while you bend the strut back with your hand. This way you are not putting the load on the landing gear plates in the wings. There should be 2 grooves. One is for 3/16" wire and the other for 5/32" wire

These were sold by Central Hobbies. I had one somewhere but can't find where it is at the moment. I guess the last time I had a plane with Retracts was in 2000 so it likely got loaned out and forgotten at a contest.

Troy