Anyone ever added gear to an ElectroStreak ARF?
06-18-2005 | 02:13 PM
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From: La Vergne,
TN
Anyone ever added gear to an ElectroStreak ARF?
Finished up my ElectroStreak ARF yesterday, flew her several times...I absolutely adore the plane.
However, one otherwise VERY nice landing ended in a cartwheel due solely to the big HOLE in the ground that caught the nose and flipped the plane. No major damage (small hole in the horiz. stab covering, and a small crack in the cowling around the motor mount. Both easily (and already) repaired, but I REALLY don't wish a repeat performance.
Whether or not it'll take off from a paved runway is not that important...nice if it would, but I don't mind tossing it. I'd really like to be able to land it on a paved surface though, without belly landing her.
Has anyone ever added gear to these planes, at least for landing? If so, what suggestions do you have for size, weight, placement, how to mount, etc?
TIA,
However, one otherwise VERY nice landing ended in a cartwheel due solely to the big HOLE in the ground that caught the nose and flipped the plane. No major damage (small hole in the horiz. stab covering, and a small crack in the cowling around the motor mount. Both easily (and already) repaired, but I REALLY don't wish a repeat performance.
Whether or not it'll take off from a paved runway is not that important...nice if it would, but I don't mind tossing it. I'd really like to be able to land it on a paved surface though, without belly landing her.
Has anyone ever added gear to these planes, at least for landing? If so, what suggestions do you have for size, weight, placement, how to mount, etc?
TIA,
06-18-2005 | 06:26 PM
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From: Paducah, KY
RE: Anyone ever added gear to an ElectroStreak ARF?
Seems to me that either:
1.) The Gear and acces. wil be to heavy and hinder performace...
2.) The Gear will be to flimsy to help much if you plan on keeping it lite..
I don't think its worth the trouble Just find a smooth patch of grass.. Slow her til RIGHT ABOVE stall right above the ground... Pull the nose up slighty and set her down.
1.) The Gear and acces. wil be to heavy and hinder performace...
2.) The Gear will be to flimsy to help much if you plan on keeping it lite..
I don't think its worth the trouble Just find a smooth patch of grass.. Slow her til RIGHT ABOVE stall right above the ground... Pull the nose up slighty and set her down.
06-18-2005 | 09:25 PM
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From: La Vergne,
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RE: Anyone ever added gear to an ElectroStreak ARF?
You're right, ice...it's not difficult to find a nice place to set her down...and the thing lands wonderfully.
I just felt that continued belly landings would increase the chance of some small hole or rock or twig being in just the wrong place at the wrong time.
As it turns out, I got impatient and just added some gear this afternoon. Found a little set of replacement gear for Hobbyzone aircraft (the larger set of the 2 I saw...not sure which planes they're made for).
A small slot in the bottom of the fuse, a built up block of thin ply on the inside as a mounting block, and an old piee of control rod fashioned into a 'brace' between the two gear legs, and viola...landing gear on an ElectroStreak. Very light weight (mounted them about 2.5" forward of CG, had to move the battery back about 1/2" is all)
Flew her 3 times this evening...there's a touch more drag making big slow loops a bit tougher, but beyond that she flew wonderfully. I didn't notice any significant reduction in speed runs, and it still landed very softly and smoothly. As for the gear themselves, I wanted to test their strength and rigidity, so on the 3rd flight I intentionally bounced the landing 2-3 times, and they held up fine.
I won't say they'll handle any abuse, but given a reasonably decent landing, they should be fine for quite a while.
I just felt that continued belly landings would increase the chance of some small hole or rock or twig being in just the wrong place at the wrong time.
As it turns out, I got impatient and just added some gear this afternoon. Found a little set of replacement gear for Hobbyzone aircraft (the larger set of the 2 I saw...not sure which planes they're made for).
A small slot in the bottom of the fuse, a built up block of thin ply on the inside as a mounting block, and an old piee of control rod fashioned into a 'brace' between the two gear legs, and viola...landing gear on an ElectroStreak. Very light weight (mounted them about 2.5" forward of CG, had to move the battery back about 1/2" is all)
Flew her 3 times this evening...there's a touch more drag making big slow loops a bit tougher, but beyond that she flew wonderfully. I didn't notice any significant reduction in speed runs, and it still landed very softly and smoothly. As for the gear themselves, I wanted to test their strength and rigidity, so on the 3rd flight I intentionally bounced the landing 2-3 times, and they held up fine.
I won't say they'll handle any abuse, but given a reasonably decent landing, they should be fine for quite a while.
