Minn,
You are both out of your mind, and very generous. You should be making a cut off of every set sold. If you just gave them that design, then you are a good man, supporting the world's best hobby. I'm afraid I wouldn't have been as generous. What you have is a potential gold mine! A standard servo, operating a set of high quality, sturdy retracts? I'm in! Great job!!!

Hell, I'm just glad that these babies are going to be made available to the general public.

Can you imagine how frustrating it is to hear people constantly complain about crappy retracts when you know that you have the best set around, but you can't recommend them?

I'm more than happy to share them with the RC Community.

As for profit, while the design is not complicated, it's a tricky little number to machine. We really wanted to keep the price down, and frankly, I'm amazed that they were able to get them in under $60. So I know that at that price, the MFGR isn't going to make a killing on them either.

Have you seen the prototypes from the man.? Are they as good as the ones you made? Good materials and so on?

I have not actually seen them yet, but I should be getting a set very soon. I have been working very closely with the Mfgr, so I'm expecting good things.

Believe me, if they don't cut the mustard, I'll be the first to complain!

The Jury is in.

I just received my first set from 3DX Hobbies, and they are fantastic!

I can honestly say that they are even better than my originals (Same thing, but they put a nice finish on them too)

If anyone is interested in a set, they are available here:

http://www.3dxhobbies.com/cart/index...products_id=63

In case no one has noticed, 3DX sent a set of these to Dave Agar (Who hates mechanical retracts) to do a review on them.

Here's what he had to say:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=686

They look nice. Weight 0.5 lb. (3.7 oz minus struts) Price, $69.89. The ad says they're in stock. Might try a set.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

Hey Minn,

What's the latest on these retracts? 3DX has been out of them since the middle of last year. I could not even find them on their website now. I emailed them several weeks ago and they replied that they would be in soon. I've been waiting on my P47 wing build until I get the retracts so that I can build them in.

Of course if I could get the plans for them, I could probably machine a set myself . I actually drew up a set on CAD, but I don't know if they'd really work or not and I don't want to spend the time experimenting. Too much trial and error and not enough spare time.

I'd sure like to get a set of these.

I considered the same questions as presented above. What actually sold me on a nice pneumatic setup from Robart was the fact that good retract systems hold their value. Spend some time, as I did, looking for used ones on ebay and you'll find yourself ordering new because there isn't a whole lot of difference in selling price.

Well, Paul says he's tooling up to make some. I'm not privy to his schedule

Thanks for the update. I'll keep waiting.