Rotating Retracts
 

Picked up a 40 size CMP P-40 today dirt cheap. Been looking around and can't seem to find a set of rotating retracts to fit the main wing. Anyone have any ideas?

RE: Rotating Retracts
 

Hi,
Try SIERRA GIANT SCALE, under their 60 size retracts group.
My error. I misread your 40 size for 60.
Have you tied Robart. Maybe their #615 might work.

RE: Rotating Retracts
 

Just want to double check something. You said a 40 size P-40? I think the CMP is a 50 size P-40. If this is so, then AK Models has the retracts designed for that bird.
http://ak-models.com/mm5/merchant.mv..._Code=Retracts

Fair warning, those retracts are in a plastic or resin case. I broke a set on a hard landing. I have the CMP Corsair 50 and I finally gave up on the cheapo retracts and installed a set of pnuematic retracts. But for this budget bird, it is a little odd spending $250 for a set of Robart 615s when you factor in the 615s, the air kit, and accessories. That is before you spend $80 on a set of robo struts if you choose to use them. I would not have installed them had I not already had an old set of Rom retracts.

I also had a problem getting the aircraft to settle down without nosing over. I finally gave up and installed the fixed gear and bent them way forward. That finally worked, but it was a shame to have fixed gear on such a nicely finished airframe. The pictures show the original broken retract. Then the second is the installed air retracts.

Bob

RE: Rotating Retracts
 

Thanks for the info-my misunderstanding on the 40 size-I really want the rotating gear hopefully no hard landings-thank you again.

RE: Rotating Retracts
 

Hate to say, but there's a reason you got it dirt cheap.... [:'(] That plane has an awful reputation of tip stalling on takeoff and being very difficult to fly and land. Requres a lot of power to stay in the air. Also, be aware that a lot of poeple that used the CG in the instructions [:@] have found it to be extremely tail heavy on take off.[:'(]
I had one and it stalled on take off and went in hard. Total loss on maiden take off. [:-]

RE: Rotating Retracts
 

Good warnings for you. Sounds like the tail heavy situation may be the reason for the tip stalling. Anyway, I like to go a size larger on retracts anyway. They almost always eventually take some hard landings and the manufacturers seem to under-rate their sizes. Strike loads are way more than 'weight' loads. Go with a 90 size in a 60, a 120 size in a 90, and so forth. You won't be sorry. The Robart gear should work fine for you.

RE: Rotating Retracts
 

Nitro planes has posted a review from a pilot that found out that the CG printed in the instructions is the CG for the 60 size the correct CG is 85mm from LE. That was the reason for the stall problem. I got the plane dirt cheap because my cousin flys Helis thought about getting into planeschanged his mind never even opened the box and gave me about $140 of brand new Hitec servos still in the boxes with the price tags on them. The plane is very well made and the paint job and water transfers are some of the best I've ever seen on a ARF. I ordered the retracts from AK models last night we'll see how they work. Out of almost 200 flights I've got 1 crash due to wing failure on a ARF that I didn't build and no hard landings. So I'm pretty optimistic about flying this P-40. I'll keep you guys posted on how it goes. I'm about 10hrs away from completing my P-38 with Davis Diesels so the P-40 is on hold for a while. Thanks for all the info much gratitude from SoCal.

RE: Rotating Retracts
 

What P-38 is it?

RE: Rotating Retracts
 

Nitroplanes the olive drab model.

RE: Rotating Retracts
 

Excellent! Let us know how it flies. My Corsair was alwayssmooth and stable in the air. I only had problems on the landing roll out since the wheels are so small. I have been looking at their P-40 for a while.

Bob

RE: Rotating Retracts
 

With regards to the covering on the P-40, be careful. The paint flakes very easily. You may want to clear coat it before you start the assembly process.