I've seen air retracts work, (Robart). But I've never seen a manual retract in action.
What are the functional differences,(how do they work), and are they interchangeable.
My first choice kit was to be the Top Flite Piper Arrow Gold, but the custom retracts are $305[:@]
If I can't find a better retract option for the Piper, I'm considering a Great Planes RV-40.
Fixed gear, but nice lines

I DON'T HAVE RETRACTS BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IVE HEARD AND SEEN PNUEMATIC RETRACTS SEEM TO WORK BEST ON GRASS FIELDS MECHANICAL RETRACTS DON'T DO AS WELL I'VE SEEN EM BRAKE MORE THAN WORK ON GRASS.
HOPE I HELP SOME

Air retracts are eaiser to install. Manual retracts require a seperate retract servo and the routing of the rods from the servo to the retract is always time consuming. The other issue is there are really only a few mechanical retracts made that are worth buying. Most of the more inexpensive ones do not last and fall apart after only a few flights. As for the Gold Edition kits, they make retracts that are designed to just drop right in when you are building, however any retract will work, you just may have to adjust the mounting blocks in the wings. I am a Spring Air man myself. I use the heavy duty ones which have the 3/16 inch wire. I beleive that Spring Air now has struts. Hope this helps and good luck, Dave

Jetmech05 PLEASE turn off the caps. Aside from being a pain to read -- IT REPRESENTS YOU AS SHOUTING AT US.

Everyone has there own ideas of which system is best and why. Personally, I prefer Mechanicals, but I will also admit that I avoid using the cheap ones, and I don't use a nose gear.

A set which I designed will be hitting the market in a week or two. These are The BEST mechanicals I have ever used. And I make no profit from them, so I'm not just Looking to make sales, I say they are the best because I really feel that they are better than the rest.

More info can be found here:

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

Another alternative for very high quality mechanical retracts is available from [link=http://www.einziehfahrwerk.de]www.einziehfahrwerk.de[/link]
There are several sizes available as well as different retract geometries. Here is a link for the 18 lbs ones, [link=http://www.einziehfahrwerk.de/ezf-100.htm]link[/link]. The end stops are fully adjustable for zero play and they are very strong.
I normally fly off grass fields and have had no problems whatsoever.
The really nice thing is that custom legs, be it oleos or piano wire, are available at very reasonable prices.

/Red B.

Wow, business etiquette must be quite a bit different over seas than here in the US. THere is no way I'd order anything from anyone with a picture of two calvin's flipping me off, and a devil--I bet they are real friendly with customer support. Surely those same retracts are available elsewhere--because they do look like good quality stuff.

I agree that their web site leaves a lot to be desired, but the quality of their products is excellent and my orders have been promptly expedited.

/Red B.

Fredsterman,

The basic issue not mentioned above is weight. Mechanical or air will work just fine for whatever application if designed right. The problem is that mechanicals get heavy or overly complicated for heavier weight airplanes. Either very large heavy servos become necessary, or complicated counterbalancing requiring more maintenance to keep the mechanism swinging freely. This why there are a variety of simple (cheep) mechanicals available for under 10 pounds, glow 60 size and down, but everything larger is pneumatic. Given the beating the average model gear takes, the mechanisms stay simple for practical reasons. There have been some beautiful electric drive jack screw types produced for large models but they never beat out the air systems in the hobby market place.

Multiflyer

First, thanks to all for the replies. Tons of great advice.
The manual retracts from the links, might not fit in the wing.
I think I may need the more reliable system. Spring Air
My club president has this odd idea; that I land too hard
I tend to fly the plane "onto" the grass runway. Main gear hits, flare, then the nose gear touches down.

SORRY BRIT BRAT I'M AT WORK CANT SHUT OFF CAPS HERE DONT MEAN TO SHOUT

I use the mechanical O K retracts in the smaller planes, A Kyosho Zero 25 size built in 1990 and the one in my avatar, about 8 yrs old. Never had any trouble with the mechanical part of them. Bend the wire gears back once in a while on a less than perfect landing Bend them back forward and go again. This is on grass. They are made for Hobbico. Normal Futaba retract servo.

Minn,

I see that there is no weight listed on the 3DX web site.
What is the retract set weight with the 3/16" gear legs?

Greg

Rookie, I don't know the weight off hand, and my only remaining set is presently in the hands of the manufacturer. I should be getting them back (Along with a few of the new sets) very soon.

Seeing as how you are in Prior Lake, once I get them back I'll let you know the next time I head to the cities and maybe we can get together for a first-hand demo. (My step-daughter lives in Plymouth, so I go to the cities about once a month of so)

Minn

Sounds good.
Maybe we could meet half way at Hobby Warehouse.


Greg

That's just what I was thinking