paully_321

I'd like to convert my Tiger 60 to a taildragger (the front gear got jacked and it's a perfect excuse). But, I have no idea what parts to use. Has anyone done this? What parts did you use? Any tips?

Thanks,

Paul

da Rock

If I remember correctly, the manual has a section on converting the airplane.

hungryandbroke

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFV47&P=ML

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXK178&P=M

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXK160&P=ML

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ923&P=M

CGRetired

My Feedback: (1)

This is a good idea. You have to shift the main gear forward of the wing saddle, and add a tail wheel assembly. Sullivan and Dubro both sell good tail wheel assemblies via Tower Hobbies (and others) as pointed out by Hungryandbroke above.

On my tail wheel conversions (I've done two) and my normally set up tail wheel aircraft, I had been using their rudder follower (the tail wheel follows the rudder via linkage). But I've since just left this off, doing my steering via rudder only, which takes a little practice, but is easy to do. The rudder follower, it seems, tends to put a stress on the rudder hinges due to force applied by the tail wheel, so I just let it float which seems to work out just fine.

CGr.

hungryandbroke

I've taken off without a tail wheel period after losing it on a previous flight. If the tail wheel isn't hooked up to the rudder it just makes it harder to taxi the plane at slow speeds. Especially for people that just use a swivel tail wheel that isn't hooked up to anything.

CGRetired

My Feedback: (1)

That's how mine is set up. It just free-floats. My taxi distances are minimal so I don't usually have a problem with it. Take off.. well, just judge the wind and rudder accordingly. As soon as the tail wheel comes off the ground, under any circumstances, well, it is ineffective (duh..) anyway, and upon takeoff, well, the tail comes off the ground pretty much right away and you are using the rudder to steer. So, I just eliminate the mechanical link between the wheel and rudder and deal with it.

CGr.

millertym2000

My Feedback: (4)

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFV47&P=0 http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXHBP8&P=0 these are the ones I used on mine. You just have to renforce the fuse with some ply and some blind nuts before useing them. I like the rudder control link. Our runway is a little bumpy so having this makes it nice.

TEBerg

My Feedback: (1)

I did exactly the same mount on an old Goldberg Chipmunk whose gear ripped out of the wing. Re-enforce the fuselage bottom with another layer of plywood (at least ÂĽ-inch) and glue it in with triangle stock up the sides of the fuselage.

I would also suggest you go with nylon bolts (http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXK194&P=7). With #10-size, I would mount the gear with 3 bolts. That way, the gear will “break away” with a rough landing instead of ripping the bottom out of the fuselage.

This setup “worked as advertised” when I was horsing around and overshot the Chipmunk into the rough field beside our runway…[X(]

Edited: I forgot that I drilled and tapped right through the fuselage bottom (lite ply) and into the 1/4-inch hard plywood. Then hardened the threads with thin CA and ran the tap through again after it dries. If you break off the nylon screws, they are easy to drill out using a screw removal tool or if you can grab the other end, just thread them back...

mesaflyer

I built mine (from the kit) for my son in the tail dragger conversion, Sullivan tail wheel. But I used this main gear so I could paint it, and it helped with my son's semi-rough landings. I say "helped", because he can just about grease the landings every time, KOW! He even had a beautiful dead stick (dad leaned out the motor too much[X(]) landing a few weeks ago. Just a great plane for him. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXNM65&P=0

Just saw your plane in the crash and rebuild. That's an easy fix, and if you need help with the tail dragger conversion, just ask, these guys have really helped me a lot.

bdtsr

My Feedback: (5)

Remove old landing gear (cover old holes optional)
Install plywood backing plate in front of wing saddle area for additional support for new gear
Install new gear just in front of wing saddle under added support area
Install tail wheel assembly and connect to rudder
Re-check balance as new gear may have changed the cg
Go fly

Any .60 size main gear and tail wheel assembly will work