Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

Well after trying to repair my nose gear on my alpha i have had little success. I am starting to conside a tail drager as another option. I have seen another persons alpha at the field that has been converted to a taildrager but it was a while ago. I have seen some that attach to the rudder to help steering but the rudder on the alpha is not near the bottom. can i still just buy a tail kit and attach it to the bottom? will i still be able to steer while taxing? anybody who has converted there alpha to a tail drage could you please post what you've done. any help is much appreciated!

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

Sounds interesting. The tailwheel steering fix will be a challenge. Are you using the Alpha .40 or .60

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

.40


so i'm guessing it has to be able to steer right?

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

yeah unless you want to walk it out to the ruway and hope that it tracks straight. I have seen people do that but it seems kinda dangerous because it could head for the pits and theres nothing you can do but watch. Ill think and play around with my plane and see if I can make it work as a taildragger.

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

you have an alpha as well?

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

yep its been a lot of fun but im ready tomove on to something a little more 3D

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

I think the Alpha's tail section is designed much like the LT40, with the vertical stab and rudder on top of the fuse. In that case, the best way to convert to a steerable tailwheel is to run another pushrod, or a pull-pull system off the rudder servo, to the tailwheel. This eliminates having to rig up a way to connect the tailwheel directly to the rudder itself.

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

Thats what I was thinkin about. I gotta go ill try these ideas and tell you tomorrow
c ya

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

Just completed my LT-40 taildragger conversion tonight. Had to leave it at friends house for all the epoxy to cure, so pics wont be avail till tomorrow, but there will be some!

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

that sounds a little complicated....

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

No, it's not complicated at all. It's easier than trying to rig a way to connect the tailwheel directly to the rudder.

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

Well I went home and found out that I had the parts laying around so I decided to do my own conversion. I have some Pics of my plane with the parts in place for a dry fit. I know I have to glue my voltwatch back on the side.

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

another

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

i see you had to move the main gear up a bit...did you renforce the area where it will screw on?

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

yea, I also got a new idea on steering. Here it is

EDIT: Sratch that idea

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

I've converted two alphas to TD. Glue some thin firewall-type plywood under the fuel tank where the gear screws to and run another push rod to a steerable tail wheel. It makes the plane a lot nicer.

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

I think im going to run a pushrod like you said but in those pics above, does my gear look far enought forward or not?
Thanks

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

It looks close, but I'd mount them so the main wheels sit below the leading edge of the wing. If you mount the gear just forward of that former (or bulkhead) you'll be fine.

Adding a pushrod to the tailwheel isn't very hard. You might get away with a "castering" tail wheel (no control), because prop wash over the rudder can sometimes be enough, but I'd recommend the rod.
Dennis-

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

Your mains should be mounted so that when the plane is sitting in it's three point attitude (tail down) the mains are just in front of the leading edge of the wing. Whe the plane is sitting up on the mains, they should be under the leading edge. As long as you've got them pretty close to this position, they'll be fine.

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

Today I am going to mount the main gear if I can find a Hobby shop or craft store open so I can get some lite ply to mount between the fuseand gear.

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

Here are two pics of my recent LT-40 conversion. Used a nyrod and came out the bottom of the fuse, and epoxy'ed it into place.

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

looks good. I am going to try to run a pushrod.

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

i dont see how you could use a pushrod connected to your rudder for steering the tailwheel....wouldn't they move in oposite directions when you turn?

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/upfi...88/Yt61513.jpg

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

its hard for me to explain but I think if you put the control horns opposite to each other then they will move the same direction

RE: Converting my alpha to a tail drager?
 

When you hook up the pushrod to your rudder servo, make sure you put it in the innermost hole of the servo arm and the outermost hole of the tailwheel arm. Otherwise you will have massive amounts of steering travel in your tailwheel, and you will be "chasing" the plane all over the runway.
This is lots of fun for the spectators, but it sucks for the pilot!:D