RoboStruts for a 40 sized? Is it worth it?
 

Hi guys,

I've been into this wonderful hobby for about 4 months, started with a "World Models Super Frontier 40" with a "OS .40 LA", which i used to fly almost every day (used more glow fuel on the plane than gasoline for my car LOL)

If you've never seen this plane you can check it out [link=http://theworldmodels.com/para/products/airplanedetails.php?airplaneid=48]HERE[/link]

It's a very good plane, stable and slow as a turtle on valium, went solo after 3 flights, plenty of dihedral so i had to move the CG and the elevator throw for inverted flight, but got it right :D

My instructor said i was ready for something else, so i followed his advice and got a "World Models T-34 Mentor 40" with a Super Tigre .61 Engine, flies very nice and fast, hovers, inverted, does anything... the funny part comes when it's time to land.

The main gear is very stiff, and it's 90º from the wing so it doesn't damp at all, and puts a lot of stress on the wing joint.

I was thinking about using some 380 Series RoboStruts to make things a little smoother on landings (ALWAYS windy here, with unpredictable gusts), but they are too long, not to mention the nose gear.

I've been reading the specs and you can cut about 2 inches (at most)to make them shorter, but they'd be still too long and i don't want my plane to look like a jiraffe, besides my guess is that a too long landing gear will make the plane unstable on the ground because de CG is too far away from it (the ground).

I think ground clearance (including 2 1/2 wheels) should be 4-5 inches

Suggestions? Comments? Replacements? What would you do? [&:]

Thanks [8D]

RE: RoboStruts for a 40 sized? Is it worth it?
 

I don't think they would be worth the money on a smaller plane like you have. I've used them on larger planes with good results. For what it would cost for tyhe set you could almost buy another ARF. Good Luck. Mike

RE: RoboStruts for a 40 sized? Is it worth it?
 

I flew a WM SS 40, basically the same plane as your T-34 and the same landing gear setup. I planted a couple so hard the gear bent all the way back and the wheels rubbed teh alierons. You won't have any stress issues with that plane, the way teh gear is setup.

A .61! Mine has (had) unlimited vertical with a .46!

Andy

RE: RoboStruts for a 40 sized? Is it worth it?
 

Thanks for your responses Mike and Andy, they are plenty of help ;)

I got a .61 because i like to have one plane at a time, and i wanted an engine that was big enough to use in a bigger/faster plane in the future, like a Patriot XL or something like that

I'll heat the wires and bend them just a LITTLE back so they are not so straight to have better damping and see what happens :)

What would be your suggestion on a plane suitable for a .60?

Thanks

RE: RoboStruts for a 40 sized? Is it worth it?
 

Most planes I've used the Robo-struts on are in the 14 to 18 lb. range. I've found the springs to be rather hard so I've clipped a coil or 2 off to soften them up. You would have to play with them to see how they would work for the 61 size. I still think that they are rather pricey for a plane that small. Mike