Flying Scotsman

Ok, this is for an ARF but no matter because I redeemed myself by buying a Sig SE kit last weekend

I have NO experience with retracts and my H-9 P51 comes with servo activated retracts but I plan to change these out with something from Robart. However I can't decide on whether to install pneumatic or servo activated and was hoping to read your comments on the pros and cons of each?

Many Thanks
Flying Scotsman

Razor-RCU

My Feedback: (50)

Just look at what all the "studs" in this hobby use... Spring Air Rhom Air even Robart!

Sturdy, easier to hook-up, and more aesthetically pleasing!

james

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

Ill vote for spring airs!

Jafrh

My Feedback: (1)

I'd also go with Spring Air.

There web site is Retracts.com.

If you call them ask for Bill or Bob.

mucksmear

I've had good luck with mechanicals. simple, reliable, no leaks, easy to install. Biggest con imo is if for some reason, the gear get stalled (eg. bend a strut on takeoff), you could be stalling the servo to depending on how you've set it up

Sorry, no experience with pnematics, but others here obviously have! As some would say, six of one, or half a dozen of the other.


cheers,
-E

PHILLCO

My Feedback: (6)

MY VOTE IS FOR SPRING AIR. IF FOR SOME REASON YOU LOSE AIR PRESSURE THE POP DOWN AND LOCK. I LIKE THAT FEATURE.

djlyon

I use the much maligned Hobbico retracks and they work just fine for me. Low maintenance and cheap.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

The Retracts that I use are mechanical ones that I designed and machined back in my days as a CAD/CAM designer for a Govt. machine shop. They are basically the same as most of the commercial jobs, but I use 3/16 wire, and they have the added feature of an internal over-center spring which makes them move effortlessly and therefore work easily with a standard servo.

But, I didn't like the non-scale appearence of the standard servo (FLIP, they're up and FLIP, they're down) so I invested about $55 for a 180 degree retract servo. I don't even bother with the over-center spring anymore, and I just love how they go up and down so smoothly! And unlike the pnumatics, I can use them as many times as I like per flight, and they NEVER leak air!

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

FWIW, on a 10X you can slow down a servo to any speed you like, so on a retract servo you can get the speed you like

MMallory

My Feedback: (1)

Spring Air has mechanical retracts as well. Give them a call.

Mark M.

HarryC

My Feedback: (1)

Oh no you can't! Retract servos are wired to behave like a 2 position switch, they are not proportional, they don't recognise any position between the 2 end points. They go full speed from one end to the other and that's it. You can't even do travel/end point adjustment. I have heard a rumour that Airtronics do a proportional retract servo which is therefore adjustable. For my Warhawk mechanical twist and turns I used a jumbo 7kgcm torque servo, which with my Multiplex transmitter servo speed control allowed me to have retracts that operated over several seconds, it does look awesome.

Harry

bgi

My Feedback: (7)

Spring air.

Rex

My Feedback: (18)

I have one of the Airtronics 94739Z Contest Proportional Retract Servos that allows you to slow it down with a 10X, Stylus, and possibly the 9Zs. I've never used it, but did play with it a bit before I got rid of my 10X. It works well. You can even set the endpoints, greatly simplifying mechanical retract setup. The cool part was how slowly, smoothly and realistically the 10X would move the retracts. I'll never use it, if anyone's interested, I'll sell it for $50 shipped. They are $69.99 street price. It has the new "Z connector", meaning it is compatible with JR/Futaba, and newer Airtronics receivers.