Landing Gear
 

Hello all,

Im really coming along with my model West wings pinto.

http://www.westwings.co.uk/pinto.htm

How ever im thinking putting some landing gear on, can any one point me in the right direction to buy something suitable online or even give me some tips on building my own. Also in the long term do you think this plane can be converted to gas?


Thanks,

Joseph

RE: Landing Gear
 

I wouldn't. Electrics don't have much extra power. the added weight and drag of LG just might spoil it's flight charateristics. And while it COULD be converted to glow fuel, it would be much easier to do it from the start so the modification could be done during the building process.

RE: Landing Gear
 

I agree with the previous expert.
If you must use gear, Great Planes sells super lite black foam wheels for electrics. Most hobby shops will sell 1/16" music wire to bend your own gear. Then you rig spruce grooved blocks to mount in the wings.

RE: Landing Gear
 

Thanks for the replies guys, i know your right i suppose i just dont want to risk a "belly" landing on something im working so hard to build. If its a no go, does anyone have any tips for minimal damage landings ;)

Joseph

RE: Landing Gear
 

Those little plnaes are so light, I doubt you would ever get much damage from belly landing it anyway, since it also has a plastic prop.
To belly land, just come in with low power and keep the nose up a little, but not too much to stall which could cause you to end over hte plane, and just plop it down as slow as you can go on grass. Key word "GRASS"", not pavement, or dirt. A short cut grass area to land would be just fine for this little guy.
Just remember, kill the power as soon as you touch down.

Patriot

RE: Landing Gear
 

On my Lanier Shrike and the 1/2A planes, I use two strips of 3/4" wide double stick foam tape and a piece of .030 clear butyrate plastic as a belly skid plate about 6" long and the width of the fuselage. The foam tape absorbs some of the shock.

RE: Landing Gear
 

Thanks,

I really like the idea of a skid plate. By the way heres a pic of my progress, im getting itchy flying fingers now.