Replacing tricycle with aluminimum strip
 

Folks,
I plan on converting my coat hanger/wire based landing gear to the U shaped aluminimum strip style gear (see ... http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...5&I=LXCFR8&P=K)

I believe that I have to drill holes in the strip and mount to the underside of the plane where the wire gear currently resides.

Seems easy enough. Is there anything I should watch out for? Any gotchas or experience in this area?

Neil

RE: Replacing tricycle with aluminimum strip
 

You pretty much have right.

I would check and see what the original gear fastens into. Chances are you will need to add additional material and/or replace what is presently there. I use REGULAR plywood (not lite ply) and epoxy a piece inside the fuselage along with some BASSWOOD triangle stock from the ply to the fuselage sides for additional reenforcement. After this is installed and dry you can drill your holes in the LG and ply. There are 2 ways to fasten the bolts in place. Either use blind nuts or tap (thread) the ply itself. I also suggest using nylon bolts for attaching the gear. Depending on the size/weight of the plane, 3/16" - 1/4" thick ply is all you need.

If you want to convert to a tail dragger, epoxy the plywood in place in the fuselage so that THE AXLES of the LG are even (or slightly forward ) of the main wing's leading edge. I also highly recomment using a Sullivan tailwheel assembly.

In either case, DO NOT FORGET TO REBALANCE THE PLANE.

RE: Replacing tricycle with aluminimum strip
 

Neil,
Campy is right, I did the exact same thing on a Skyraider Mach 2 and after 10 landings it ripped right out. The wire gear absorbes fore and aft shock while the flat gear doesn't. I replaced the balsa from the firewall to the wing with ply and haven't had any problems since.
JOhn