They look like Robart Knock offs

My first wife was one who felt that a high price for an item at an expensive store meant that it was much better than a lower price item at KMart - even though they were identical, including the manufacturer. There are still a great many Americans who think that Chevy's are American made and therefore worth more than real American made Hondas.
Rememer, if you watch TV it ain't US made! In fact my brand new Bowflex Treadclimber has a Made in China stamp on it ;&lt

You used the word Cheap instead of I think Poor Quality. Cheap means inexpensive.

Interesting how we have been conditioned

I just got the same ones from Todd last week. I decided that on my first jet, I would bypass the mess and effort of air on retracts. Yes, not inexpensive, but absolutely the best machine work and strength I have seen in model retracts. Yes I know the retracts mentioned are not intended for the same use.

We have a flying buddy who is always looking for a "bargain" and has bought from some outfits stating great products at great prices. We love the guy, but poor fella, he spends the vast majority of his time fiddling with stuff trying to make chicken salad out of chicken s#$t. The rest of us spend most of our time flying or jawing with each other.
He has been in the hobby a long time, and does reasonable builds, but skimps on servos, rx's and engines. He is always having equipment failures, and crashed planes when he does get in the air.

I agree that some RC stuff could be well made and be less expensive than it is. At the same time, I have a big Hawker Hurricane from a popular mfg, that came with retracts.
Price seemed ok. Flies so-so, but retracts are crap. Less expensive hardware has bitten me a couple of times in my 30 some odd years in the hobby. For this 1st jet, I didnt want to play around trying to save a dollar or 3, and got retracts and struts from Todd, practically a guarantee of success with minimal headache, and assured support.

If wide use of the retracts in this article prove them to stand up and be somewhat trouble free, I MAY even try them. Many engines from a certain country have been mostly short lived, poor performing, junk. This issue has changed a bit with DLE for example. Decent engine at decent price. Retracts may follow suit. Competition is great for our hobby. We would all love to get reasonable quality for less than most of us pay. In my experience, going for quality rather than price frequently ends up being less expensive.

Just my long winded 80 cents worth....

Chad,

That's because companies like Walmart have brainwashed a nation into thinking this way.

I'm with you, landing gear is not the place to go cheap.

PaulD

Remember when we all thought Japanese cars were junk when they first came out? Remember all that plastic crap we used to get from Japan in the 50's? Quality wasn't there, but the Japanese learn the hard way and they eventually adjusted rather well. The same is going on with China only on an much larger scale.

I have often wondered if anyone has tried these on a bird about the size of a Rookie. They look pretty hefty.


http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idproduct=7999

I have this set. It's strong as any other name brand, just as good, and less than half the price. To me, they look identical in sizeto the red ones that started this topic.

Regardless, they are just as good as Spring Air retracts ... Actually, they are better. Laugh if you want, but if I didn't tell you, you would never know. They operate perfectly every time. No leaks either!

I have some too, they are great value for money .

Hello Bobby. Sometime when you get a chance, could you measure the hole distances on the retracts and PM me? that would help me out a great deal. Thanks Roy

Aside for the non-scale appearance of the struts, they still look pretty good and saved me over $500 if I were to have bought scale looking struts. I enjoy flying my planes and jets most of all.

I'm not into mimiking the scale look. Besides, we are not fooling anybody by trying to make our toys look like the full scale counterparts. We all still know they aren't the real thing. And, from 50 to 100 feet away, you couldn't tell these struts apart from the $500 scale looking struts.

But if you really wanted to be critical, those "scale looking" struts that people pay $500~$1100 for really don't look true to scale. But to each their own.

Hole distance from center to centeralong the same side of the bracket is: 37mm
Hole distance center to center from one side to the other (crossing over the pinion) is; 43mm

Base platemeasures; 55mm x 55mm

Depth of retract is 35mm
Total length is 114mm

Nosegear and main gear brackets have same measurements.

The retracts also have a locked position for up and down!

Can you confirm if they accept 1/2" struts

Bobby, thanks loads man. Big help. They don't look like a bad retract at all if the sides ain't made of 3003 alum. Ha. Ha.

If they are at least 6061 and will hold a 1/2" strut, not a bad deal at all. Retrofitting air retracts with electric actuators isnt inexpensive yet, and perhaps these folks will create a decent electric version. The electric setup I just got is VERY nice machined from 7075. Just would like to have a less expensive electric setup for the next project. Perhaps if electrics for say 25LB and up become more common, prices will come down.

Who is Todd?

Dreamworks Models


http://dreamworksrc.com/catalog/boom...xe-p-1307.html

Don't piss him off !

Did you read the reviews on the HK site? First one says he put it on a 15 pound aircraft.

be American , Buy American lol you should check out robarts new thing coming on line soon. electric retracts plus you can update a lot of the older stuff. it looks like a good thing. At least you can call someone if you have a problem . just my 2 cents WHEN YOU PAY LITTLE ,YOU GET LITTLE

My $300 airplane doesn't hit the ground any harder than your $5000 airplane - it just hurts less when it hits. And I've seen plenty of $5000 airplanes crash because batteries blow up, gasoline engine fires, wheels come off the strut, and throttle stick wide open.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Do you watch TV? Do you listen to a radio? Are you sure that computer your using has only American parts?

THAT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T MAKE ANYTHING HERE ANY MORE !! AS FAR AS 'PUTER PARTS GOES.OPEN YOUR FREAKING EYES JERKY ROFL !

You know i remember when i first got in this hobby my instructor told me if you cant afford to buy good equipment that is proven and safe then you have chosen the wrong hobby  , so many times we chose a cheap product and when it fails we get mad , well if you can't afford to buy the good proven parts and equipment that is your choice and you will pay the price of a plane or other damage , the choice is yours , but as for me i shall purchase tested and proven products  , confidence has no price you either afford it or you buy garbage !!!!!!!!!