Hi Robert - I was at your site before, looking for retracts for the Bobcat....was hoping to be able to buy something from you, but maybe next time. I was looking for Robart 520W1's or an equivalent.

Why is it so hard to find these retracts?

Hello, we just updated the site for the 1/8th scale gear.

http://www.ejf.com/index.php?main_pa...roducts_id=435

--RW

Hi Robert,
Are these comparable to the Robart 520W1 set I have on back-order at Tower? My application is for the Nitro Models Bobcat - should end up around 8 pounds, I guess.

They are a few bucks more expensive than the Robarts, but I would certainly be willing to cancel the Tower order and get them from you if you think they will perform equally as well. Another consideration would be parts - would I be able to use the Robart accessories if I needed to....(I'm sorry to ask such a silly question, but these will be my first set of air retracts, and I don't know all the ins and outs of them.) Also - the front gear is rail-mount, correct?

I would also be happy to review them for you if you think they will work for me, and I'd love to give you my business. You've been so helpful on the forums...

Thanks,
Mark

Hello Mark,

Thanks, No problem at all.

Yes, these are comparable and rail mount. very similar dimensions and $20 less without the wheels if you don't need them. send me an e-mail: [email protected]

--RW

Hi Robert,
Just emailed you.
Talk to you soon.

Thanks!
Mark

I flew the maiden flight on my Bobcat today. It was bitter sweet.

I'll describe it. Take off was a bit interesting. I used [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJZE3&P=7]these retracts[/link] so I had to make bushings in order to use music wire. Anyway, the Tower .75 was a bit too rich and on our dirt runway, the nose wheel was bouncing off the ground all the way down the runway which caused a pretty early takeoff but fortunately I had enough speed to keep it in the air. scary but OK. It took about three clicks of aileron and two clicks of up elevator and it was tracking well. About four minutes into the flight the engine died. It was heading away from the runway at the time so I yelled dead stick and tried to make the 135 degree turn to line up with the runway. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough air speed to make the turn. I stalled it and nosed it in from about 20' up. It cracked the fuse in three places. When I got to it I saw that the back of the muffler had fallen off which explains why the engine died. Well now I have to decide whether I want to try and fix the fuse or get another kit. I hate the way gelcote looks after it had been repaired.

Blessings, Terry

You can also use the kite string idea and a small shop vac over the opening you are trying to get the string threaded through. Push the string in and while holding one end, place the shop vac over the other opening and switch it on. It will draw the string through in nothing flat.

Just my two cents worth

Bruce

Being a bit impatient myself... I ordered the Robart set WITHOUT the nose gear from Tower (it's in STOCK!) and then ordered the seperate nose gear ( which is ALSO in stock... why doesn't Tower just combine the two? ).

Unfortunately I paid more for it this way, but I did receive it immediately.

Be careful with the Tower .75 using their remote needle valve. I've had two of the remote needle valve mounts fail in flight sending the needle back through the prop and killing the engine. They must use the cheapest chinese metal for that mount. That airplane is no fun to deadstick, not to mention it destroys my prop and the needle valve is gone for good. I ditched the remote mount and put it right on the carb now.

How did it "fail"?

Did the mount itself break somehow?

yeah the metal just snapped off right where it bolts to the backplate

Your impatient.....(opjose) welcome to my world!
Thats a great idea.......I went and a had a look my self......but cant seem to find the 520W1 Robart set broken down-?
I'm also new to retracts, and alittle worried about buying the wrong ones!
Any chance of the links-

Thankyou!
Ants

Hello I cannot get the page to the link to open, and is this jet really bigger than the Falcon 120?
Thanks Mojo

Were in the UK can I get a Nitro Bobcat?

They look great. I have seen them on our favourite auction site, but unsure if these are the same as the Bobcat on this thread!!!

Thanks

Yeah,....happened twice to me too...
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=5390978

Just wanted to let the other folks know that I *did* in fact purchase the set of retracts from Robert, and will cancel my Tower order today. Robert seems like a great guy, and has a great reputation on the forums, so no hesitation on my part. I should have the gear by Wednesday, so it looks like my Bobcat will fly next weekend! Woo-hoo!

PS. Without the wheels, the price was a few bucks less than the Tower Hobbies price for the back-ordered Robarts, but shipping costed LESS, and he's not going to sit on it for 2 days before shipping either (Tower seems to do this regularly).

I woke up early this morning to go fly and beat the heat, but I'm going to be building instead! I haven't been this excited about a new model, especially an ARF in a LONG TIME!

what prop are you guys using on a 76 size motor???

Rocker

Hi Terry,
OUCH - that sucks man! There have been quite a few guys talking about needle valve troubles with the Tower motor on this thread already...

I have learned (the hard way, like you just did) to not try to "save" money by using off-brand motors. I stick to OS/Saito for aircraft, and Nova/Mega/Rossi for cars. It's just not worth the cost of the model to have an unreliable motor. Same thing with batteries - I always buy NEW battery packs for each new plane, and trash packs that have been in wrecks. Same thing with servos - if you're not 110% sure it's good, throw it away.

Saving $20 or even $100 is not worth it if you trash your model....not to mention the time you put in building it.

Way back when...I built a Balsa USA Enforcer, and decided to "save" some money, and bought on of the "new" K&B motors for it. It was all Aluminum (AAC - not ABC) and it leaned out and shut off on the first flight about 10 feet off the ground. I had peaked it out on the ground, then backed off the needle enough to hear an RPM change (slower) thinking it would unload and speed up in the air....well, it did, but who would have thought that it would lean out that quick with tons of smoke coming out? I had run it 4 tanks on the ground, and thought it was good. Then my buddy flew his, same configuration, and SAME RESULT. Stupidly, we both REBUILT our planes, and did the same damn thing the next time we went out. We thought we were so smart by buying an $80 motor, instead of buying the OS equivalent size motor....so we each saved about $50...but ended up spending a lot more in rebuild, time and frustration, etc.

I'm not saying the Tower motor is bad - in truth I have no experience - but you can spend a bit more, and get the AX55 (people say this moves the plane out pretty well - I'll let you know next week), or if you really need more power, the AX91 is an INCREDIBLE motor, too. My buddy has the 91 on his Seagull Edge 540, and this big plane will hover at about 1/3-1/2 throttle.

Point is, with the OS (just an example), you get what you pay for, and more when you figure in reliability.

I'm sure you can get rid of the motor quite easily on Ebay...

Sorry if I sound like I'm lecturing, but 20 years flying has taught me some valuable lessons, and I'm just trying to pass it on.

I hope the Cat is rebuilt, but thankfully a new one will not cost as much as a car-payment.

Keep us posted...

Mark

Bruce - Shop vac idea is COOL!

The Evaporator is the proper name....Great Idea....
Enjoy!!!
Mojo

Here's the link again for the retract set I picked up:
http://www.ejf.com/index.php?main_pa...roducts_id=435

I will have them by Wednesday, so I'll take pictures and document the installation.



Has anyone put in gear doors? After dolng the doors for my HET F20, naked gear doesn't look right....do you think not having doors will make a difference?

I wish that they would have made bays for the servos to be installed laying down inside the wing to minimize the drag... I may end up doing that since I have a couple of days to wait for my retracts to come in. I hate looking at the servos sticking out on the bottom....



Finally - and sorry I'm so long-winded this morning - I guess I'm excited...

In regards to the plastic mounting bolts for the tail boom - do you think they did this so it will break-away easily in the case of a crash or bad landing? I use plastic bolts to hold the gear on with my Staudacher - 8/32, and I actually cut into them right under the head a little bit (1/8") so they'll break off cleanly in case of a bad landing. I'm POSTIVE this has saved the fuselage from getting torn apart several times now over the years. When they break off, you can use an exacto knife in the tops to turn them out like a screwdriver.

I think I will stay with the plastic bolts here - although I have no problem replacing them with longer ones if necessary.

OK, no more coffee!
I'll try to post pics later this afternoon if the family doesn't drag me out somewhere..

Cya!
Mark

It's called the Evaporator... Great Idea....
Mojo

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the encouragement. I will look plane over again today to see how much damage there really is and then decide whether or not to fix it. I know I will never be able to repair the gelcote satisfactorily in looks but if I can get everything working properly I may do that so that I can get some flights in on it. I'll have to take responsibility the the engine failure. I have read many places that the the Tower mufflers have a problem with coming loose and I forgot to do something about that before I flew it. I also read a few posts about how these pusher designs will tend to run a bit richer in motion than a tractor design due to the motor being behind the fuel tank rather than ahead of it. I glued the wings on so replacing just the fuse is out. I will have to live with the looks if I decide to fix this one. Like you said, a replacement kit is fairly cheap so I may get this one flying so I can tell if I want to go through another build. I didn't fly this one enough to know if I would enjoy it enough.

I will check around, but I doubt the AX55 will fly this plane like the Tower 75 will.

Blessings, Terry

Hi Terry,
I'm REALLY hoping that the AX55 puts out as much as the Tower 75. Since we're limited on prop size, I'm hoping to make up for the difference in RPMs...

But I can always find a home for it if it's not going to cut it.

Thanks,
Mark

For you guys that mounted a single servo in the stab, can you tell me how you mounted the servo UNDER the cover? Did you glue in some balsa sheet and just glue/tape in the servo or did you add rails and mount with a screw? Anyway, a picture is worth a thousand words.

I have either a HS 125MG, or a Futaba standard servo (s3004) to drop in. What do you guys suggest?

Thanks,
Mark