Does anybody had any experience whit the retracts set from composite-arf for kangaroos/Rookie? I've already order ones with my Roo, it's suppose to arrive tonight. I ordered because comes with struts, wheels and brakes. I can not wait too pick-up my shipment. Thanks

I just bought a Roo & the gear from all composite about a month ago.I am quite pleased with the plane & the gear package from them.I have since installed the gear/brakes and cycled them 3 times.They work flawlessly,only thing I had to do was drill out the wheel bushings a little to accept the axles.Two friends of mine also bought the roo gear arent happy with theirs & have since sent them back.Like everything else in this hobby you are gonna see ups & downs with everything and what is good quality in ones eyes wont be in the next.I myself personally am happy with the gear package .I must admit I was a little hestitant at first with all the mixed views/hype on them.The most important thing I can reccomend to you on the all composite Roo is to install 2 blind nuts on each wing for retainment to the fuse.With only one as guidelined in the manual ,mine had way too much slop in the vertical,it was too wobbly with just one.It really needs one in front & back.I also countersunk some holes in the verticals & permanently screwed mine in to eliminate all the slop & make installation at the field far easier/quicker.Good luck!

regards Steve

Steve,
Lets see how happy you are with the gear after 10 flights! They may look good and function up and down but until you have flight tested them I would hold off on the praise. Not saying they are bad, you just dont know if they are any good yet .
Springair make great gear but they dont hold up in the roo due to the side loads applied to the frames, these are things you dont find until you have flight tested them!

Just my .02
Todd

Todd

I know the proof" is in the pudding" after its actually flight tested.Just so far so good & keeping the ole fingers crossed that they do the job

whatcha been up too todd othen than working your butt off?I am currently doing some work here & there on my BVM F86(getting the skyblazers paint job touched up & everything back in it)Now I need to get back on the Starfire-joey's rocket has inspired me!! I have been enjoying my Viper so far-what a great flying jet -and joey thought he was the fastest fan at fentress till now-I think I may have him -LOL

later on man-Steve

I can tell you my buddy has flight tested the composite arf gear and its as stong as "pudding" First flight resulted in a bent nose strut on a less than perfect landing , no problem just bent it back cause it that soft. Second flight was ok, third flight was a smooth landing but the weld on the sissor link on main gear strut broke and turned the wheel 90 degrees to the left causing the tire to wear a nice flat spot in it. (guess we can still use it , its only flat on the bottom) Robarts now installed in the plane and there are no more issues. By the way the composite arf gear still goes up and down nice!

Steve,

Yes....Working my butt off for sure, things have been crazy with the new Aquascooterusa site up and running, business has grown over 900% since the site launched . Just getting ready to glass the Facet, trying to get it done asap so I can start writing the review. Hope to test fly it next sunday (if business slows down enough to get it done ). Next on the table is all the armament for the Euro, putting 4 AIM-Sparrows, 2 AIM-Sidewinders, 2 330 Gal wing tanks and some landing lights and strobes on it along with swapping out the P-120 for a P-160. Then it gets a new paint job along with the Bobcat (finally!)
Glad to hear all is well there, time for you to start practicing for your waiver! Remember, these high performance planes require everything to be 100% before you fly, no shortcuts and take your time building them. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call!
Regards,
Todd

FwIW,

After seeing the gear from composite arf, I was not much impressed. Two of my bud's here bought a set and it took parts from each set, to get one set to work. One valve didn't work, the nose strut for the other would not fit in the retract unit. The wheel bushings had to be drilled out because the axles were to large, and the brakes would barely put any friction on the wheels.

And Steve, if you think you viper is faster than my Hunka Junk Starfire, You must be on crack!

Joey

Joey

LMAO we'll see man.Then again I still cant get a true reading cause the gear still wont retract!!See ya this weekend man & bring that "hunka junk"

I am bringing my white junky jet too & its on!!I bet ya a "hotdog combo" from "zaks snack shack" lol


Steve

Hi everyone,
I posted a thread a few weeks ago asking a similar question, for the Eurosport.
Zippo on the replies........................
Reading through this thread (and others) I think I'll go with the robarts.
Ossie

To all those using the Model Mechanics retract systems on the Eurosports and Roo's.
Please dont hesitate to drop us a line with your comments, we will assist with any spares you may need and would appreciate any feedback you guys may have.
You may contact us on [email protected].


Regards and good flying

Grant Salmon
MD
Model Mechanics

You have got mail!

Hi everyone,

The kangaroo arrive!!! It's comes in perfect condition and the retracts look very solid. One friend of mine inspected them and for him they would do the job. He compared them with the robart's of course they're not robart but he agree to use them in the roo. After finish the building and fly test it, I will let you know how they work.

avicom

HI Todd
Check your PM !
Thanks Charlie

So what's the concensus for retracts? Who makes a set that will handle the loads and fit the bill?

I think you will find Robart the overall first choice.

I would agree with Bill on this one. I bought a set of Robarts for my Rookie after some advise was passed to me from some one with experience with both. I bounced the crud out of the plane before I got the hang of landing delta wing planes. Never a problem with the Robarts, not even a slight bend! Do your self a favor and save the headache.

For my Roo, I decided to go with the retracts from Top Gun (www.tgajets.com). They are supposed to be beefy ..... designed for turbine aircraft. I also ordered their knee-action struts. I am told that the knee-action in these struts will help reduce the bounce on landing that is common on Roo type aircraft. The gear and struts look great in the pictures ....... I ordered them last week and should get them any day now. I will let you all know ... at least how they look.... when I get them Bob