RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

My box said retracts installed too.

That seems like English to me! Nothing about Option.
I knew it was a translation error.

opjose, I guess your two were different!

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Hey Hapjac2
I see that you fly at Markham Park out in West Ft. Lauderdale. Nice field! I used to fly there back in the 1980's. I sure do miss the place. I got a lot of good memorys from there.
Jim

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

sbrackets...If you receive the retract ready version and order the Robart 520w1 they drop right in no problem you will need to get four wood screws for each. You will have to bend the 5/32 wire for each one. I bought struts for my retracts instead. I will post pics maybe tonight or tomorrow.

I'm in the home stretch of my build.

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Thanks HeliTB
I'll look at the Robart retracts you mentioned, I would like to find a set of retracts that will drop right in. And yes I did purchase the retract ready version.
I look forward to seeing photos of your setup.

Thanks a bunch, Jim

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Not only did my box say retracts included, my instructions were for the retract version also with fuse and one wing precut. They gave a mixture of parts in mine so it is fun. The good feature is the second wing even though not cut out lets you make out the section for the retract to fit so no measuring and hoping for it.By the way..best price i found for the robarts was at tower hobbies for 144.00 and are in stock. Any better prices let me know...always looking for a bargain.

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Hey Bobo92
When did you order your Bobcat? Just wondering about the mixed part thing! Mine arrives today, I'll give ya a report on what I find in my box.
This is getting interesting.

Jim

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Hi Jim
I actually had mine since March and have just gotten started on it.I had contacted Nitro but the technician sent me here to the forum instead of working with me. I got a answer to do this after trying to contact them several times. If anyone uses the phone for help , have a book handy. I was on hold in the number 2 spot for two hours and when my turn came the phone disconnected. Was glad I have unlimited long distance....lol. I believe I may have gotten a kit that was released as the second series came out and only received part of the upgrades. Not sure if that makes sense or not but have seen some switch over nightmares in the past. One more intersting thing is I received a clear canopy instead of the red one

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Ok! I have received my Gray/Orange Bobcat. First look, is as it should be. The nose gear plywood has been installed and the fiberglass is open where the gear wire and wheel will retract into the plastic wheel well.

As for the mains, I can see through the wing covering on the bottom side where the cut outs are for the retracts, so I believe that the mounting plywood support rails for the retracts are in place. Won't really know for sure untill I open up the wing skin covering.
I have a few wrinkles in the wing covering but it's not to bad and that is exspected.

The fuselage is beautiful, Hmmmm!! the smell of fresh fiberglass :) Yeah I'm pretty happy with this ARF so far as it looks out of the box. I am hoping that the build will go smooth. Will be installing a NEW Evolution .52 since I already have that, It was going into my Hanger 9 F-22 Raptor, but now it has a new home.
Will update with photos when I start my build.

Regards, Jim

P.S My canopy is RED!!

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

sbrackets...That's how mine looked out the box until I removed the orange/black (see pics above post #3277). I have one issue, but it's not a NitroP problem. I'm trying to fit struts instead of 5/32 wire. The mains are fine but the nose strut it the problem since it's pull-pull.

Does anybody have any suggestions? The pull-pull control arm hits the rail since I can't slide it down the strut. The strut is twice the size of 5/32. That's my issue. I know someone did this.

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

I understand what you mean about the push/pull nose gear. I've been wondering about that myself. Looks like Spring Air retracts are the way to go as they don't use a push/pull system on there gear. I believe a firewall retract mount is best suited for this model Prop-Jet.
Please view post # 1686, Page 68 here in this forum. There are photos of a Bobcat with a Firewall mount retract installed. This model retract will provide a better sterring method then the Robarts model Push/pull system as the Spring/Air sterring controls are internal to the fuselage.

View the Spring/Air web site for model 101- Firewall mount $149.00

http://www.retracts.com/Retrax_100.htm

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Here's are pics of my issue with the front/noser gear retract with strut (2 pics to the left). My main retracts are fine as you can see in the pics (pics to the right).

The issue is the pull-pull control arms can't go any further down the strut to clear the mounting rails. If you look close you can see the mouting in the pic to the far left.

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

I used the firewall mount on mine with the steering servo on the retract unit.

Refer post # 3249 on page 130. - John.

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Hello Boomerang1
Yes, That arrangment is a good idea to keep the servo close to the retract, I'm still in a pickle trying to figure this all out. I would really like to make use of the mounting rails that are alrady there and I would, but it's still the problem with the steering. I don't want to use the push/pull system. I want to have the steering system like your using.
Looks like I'll hane to cut out the retract mounting rails and the most of one bulkhead and relocate the Wall mount retract to the foward bulkhead to make this all work correctly.

I have added a couple of photos of my Bobcat and my idea of cutting out the center section of the aft retract bulkhead leaving only a plywood ring behind for reinforcement reasons. Then add & glue a piece of 1/4" thick plywood to the forward retract mounting bulkhead and install the firewall retract at this position with the servo attached if one like to do that option.

Anyway that's my plan. I know it seems like it's a lot of work, but this is how it should have been designed from the beginning for steering reasons only.
This is just my 2 cents worth.

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

If you have the access, what I did was laminate ply to the area under the control arms and then hollow grind the mount away for clearance. Hopefully the pictures are clearer than my description :). This was a mockup I did before to make sure the idea worked before butchering the gear mounts in the airframe.

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Hello Ramflyer
Thanks for offering your ideas. I guess the bottom line is, theres no easy way to install a good steerable nose gear on this bird without a good deal of work in front of you :(
All I know is that you better a your Dremel tool ready!

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Ramflyer...That's what I did in a sense. I used my dremel and made a trench for the steering arm to recess into. Worked out well.

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Okay I have a question or poll if you will. What are you guys doing for the engine?

Are you putting about 5 degrees tilt in it to compensate for the pitch up?

Or

Are you using trim to fix that?

Reason I'm asking is if I tilt the front of the engine (tilt the prop side down). I will need longer screws for the back two screws of the engine.

RamFlyer...What kind of retracts are those?

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

YES!! We flew ours without the downthrust at first. Takes a lot more runway to get it off the ground. With the downthrust, you will cut your runway usage by 1/2 to 2/3. It flys much better with the downthrust.

Take a look at a BVM BobCat or KingCat witht the turbine.... they both have a good bit of down in them.

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

sbrackets, the guy that originally built mine used the servo mounted on the retract because he made the noseleg retract forwards so a pull/pull setup would have made the cables go tight, not loose when the wheel retracted.

I notice on yours the wheel retracts back so a pull/pull system would work fine. I did what HeliTB suggested on my other jet, dremmelled out a trough for the retracted steering arm. - John.

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

I really am not familiar with how the Push/Pull cable system works. I have always use a 2-56 control rod for steering in the past. I understand how it works, but I don't have any experience with them. Just wondering about all that loose cable getting knotted up on something inside the fuselage during flight.

Do you guys believe that I'll be OK if I order the retracts with the push/pull system for the nose gear? Rather then going through all the trouble of a firewall type like I was planning? I really hate to make this build more difficult then at has to be.
Your advise would be greatly appreciated.


P.S I would really HELP! if someone would post photos of their Push/Pull nose retract with the cables in place with the gear up, and the gear down so that I could view the cable arrangement.

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

sbrackets...Your request has been answered, LOL.

Follow this link to another RCU forum with a nice pic of the Robart 520w1 steering setup. Post #14

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_58...tm.htm#5826610

Here's another link as well.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_60..._1/key_/tm.htm

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Mine was first flown with the engine parallel to the mounting blocks. At high throttle the airplane required down elevator. Added a washer (3/64” approx.) under the rearmost engine mounting holes. Airplane flew much better and with less down elevator. But yes I also needed to shim for case clearance. Later I also shimmed the rear of the boom mounts up but have not tested again.

Bill

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Has anyone attempted to put an electric motor for power in one of these? Thanks

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Are most of you guys using rail mounted nose gear or firewall? With rail mounted gear, are you leaving the rails in the stock position or recessing them deeper into the fuse so the wheel will fully retract?

Thanks!

Tumbler

RE: Nitro models pusher Bobcat?
 

Tumbler...Mine is rail mounted and no I did't sand or dremel the rail mount to get the front wheel to disappear. With my struts I would have to take a considerable amount of wood then having to add wood on the back side of the rail to ensure it can handle the landings. If I don't like the way it looks in flgiht I may go thru the hassle and do it.