wheels and wheelpants
 

Hi
how do u folks mount ur wheels to the undercarriage and wheel pants.....some pics is nice ...and ...selfmade is also wery intresting !
i know there are some ready made things on the marked ..i have the MK pieces in the house ..but it made for wery narrow wheel!
Rune

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

Rune,

My way of installing the wheel pants is as follows:
Drill a 1/2" hole on the wheel pant for the axle
Drill a hole for 4-40 screw at 3/8" top of the axle hole (and to the landing gear as well)
Reinforce the innerface of the wheel pant and glue a Du-Bro 4-40 blind nut

I believe the attached pictures explain the details.

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

More pictures

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

Rune,

For installing the landing gear, it depends to the type of fuselage you have.
For composite fuses that has a flat bottom and a belly pan, it is as easy as 1-2-3.
Glue a 1/4 air plywood from the inside of the fuselage using epoxy mixed with micro balloons.
I laminate CF cloth to the both faces of the plywood. I recommend glueing plywood reinforcement at the sides of the fuselage. Not required for good quality Carbon-Kevlar fuses like PL Lazulite, ZN Enigma (NBE Mantis Ex as well)
Drill and install blind nuts at the fixing locations. 3 x 6-32 socket head screws recommended for each LG leg.

Hope these help!

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

I TAKE THEES PICTURE FROM THE WEB, ON MY NEXT PLANE I DO LIKE THEES

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

Very informative Nedim, thanks.

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

thanks ....Nedim!
nice pics!

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

you're very welcome
nedim

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

El Tucano, I did that on my smaragd, really strong, but a bit heavier.

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

Rune,

You have to use MK wheels with their axles. Might be a little pricy, but a great combo.

Derek

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

ok Derek...maybe i try to get them...but u still need to look the wheel pants dont u?
Rune

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

I install mine with a 6-32 socket head bolt throught the strut into the pant. I built up the outer edge of the pant and inside with lt ply so the wheel will stay centered in the pant opening. Use a 6-32 blind nut on the inside of the pant and drill a hole through to the outer part of the wheel pant the diameter of the 6-32 bolt. Just run the bolt though and tighten against the strut. I dont even use a locater pin to hold the pant in posistion if the pants are smooth against the strut. They stay in place well and if you do land hard or awkward they will just give a little and a quick twist with the ball driver and they are back in place. Using the Bolly style wheel pants is even better as they have an indent already molded in the pant to fit thier c.f. landing gear struts.

Also shown on Bob Pastorello's website. Bob use an 8-32 bolt that works as well. See it here:

http://www.rcaerobats.net/Wayne'sWheelpants.htm


Smooth FLying.....


Wayne Galligan

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

Wayne,

Have you done this with the Bolly gear and wheelpants combo? Also, is the weight more, less, or comparable to a setup with something like a Du-Bro axle, wheel collars and the set screw? Also, how's the durability flying off a grass field? Thanks alot.

RE: wheels and wheelpants
 

Ryan,


This about as simple and light as I can do it. There may be other axles slightly lighter but not enough to bother with definitley lighter then the Dubro axles. I fly a lot off a grass field and have no problems in grass. Actually I get more rash on pavement then the grass. Have not ruined a set pants or gear to date. You dont have to drill as big of hole in the strut as the Dubro axle. I like this method as it is so simple to remove the wheel and pant and I dont have to fumble around looking for a c-clip or nut. I use the Bolly struts and wheel pants and have used a set of pants that are smooth to the strut. Plenty sturdy as I have not bent an axle to date. The Aries is over two seasons old now and the Entropy has one good season of flying on it and both utilize this method of attaching wheel and pants.

Wayne