ticketec

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For an ESM Dora thread we seem to have gotten Way off track......

thanks

dave

70 ragtop

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YUP

Thought I would share a cheaper option for retracts. I really love the look of the Sierra gear, but just a little too much for me to justify...just a tight axx I guess

Didn't want to spend $450 on the ESM gear either, and actually looked to sell this plane because of gear costs. Started looking at the Robart 150 series, and wondered if they could be modified to fit. I know these gear are almost as much money, but they have been out a long time, and there are really good deals all the time. I got set out of a P-47, a UP3 valve, three tanks , and a U.P. valve for $145. Just saw another set on RCG a couple days ago for $150, so they can be had for cheap $
Will post a few pix for ideas..
.

deadstick79

Just ordered a set of ESM elec. retracts from VQ!
Motor is on backorder but I'll have plenty to do in the mean time!

70 ragtop

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Couple more pix installed. This is a work in process, plan to add gear door mount points, some more cleanup and paint, but they are getting there

70 ragtop

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Couple more showing retracting motion with side plate removed

70 ragtop

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Couple more showing different parts. The stock Robart is to tall to fit in the wing, so needed to compress things to make unit shorter. Also, since the strut is much longer, and heavier, needed to give the cylinder arm a little more leverage. Welds are ugly, yeah I know, they are numerous "spot" or stich type welds so I would not blow thru. Tig is how these should be welded, gas is second, mig is last...but that is what I had, soooo.

Robart uses standard 4130 steel tubing. Can get small quantities for the aircraft supplies houses. I ended up googling "4130 tubing" and found several places to buy. Ended up with way too much tubing, but it only cost $40 shipped. I used a thicker wall tubing on the struts, and had the local tech school open up the bottom to match the original strut ID. No special tools needed, vice, drummel hacksaw and welder. Can have local welding shop weld these for you. Made a small wood jig to hold them in place when welding. easy enough to set them up and take to welder, probably charge $20

For a weekend flier, and at 10 feet away, I think they are going to work out just fine.

Not knocking the Seirras, I think they are awesome, just sharing an idea!

Dowmer

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Hey Frank, good to hear from you mate. I've had quite a bit of change moving from Bangkok to middle America. Better flying here . I started my D9. It is a build thread like the ESM A8 one on RC Scale Builder. Adding mods like a cockpit kit, working cowl flaps, new gun hood like you did etc. I'll eventually tear it flown and fill the empty wing bays and glass and detail later but for right now I just want to finish these upgrades and get it flying. Here's the thread if you or anyone wants to follow.

http://www.rcscalebuilder.com/forum/...256&PN=1&TPN=1

Cheers and Happy Holidays,
Jason

thunder21

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Nice work 70 ragtop!

Damn this weather has got me in the grounded blues. I'm sadly relegated to watching videos... Argh!!!

http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~markt/FW-190-D9_Idle.mov

HoundDog

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Just as many if not more "LECTRICS" Crash as any other form of propulsion. I've seen ESC Burn up in Flight Lypos go bad, and props come off. Any meriod of catrasterfies befall every form of model aviation. I wory mush more of running a battery down too far than having a dead stick in any of my Glo or Gassers. One advantage to getting older U don't fly out where U can't make it to the field in the event of a power failure, Eye Sight and all.

oliveDrab

deleted off-topic rant about HoundDog's atrocious spelling and ignorant attitudes.

70 ragtop

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Thanks
I hear ya, winter arrived with a vengeance a little early this year.... its going to be a white Christmas. More time to mess around in the shop

vertical grimmace

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Check under the Pro link and Airpower tabs for some good looking retract options. I love this site for accessories as well. The Jet guys have all the goodies. I am using an electronic valve on my little 190 D and it is really cool.
http://www.dreamworksrc.com/catalog/Landing-Gear

70 ragtop

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One of my favorite sites, make regular deposts there. Tam Jets is another good one. They have some pretty cool items

deadstick79

Just a heads up!
VQ no longer is offering the ESM electric retracts! I tried to buy a pair via paypal and they refunded my money and said they're no longer offering them, just the Sierra's
Dan

oliveDrab

Good. I bought a pair of the V2's for my ESM Bearcat - finally upgraded to V3 - but they're sitting unused in a box and that's where they'll stay. The Sierra's are rock-solid reliable. Anybody want to buy a pair of ESM electric retracts? I don't want 'em.

deadstick79

are they for the Dora?

oliveDrab

They're for the Bearcat.

deadstick79

Well, I just ordered the Sierra retracts with the Robart hand pump and Robart Deluxe Air Kit!
Am doing the aileron and flap installs now! I'm using the HD 1501 analog servos.
I'm quite impressed with the quality of this ARF so far!
I will be adding gorilla glue at all the wood joints that I can get at though just to ease my mind!
I really like the hardware set up for the "control horns" for the aileron and flaps
Dan

kwik

I am sure that will be a success.

After a few years in the hobby, I have learned two tricks from scale warbird-friends that ensure faultless usage when using air systems.

- Use these on all couplings;
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXET33&P=7

Just put a system under 100 psi pressure under water with, and without these, and you understand.

- Fill the system up a bit with silicone spray.

-Make sure you do not distort the gear mechanically when tightening the gear mounting screws.

That is about it, regarding the secrets behind faultless operation of air-systems, that I know about.

Allways interested in more tricks of the trade, though.

With electrics, there are other challenges, and some of them simply cannot be fixed by the builder himself.

Often it ends up with waiting for yet another upgrade......

vertical grimmace

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A good move here would be to fiberglass the sheeting around the gear mounts, and possibly even wrap it around them if possible. This is a weak area. Trouble is, being an ARF, you will have to remove the covering in this area. It seems though, the coving will be coming off eventually anyway, unless you nail your landing everytime, which seems to be something else some seem to have trouble with on this design.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

[QUO I just ordered the Sierra retracts with the Robart hand pump and Robart Deluxe Air Kit!
Don't they make an electric conversion for those retracts?

Dowmer

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I don't think so. You can send them to vendors such as "Down and Locked" but after the price of the Sierra and conversion by D&L total cost is about $1000. Pretty steep and almost twice the cost of the plane.

Jason

vertical grimmace

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Seems like the air work just fine on the Sierra's. Why not just stick with that? Also, the hand pump is not really enough for the large tanks. You may want to start looking for a small, electric one. I got mine at Harbour freight. Not sure if they still sell them or not. Trust me, you will want one! Your hand pump is a good tool for testing stuff in the shop though.

kwik

+1

Katniss

Harbour freight sells two electric air pumps. one yellow cheapo at about $13 and a better metal one with rubber feet for around $25. My advice would be get the $25 unit as it will last.
I removed whatever was on the end of the power line with a battery plug for accepting a 3s Lipo. Works like a treat as it's a 12v air pump.