carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

I messed up a part of my 1/5 Wildcat gear. I called Robart about a replacement. They said it would be a couple of weeks because it had to be made. I don't think there are more than 50 units in service. By the end of the week I had the part. I know it gets frustrating when you need something but I'm sure they have their hands full with production scheduling, developement and special order items. Personally I have had very good service from Robart. I talked to Darrel at Sierra Precision about Buffalo retracts. His web site stated 5 sets where available. After waiting 6 months, serveral mails and some phone calls I found a NIB set. I think most of the companies are small to very small.

Carl

flyalan

My Feedback: (47)

I wouldn't have minded if they told me last week that it would be a couple of weeks. To tell someone "I have them in my hand" and then change your story makes me wonder.

Spychalla Aircraft

My Feedback: (34)

I've had varied experiences with delivery from Robart. I've been through the runaround on a few and yet on my latest gear for the Wildcat I was lucky to get a set off the shelf in just a few days. As a customer it is depressing to experience a delay, because we want it now. Knowing some of the key players at Robart, Bob, Erick, Gary, and Silvia. You couldn't find a nicer bunch of folks that really have good intentions, yet somehow they've gotten themselves into this ongoing backlog senario. I doubt that there are any easy answers or they would have turned it around by now. I spent some time with Erick in Kansas City at the U.S. Scale Masters. He is striving to remedy this issue and an advocate for product on the shelves ready to go. I do not know if cost control of inventory is a problem, but if it is I would think the modeler would pay $50 to $100 more for gear today than no gear at all.

Leo

LDM

My Feedback: (15)

Spy , I agree and disagree. I agree that they mean well but when ordering or sending in gear for a fix they need to communicate in a honest manner the delivery times . I am a VP of sales and deal with many national retailers . I can assure you that most retailers do not like there product late however when they place there order we communicate honest delivery times .

Now - on Robart side , there may not be a reliable way to forcast expected needs unless there is predicable waves in there business . If airplane manufactuers were designing Robart specific planes then the forecast would be a litte more easy to read , but since its competitive and we like our choice there will not be a easy way for Robart to predict demand .

My other issue is that I feel the gear is over priced now for the amount of after market work that is needed. The Robo structs are a great example of this statemnet , you pay nearly $80 to cut , drill , hammer ect to get your strut to stay on . I do more work on that gear then on an entire ARF plane

p47dman

My Feedback: (22)

I ordered a set of trunions for the 630 gear. A very popular gear, many out there. It took 6 weeks to get the parts. And after many calls and getting told a different story each time I finally found out why it was taking so long to get my parts. The Robart Rep was giving them away a fly-ins that he was going to. Boy, wish I could have been at one of them cause my plane was down all that time. Makes me want to but something else next time!

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

Success!!!! The gear came in last weekend! They were well worth the wait!!

IdefixRC

Fully agree. The margin must be fantastic. 100-150 for a pair of retract mechanics (material costs ~10$...).

To add to the delay issue: I waited close to 6 months for 1 pair of #631 retracts. The shop I bought the retracts from received 3 shipments during this time. The retracts where listed each time on the invoice but never included in the shipment......

gow589

My Feedback: (1)

I have just found them to be unpleasent when I called, as If I am the one supose to be nice to them.

1wolf

My Feedback: (3)

I would have to agree with earlier posts! If you want custom go to Shindin or Gene Barton. Both do excellent work and my one little order always seems to mean something to them. Lenny makes great looking retracts and Gene made us some awesome articulated F-8 gear. Both of these guys always seem excited with my little orders that just don't seem to mean much to the "big" guys. I have also found that the custom retracts are built sturdier and handle our grass fields better than the "other Ro----" gear I have.

gow589

My Feedback: (1)

How do you like the F8F gear? I made my own but I only have 2 flights on them so far.

1wolf

My Feedback: (3)

They are a true work of art I will try to get some pics. I am a real fan of Gene's work. We bought 4 sets of B-25 retracts from Gene and I have never seen a stronger retract. May mean a rough landing could take out my blocks but I don't have to worry about my retracts. The F8 gear is beautiful It's what I like most about the whole plane!

gow589

My Feedback: (1)

This was my gear:
http://www.rc-tech.net/gear/

I designed it myself but i have a few issues with it. If I ever get time to mess with it again hopefully I can get some of them sorted out.

LDM

My Feedback: (15)

Do they make gear for smaller planes ?60 to 90 size ?

FokkerD7

My Feedback: (5)

Well let me start by saying that I have had NO problem with Robart. I call and order what I need and they were shipped when they said. In fact I bought a Sea Fury that had century rejects in it. The mains were built wrong I sent them back to century and made a power point doc. to explain that they were built wrong. They installed the main strut on the back side. I tried to turn them around and found that they were only loctite. I don’t know about you but if I have a 34 lb. plane in the air would you like to land if the main gear only had loctite. Well they pin the main and tightened up the linkage that they said was not sent out that way. After a few calls and $60 they were ship back to me. Then I received them back and a bill for $84 Might I add some time later well I could go on but lets just say I will stay with Robart.