airframe transporting
 

Hi
Does anyone have ome good tips for transporting model aeroplanes. I had a near miss yesterday that required heavy breaking and it resulted in my rudder taking slight damage. So any suggestions for a gadget to stop it rolling around would be welcome.

M

RE: airframe transporting
 

Guess this should be easy to accomplish if knew what kind of vehicle they are in?

RE: airframe transporting
 

Lots of very kewl things can be made.

But by far the simplest to keep a plane from rolling when it's sitting on it's wheels is a towel or two. Up to 60-90 size, a coupe of towels wrapped to foul the wheels from rolling work like a charm. The wrap sorta locks the wheel to the strut and towel and it won't roll at all, and the towel laying out ahead/behind is basically a drag brake. Even if the wheel has a little room to roll in the towel, it rolls the towel up that little bit and binds itself up.

Been doing it for years and years.

RE: airframe transporting
 

Hi
I drive a Saab 85 estate ( Station Wagon). As the plane will be travelling with me to comps in the next few weeks ( 400 mile round trip) I am looking for something that will keep it secure for a long journey and cope with all the unexpected events ( idiots) om the road.

M

RE: airframe transporting
 

In the US many of the competitors who transport their planes a significant distance create a cradle from 3/4" ips PVC water pipe and some fittings. The pipes are then covered in the appropriate places with foam insulation for copper pipes. Don't know if these materials are available in the UK or not, however.

RE: airframe transporting
 

I made some "wheel chocks".

I used 3/4" quarter round stock. Cut 4 pieces 6" long and 4 pieces of 3/16"x1" flat stock 3" long (had this in some scrap lumber I had).

CA 1 piece of quarter round to the 2 pieces of flat stock, put the plane on the bench,.
Slid the other piece of quarter round against the other side of the wheel and marked its location on the flat stock.
Took the wheel chock from the wheel and CA the other piece in place.

For using them, You can just set the wheels in the chocks, or if you feel you want it a bit more secure,
use a couple of rubber bands to cross over the wheel and loop over the end of the wheel chocks.

I have used this on 60 size planes with no problems and have not had the plane come out of the chocks even going over some rough roads.

RE: airframe transporting
 

A friend of mine uses small metal pet bowls. He predominantly has large tail draggers, he sets the mains in the bowls and they stay put.

I some times use a cradle made from ½”pvc pipe.

RE: airframe transporting
 

A couple of sticks of 3/4 PVC pipe, lots of Tee and 90 degree fittings. Longer than the wing and wider than the stabilizer. No matter which way it slides, PVC hits something and keeps the plane from hitting.

RE: airframe transporting
 

Mike,
I make a PVC frame for each of my planes.
Each is 6 feet long, the length of my pickup bed.
There is a cradle just behind the landing gear to hold it and keep it from moving backward.
There is another cradle just in front of the horiz stab to keep it from moving forward.
These may be set at a specific height so a rubber band across them will keep the vert stab below the bed cover.
The length, it's a tight fit, keeps it from moving sideways as I go around these mountain curves.
The wing is wrapped in a blanket and has never been a problem.
I use 1/2 PVC and if the flex is a problem use hardwood dowels inside as a stiffener.
The opportunities with PVC are only limited by your own mind.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

RE: airframe transporting
 

place each main wheel in old tennis shoe. should not slide around then