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Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
Page 1 of 1
Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
Hi all, Happy holidays to you and yours. My being a modeller living in New England; Wintertime is "building season".
I realize that most of us aren't building scale model airplanes.. but if your looking for a more scale gear-layout; there are options that aren't terribly difficult to replicate. One would need to understand basic C/G balancing for their particular model, to be able to safely alter it's design.
We also acknowledge the fact that a 1/2A class airplane requires a smooth runway to take full advantage of any landing-gear.. scale or otherwise..
I'm partial to having landing gear on a model. You can hand-launch it.. but can you hand land-it?
For starters; one would need to have a means to cut lengths of music-wire (preferably 1/16"/.062") diameter for the gear-legs/struts.
The music-wire inverted-"V" sandwiched-between the engine and firewall works awesome.. so why alter it? ...
I save stuff. I look at everything that I throw in the waste-basket.. and ask myself; "could I re-use this?"
The next time you cut hardwood IC engine-bearers to length.. save the cut-offs. That same square-stock could be used to make gear-blocks.
The gear-blocks that I have made, generally key-into either a "joint" or a reinforced section.. and have already been fitted with 1/16" m/w struts. A common 1/16" dia. drill.. and a V-file/rasp to cut a groove/channel in the block, for the "L" bend to key-into. The struts can be formed by using a small set of locking pliers and eye protection. A couple of 90 degree bends is all it takes. Keep in mind; your axle/wheel-hub/retainer O/A length. Better to over-estimate and be able to trim shorter.
Some photos of my profile P38's trike gear; a flat-wing model with the gear-blocks epoxied under the wing/fuse intersection.. gusset-style.

The nose-gear is a similar single L-bent strut through a plywood plate, faired-into the nose. I use the DuBro 1/2A steel landing gear straps almost exclusively.


I installed a 33% span hardwood strip-spar near the L/E of my F8F-2 Bearcat's 1/8" sheet-wing model for the 1st CEF Speed-Contest. It was a win-win. Strengthen the wing-root/fuse junction.. and gain more scale-like gear-block mount locations. The blocks are notched for the L-bend on the mating-surface; eliminating the need for a L/G strap.




I enjoy this part of the modelling process, more than any other aspect. Maybe it's like an art form for me?
I realize that most of us aren't building scale model airplanes.. but if your looking for a more scale gear-layout; there are options that aren't terribly difficult to replicate. One would need to understand basic C/G balancing for their particular model, to be able to safely alter it's design.
We also acknowledge the fact that a 1/2A class airplane requires a smooth runway to take full advantage of any landing-gear.. scale or otherwise..

I'm partial to having landing gear on a model. You can hand-launch it.. but can you hand land-it?
For starters; one would need to have a means to cut lengths of music-wire (preferably 1/16"/.062") diameter for the gear-legs/struts.
The music-wire inverted-"V" sandwiched-between the engine and firewall works awesome.. so why alter it? ...

I save stuff. I look at everything that I throw in the waste-basket.. and ask myself; "could I re-use this?"
The next time you cut hardwood IC engine-bearers to length.. save the cut-offs. That same square-stock could be used to make gear-blocks.
The gear-blocks that I have made, generally key-into either a "joint" or a reinforced section.. and have already been fitted with 1/16" m/w struts. A common 1/16" dia. drill.. and a V-file/rasp to cut a groove/channel in the block, for the "L" bend to key-into. The struts can be formed by using a small set of locking pliers and eye protection. A couple of 90 degree bends is all it takes. Keep in mind; your axle/wheel-hub/retainer O/A length. Better to over-estimate and be able to trim shorter.
Some photos of my profile P38's trike gear; a flat-wing model with the gear-blocks epoxied under the wing/fuse intersection.. gusset-style.

The nose-gear is a similar single L-bent strut through a plywood plate, faired-into the nose. I use the DuBro 1/2A steel landing gear straps almost exclusively.


I installed a 33% span hardwood strip-spar near the L/E of my F8F-2 Bearcat's 1/8" sheet-wing model for the 1st CEF Speed-Contest. It was a win-win. Strengthen the wing-root/fuse junction.. and gain more scale-like gear-block mount locations. The blocks are notched for the L-bend on the mating-surface; eliminating the need for a L/G strap.




I enjoy this part of the modelling process, more than any other aspect. Maybe it's like an art form for me?
Re: Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
Looks well made Roddie, You are going to have to show me how they work in real life instead of static displays.
Seriously though, have you considered re-bending the gear on the RB so it stops nosing over on launch?

Seriously though, have you considered re-bending the gear on the RB so it stops nosing over on launch?
Cribbs74- Moderator
Posts : 11180
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 46
Location : Tuttle, OK
Re: Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
Cribbs74 wrote:Looks well made Roddie, You are going to have to show me how they work in real life instead of static displays.![]()
Seriously though, have you considered re-bending the gear on the RB so it stops nosing over on launch?
Hey Ron! Yes..I remember you mentioned that. I haven't tried any launches since then.

Re: Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
That’s going to be a bit tricky. I understand the concept, but not sure how you would do it. It would almost have to be on a reel of some sort to provide enough tension to keep the tail down, even then it would have to break at the precise moment it lifts off the ground. That would be a lot of engineering just to get around having to rework the landing gear. Also when you land you will have to deal with the nose over again. Just my thoughts of course.
Back when you built that I built the little Laird that had the same problem. No matter what I did the engine was just too heavy. I would have had to extend the gear past the prop for a ROG take off. I don’t think you will have that problem. In the end I took the gear off and hand launched it.
Back when you built that I built the little Laird that had the same problem. No matter what I did the engine was just too heavy. I would have had to extend the gear past the prop for a ROG take off. I don’t think you will have that problem. In the end I took the gear off and hand launched it.
Cribbs74- Moderator
Posts : 11180
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 46
Location : Tuttle, OK
Re: Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
Good points roddie, and I love your attention to detail.
Like you, I look at everything before I toss it. Music wire cut-offs especially. Longer cuts or new music wire go in a 3 foot long tube that I got containing "Golden Rod" plastic control guides, shorter go in a special drawer. Balsa too, but that's a losing proposition, most are too short or small to be any value for a full scale build.
Still love that "Rare Bear."
Like you, I look at everything before I toss it. Music wire cut-offs especially. Longer cuts or new music wire go in a 3 foot long tube that I got containing "Golden Rod" plastic control guides, shorter go in a special drawer. Balsa too, but that's a losing proposition, most are too short or small to be any value for a full scale build.
Still love that "Rare Bear."
rsv1cox- Top Poster
Posts : 5843
Join date : 2014-08-18
Location : West Virginia
Re: Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
Cribbs74 wrote:That’s going to be a bit tricky. I understand the concept, but not sure how you would do it. It would almost have to be on a reel of some sort to provide enough tension to keep the tail down, even then it would have to break at the precise moment it lifts off the ground. That would be a lot of engineering just to get around having to rework the landing gear. Also when you land you will have to deal with the nose over again. Just my thoughts of course.
Back when you built that I built the little Laird that had the same problem. No matter what I did the engine was just too heavy. I would have had to extend the gear past the prop for a ROG take off. I don’t think you will have that problem. In the end I took the gear off and hand launched it.
Yea.. I don't know what I'm going to do. I've got a while to think on it. I'm not opposed to adding some tail-weight. I'm not really sure where the balance point should be on this airplane.. being my own design.
Re: Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
rsv1cox wrote:Good points roddie, and I love your attention to detail.
Like you, I look at everything before I toss it. Music wire cut-offs especially. Longer cuts or new music wire go in a 3 foot long tube that I got containing "Golden Rod" plastic control guides, shorter go in a special drawer. Balsa too, but that's a losing proposition, most are too short or small to be any value for a full scale build.
Still love that "Rare Bear."
Thanks Robert, I thoroughly enjoyed building the Rare Bear.. and have taken a LOT of photos of it.

Re: Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
Guilty about saving things here too.... But the other week, I finally gave in and went through all my 'savings', and got rid of whatever had not been touched or used in a long while. Mostly balsa though. Like Bob, I have a small tube for new full length or close to wires, and a short stubby one for shorter ones and cut-offs. As was said, the balsa box got a good going-through and burnt up a whole shopping bag full of scraps. And scraps they were. Anything that was usable, was saved, and if long and skinny, I 'stripped' them into sticks. After that, I bundled them together into groups, according to type. Sticks, 1" or less, 2" or less, etc.
NEW222- Top Poster
- Posts : 3066
Join date : 2011-08-13
Age : 42
Location : oakbank, mb
Re: Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
NEW222 wrote:Guilty about saving things here too.... But the other week, I finally gave in and went through all my 'savings', and got rid of whatever had not been touched or used in a long while. Mostly balsa though. Like Bob, I have a small tube for new full length or close to wires, and a short stubby one for shorter ones and cut-offs. As was said, the balsa box got a good going-through and burnt up a whole shopping bag full of scraps. And scraps they were. Anything that was usable, was saved, and if long and skinny, I 'stripped' them into sticks. After that, I bundled them together into groups, according to type. Sticks, 1" or less, 2" or less, etc.
Did you find out the week after you threw something away that you needed it? Story of my life!
Got burned by it once. Literally. True story:
I was burning up a bunch of my old balsa airframes and scraps back in the 1980's in an old Franklin stove. Whiffs of balsa few up the chimney and set it on fire singeing the panel by the flue. Got a bucket of water from the kitchen and the steam put the fire out. Dodged a bullet on that one.
Edit:
Sorry, you know me, if I have a picture I'm gonna post it.


rsv1cox- Top Poster
Posts : 5843
Join date : 2014-08-18
Location : West Virginia
Re: Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
rsv1cox wrote:NEW222 wrote:Guilty about saving things here too.... But the other week, I finally gave in and went through all my 'savings', and got rid of whatever had not been touched or used in a long while. Mostly balsa though. Like Bob, I have a small tube for new full length or close to wires, and a short stubby one for shorter ones and cut-offs. As was said, the balsa box got a good going-through and burnt up a whole shopping bag full of scraps. And scraps they were. Anything that was usable, was saved, and if long and skinny, I 'stripped' them into sticks. After that, I bundled them together into groups, according to type. Sticks, 1" or less, 2" or less, etc.
Did you find out the week after you threw something away that you needed it? Story of my life!
Got burned by it once. Literally. True story:
I was burning up a bunch of my old balsa airframes and scraps back in the 1980's in an old Franklin stove. Whiffs of balsa few up the chimney and set it on fire singeing the panel by the flue. Got a bucket of water from the kitchen and the steam put the fire out. Dodged a bullet on that one.
Edit:
Sorry, you know me, if I have a picture I'm gonna post it.
One day, my HS History teacher invited our class to an "Open House" at his home in Franklin, MA (USA); the oldest home by far in town. It had a huge central chimney which served X3 1st-floor fireplaces. Two of them were operating. One in the kitchen and one in the dining room. It was an exhibition of sorts, to show how life would have been.. some 300 years ago. It was a mild day and all the outside doors were open to help keep the house from getting too warm. All of a sudden; there began a rush of air into the house.. as the chimney caught fire.

Re: Mains (gear) on your 1/2A size airplane
Clean your fireplace yearly, have it inspected and only burn hardwoods. You will never have a problem with creosote buildup.
Cribbs74- Moderator
Posts : 11180
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 46
Location : Tuttle, OK
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