Scale 112” - Taylorcraft by HeyLuc & Snoopy.

Snoopy1 said:

Ok just a small update the plane has been moved from the shop to the garage. Battery checked and charged fuel tank check and the motor setup started and set the idle, so I am just waiting for the perfect day to do the new maiden Flight.

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PROGRESS!!!

Ok the plane got re maidened today , you all know the difficulties I had with the first flight it was almost put into the ground three times before I managed to get it back down. Absolute nightmare mare to fly. Stripped it and was ready to scrap the plane, but did not after a lot of research and calculations I decided that all the problems were from the rudder and stabilizer. Well after putting a new redesigned tail section on the plane it got tested today and everything went PERFECTLY could not be happier. Just need to do some minor radio trimming and mixing and I believe I have a winner.
Tried to up load the pictures but could not sorry.

Great!!!

Ok after a couple of flights the gear is starting to spread out. Not good and did not have a hard landing. So decide to add some helper springs, I think they are around 60 lbs per inch no specs on the seller listings so took a chance.
The gear is made from 3/16 - 6061-T6 aluminum if this does not work will have make new gear from 1/4 or 5/16 not sure will first see how this works, do not want to bend up 1/4 inch thick gear.

Landing gear failed on me again the cables just snapped, so back to the drawing board. New heavier cables and made two new spring bracket. Less connections and everything is back together and ready to fly again. The top hatch blew off and I could not find it, it was held on with 4 magnets. Did not work so new hatch and now 4 screws to hold it down not as pretty and convenient but it will not come off now. Just keep improving and making progress always a lot of small changes but it will be bulletproof soon.

Good luck with the changes Snoop, you need to get some rubber in there to adsorb the energy rather than store it, bungees work great.

TonyHallo said:

Good luck with the changes Snoop, you need to get some rubber in there to adsorb the energy rather than store it, bungees work great.

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The gear is springy which makes landing some what difficult. I think I understand what you are saying. But bungee cord is thick and difficult to install. Do you have any examples and or pictures Please.

You can get bungee cord in many diameters, my Super Cub uses 1/8" cord. I found on the Champ that stiffer springs work better. I had 50 pound per inch springs that just barely deflected at rest, anything less a perfect greased landing the plane bounced. At a scale contest last year, was chatting with Mike Barbee and told me that he likes his gear stiff. After that I added a second internal spring to each strut and my landings improved. Photos of the Cub gear are below, on the Cub, the bungees are 36" long stretched and wrapped so there are 20 strands, Started with 26" long but too soft.
Springs are like steel balls, drop a steel ball on a hard surface and it will bounce almost to the height it was bounced just like the old Super Balls, wonder if they are still made? Drop a regular rubber ball and it comes up to half the height it was dropped.
So what I'm thinking is a piece of 1/16 or 3/32" music wire bend to a "V" shape attached to both axles with an eyebolt attached at the bend. Drill a hole through the center of the gear so that the eyebolt will fit through, stack rubber washers to a height of maybe 1 1/2", top with a steel washer and lock nut. You can play with the height and static tension to get what you want.