Shown installed here are standard Spring-
Air 700’s (same as 300 series, but drill for
3/8” oleos), which are 29mm high, and it is
just
possible to install these and still fit the
moulded retract bay covers over the re-
tracts, but you will need to use countersunk
bolts to secure the retracts. We recommend
that you fit 2.5” diameter (Ø 62mm) wheels,
of the thinnest type you can find so that the
legs and wheels fit fully inside the wing.
Shown here is a Robart 2.75” wheel, but it
is a little bit too big and thick and does not
have much clearance.
For the Spring-Air units shown here, with a
2.5” diameter wheel, the total leg length
from the end of the brass adapter to the
centre of the wheel axle needs to be 98mm.
If you make it shorter, then the wheel will
foul on the air nipple and tube on the end of
the retract unit.
Carefully align the sides of the wheels exactly parallel
with the wing centreline and secure firmly in the
adapters - or even better is with about 1 degree of toe-
in for best ground handling.
Route the air line to the front corner of the gear bay and
glue it in position with a drop of silicone, or similar so
that it cannot foul the wheel when it is retracted. Trim
the molded retract covers provided in the kit as shown
to make covers for the retracts. small plywood tabs
glued inside the edges of the retract bay keep them
flush. You can use clear tape to hold the covers in po-
sition as shown.
We have not designed this model to have any gear doors at all, but an enterprising modeller could
cut out the retract cover to make operating inner gear doors if wished, and even outer doors and
strut covers. A simple spring-loaded mechanical linkage could be used, so that the wheel pulls
the inner door closed - without having to use separate servos, pneumatic cylinders, valves or door
sequencing units.
Wing fences
Included in the hardware bag are 2 small fibreglass wing fences, which can be glued onto the
wings in the scale position if you wish. However, we noticed no difference to the flight character-
istics with them on, or off, and they are very easy to beak off when you put the wings in the pro-
tection bags for transport or storage !
Fox Composites Co., Ltd.
17
(above) For the Spring-Air 700 units
and 2.5” wheels the leg length is
98mm from the end of the brass
adapter to the centre of the axle.
(above) Robart 2.75” wheel, shown retracted,
and the molded retract cover trimmed and taped
in place. It is easier to fit 2.5” diameter wheels.
98mm
2.5” wheel
