P-40 Century Jet Models Retracts

[Gerryy]

To go along with the article "Thinking Big--Installing Giant Scale Retracts" I am also starting this forum build-along so you can see some of the photos that did not get into the final printed article. I will also be adding detailed pix as I continue with the SkyShark RC P-40 project. I will be adding retractable tailwheel as well. so stay tuned.
GY

[Gerryy]

Here's the main gear and the basic Air Kit from CJM. The instructions are good. Basically the gear have 5/8-inch diameter shock absorbing Oleo struts and a spring and a guide pin and slotted plate make the gear rotate 90 degrees while it swings back into the up position

[Gerryy]

To start you first have to open up the wing's wheel well area. The CJM gear fit nicely into place and do not require notching of the aluminum wing support tube to fit into place.

[Gerryy]

Seat the gear onto the mounting rails and mark the areas for clearance for the brass air barbs. then mark the position of the hear attachment. I use a Moto-Tool and Robart ball grinder to remove the plywood material from the rails

[Gerryy]

I use large no.6 3/4-inch long sheet metal pan-head screws to attach the gear. I use thin CA to "harden the threads. This technique works great and if by chance you land very hard and tear a gear from its mount, the damage is far less than in you use machine screws and blind nuts under the rails. You can drill out the damaged screw hole. insert a large dowl, glue in place and rethread a new screw into place. I know from experience!!!

[Gerryy]

I install the air tank and retract servo and air control manifold on removable plywood plates. This way you can adjust the linkage easily. I also install the system while installing the control servos for the model. This way I know that the pushrods won't interfer with any airlines.

[Gerryy]

oops, here's the photo

[Gerryy]

If your wheels interfere with any of the brass air barbs in your system, you can replace them with CJM 90-degree barbs. They are made of nylon plastic and screw into place. I added the air-filler valve under the fuselage so it is out of the way, out of sight but easy to get to.

[Gerryy]

for wheels there are several choices and you can take your pick. two excellent choices from RObart and from Nick Ziroli Plans, Nick's are less expensive and work great for everyday flying. If you are going to compete in scale, Robart has you covered. They even have Good Year sidewall lettering Both have aluminum hubs.
The Robart wheels are shown dissassembled and Nick's wheels are the ones with the spokes and openings CNC milled into the hub.

[Mike Early]

if only the gear pods were round....

[Gerryy]

yes, I agree! I have toyed with the idea of making new ones with blue foam and molding them on the wing with MonoKote as a barrier to lift them off after fabrication. But is a lot of work when the non scale ones are functional!
GY

[Mike Early]

They say the new, British desert camo version are more rounded

[Gerryy]

Ah, good to hear.