Spice Cat Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 I decided to take my Tiger Moth to the field today. It is a refurbished JP 78" wingspan model of some years on the clock. She was maidened in November last year by one of the best fliers in the club and after that I swore to fit her out in the manner she deserved with instrument panels, compasses, decals and a new cowl. Needless to say over the winter months all I managed to do was put some lithio plate trims on the cockpit! She took to the skies like a dream which rapidly turned into a nightmare where observers reported an object falling from the model. A quick landing was initiated when again my observers noted that the right wheel had come adrift. This necessitated a wide circuit followed by a very careful approach. Somehow I managed to land her without any apparent damage the only down side being we couldn't find the wheel! So in future, the wheel collects will form part of the pre and post flights! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie sawyer Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 Very nice model Spice cat !! You were very lucky....either that or your flying skills are very good. Im surprised the U.C didn't dig in and the plane cartwheeled. Well done on the landing. Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stevens 1 Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 Sounds like the wheel has done it's own impression of Barnes Wallis's most famous invention - the Bouncing Bomb. So my guess is it's going to be quite a distance from where it was seen falling off the plane. Might be worth extending the search out a bit further......Or if you have any FPV guys at your site, maybe they could do a fly over to see if they can spot it from the air. I would think a large size wheel with a bright yellow hub shouldn't be too difficult to spot. I agree with Jamie above though, Congrats on the safe landing and getting her down safely. At least it's only a missing wheel and not a complete rebuild. Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Congratulations on a safe arrival I hope pilot and plane are both doing well? Just out of interest , I hope you put a flat spot on the axle for the grub screw to seat onto and some thread lock?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spice Cat Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share Posted September 26, 2013 Yes to both Cymaz although it is possible I missed the flat spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 I HATE wheel collets, I always wind wire round the axle and solder it. I have never lost a wheel doing that. The other system that I have used in the past is to solder brass tube over the axle so the it extends past the wire. It is then driled and a split pin used to hold the wheel on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Pete is absolutely right. These collets are an accident waiting to happen. It's a quick and simple job to solder a washer to the end of the axle. Put a piece of damp card between the wheel, and the bit to be soldered, so that the wheel hub won't melt ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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