Tim Kearsley Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 (edited) I've just completed a 60-inch version of Vic Smeed's "Popsie" from the Belair kit of laser-cut parts. It's all OK and waiting for the maiden flight. I made a really silly, schoolboy error however. I used too thin/soft wire for the tailwheel with the result that, while it supports the weight of the model OK (about 4.5 lb), I suspect that it will not fare well under the takeoff and landing loads. The tailwheel is mounted on a ply plate in the rear of the fuz and it's going to be a right pain in the proverbial to completely replace with a stouter wire. Any ideas on how I could bodge this? I'm wondering if I could perhaps bond an additional length of wire on to the piece that's accessible to strengthen it? Any other ideas? Edited March 15 by Tim Kearsley Grammar, typos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 You could solder an extra piece of wire alongside the straight part of existing wire but it might still bend at the un-strengthened part where it fixes to the ply. Possibly best to try first and see if it really does need improvement. Depends on whether flying from tamac or rough grass. You might find that just an extra piece of balsa or thin ply to brace it against fuselage is all that is neeeded -that might change it to a tailskid rather than steerable. I have to say that the tailskid used by many Peter Miller designs works well ( see the little drawing on his plans which is always the same ) and a piece of folded aluminium sheet can replace the tube Peter used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kearsley Posted March 15 Author Share Posted March 15 Thanks @kc you've pretty much confirmed my own thoughts. I think you're definitely right in that I will see how the existing setup holds up under operating conditions before doing anything. Our club strip is well-maintained grass and is pretty even so maybe it will be OK. I should have said that it's not a steerable tailwheel so the tailskid idea would be OK. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Cut the wire in half & solder each end into one or two concentric brass tubes? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kearsley Posted March 15 Author Share Posted March 15 13 minutes ago, John Lee said: Cut the wire in half & solder each end into one or two concentric brass tubes? That's certainly a possibility! Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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