They are getting better/lighter
A simple home made servo operated (pull string) brake can either use a spring to press a metal leaf on the tire, servo pulls to keep the leaf off the tire, or compress a soft rubber/silicone on the axle to take away the side clearance and act to slow the wheel.
the first will be more effective, the second will not show as much.
Mre complex, bolt a "reverse drum" (essentially a pulley) and wind a light stainless cable around one turn, Pull the cable and it will give you brakes. Much more effective if the direction of rotation pulls the cable tighter vs its hard anchor end, but it can also fail to release when used that way.
There are a LOT of pretty easy ways to make working brakes.
The pull string brakes are usually just put on the nose-wheel if its a trike gear aircraft. Its difficult to get them even and with a brake on each main you can be doing donuts when you don't want to.
A simple home made servo operated (pull string) brake can either use a spring to press a metal leaf on the tire, servo pulls to keep the leaf off the tire, or compress a soft rubber/silicone on the axle to take away the side clearance and act to slow the wheel.
the first will be more effective, the second will not show as much.
Mre complex, bolt a "reverse drum" (essentially a pulley) and wind a light stainless cable around one turn, Pull the cable and it will give you brakes. Much more effective if the direction of rotation pulls the cable tighter vs its hard anchor end, but it can also fail to release when used that way.
There are a LOT of pretty easy ways to make working brakes.
The pull string brakes are usually just put on the nose-wheel if its a trike gear aircraft. Its difficult to get them even and with a brake on each main you can be doing donuts when you don't want to.
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