This thread is intended to assist with the modification of the Freewing Mig-29 to add a drag chute if desired. It is a mod which will require skill with 3D printed parts and the ability to cut into the foam of your plane. It is not the easiest mod to do so if you question your abilities, it would be best to just pass on this one or find someone skilled enough and willing to do the work.
IMPORTANT!!! Before proceeding, be aware that in order to install this mod there is a carbon fiber alignment spar located between the two nacelles that you must cut through. It is not a structural member but if to are at all concerned about the strength of the stab mounts on this plane possibly being weakened as a result then do not attempt this mod. I have flown mine and it works fine but it is your call.
I cannot control what people will print with, the outcome or performance of individual mods so I assume no liability expressed or implied beyond this point. I will tell you what I did and what worked for me.
First a bit of background. After collaborating with Paul Helms (Helmsman52 here on HobbySquawk) on a drag chute mod for the Freewing F-4 Phantom, we decided to have a go at a chute mod for the Mig-29 as well. For those who don't know, Paul has become a master at making chutes for various aircraft including larger scale turbines. With this project I wanted to make the release mechanism predominantly 3D printed to make it easier for people to get without having to come to me for it. I have my own projects to work on so time is limited to make short kits like I have been doing for the F-4. While Paul was busy making me two different prototype chutes to test, I set myself to designing the release mechanism in Fusion 360.
Based on my experience with the F-4 I wanted this one to be simple and easy to make. I also wanted it to not be complicated by the need for a release mechanism choosing instead to rely on the shock cord snapping in the event of an accidental release during flight. My initial mechanism met these requirements so I installed it in my plane. After receiving the chutes from Paul it was apparent that the deluxe chute would prove to be too bulky to fit in the chute tube and that the economy version fit fine. I proceeded with testing and discovered an issue we did not anticipate. Deployment was uneventful, the problem was that while trying to taxi back, the chute acted like a thrust reverse which stopped the plane dead in it's tracks. It was literally as though it had brakes applied. Throttling up only caused the shock cord to fail. Paul and I tried everything we could think of to no avail.
The full size aircraft will drop their chutes at the end of the runway after landing so we felt our only option was to have the ability to do the same which meant adding a release capability and a significant redesign of the mechanism. Not what I wanted to do but after further thought I felt I had a solution that did not require an additional servo and was easy to re-attach the chute after each release. Arguably it was more scale too.
What follows is a description of the 3D printed components that make up the mechanism, additional parts you will need to complete it, recommend tools and some pics of preparing the plane for the install.
IMPORTANT!!! Before proceeding, be aware that in order to install this mod there is a carbon fiber alignment spar located between the two nacelles that you must cut through. It is not a structural member but if to are at all concerned about the strength of the stab mounts on this plane possibly being weakened as a result then do not attempt this mod. I have flown mine and it works fine but it is your call.
I cannot control what people will print with, the outcome or performance of individual mods so I assume no liability expressed or implied beyond this point. I will tell you what I did and what worked for me.
First a bit of background. After collaborating with Paul Helms (Helmsman52 here on HobbySquawk) on a drag chute mod for the Freewing F-4 Phantom, we decided to have a go at a chute mod for the Mig-29 as well. For those who don't know, Paul has become a master at making chutes for various aircraft including larger scale turbines. With this project I wanted to make the release mechanism predominantly 3D printed to make it easier for people to get without having to come to me for it. I have my own projects to work on so time is limited to make short kits like I have been doing for the F-4. While Paul was busy making me two different prototype chutes to test, I set myself to designing the release mechanism in Fusion 360.
Based on my experience with the F-4 I wanted this one to be simple and easy to make. I also wanted it to not be complicated by the need for a release mechanism choosing instead to rely on the shock cord snapping in the event of an accidental release during flight. My initial mechanism met these requirements so I installed it in my plane. After receiving the chutes from Paul it was apparent that the deluxe chute would prove to be too bulky to fit in the chute tube and that the economy version fit fine. I proceeded with testing and discovered an issue we did not anticipate. Deployment was uneventful, the problem was that while trying to taxi back, the chute acted like a thrust reverse which stopped the plane dead in it's tracks. It was literally as though it had brakes applied. Throttling up only caused the shock cord to fail. Paul and I tried everything we could think of to no avail.
The full size aircraft will drop their chutes at the end of the runway after landing so we felt our only option was to have the ability to do the same which meant adding a release capability and a significant redesign of the mechanism. Not what I wanted to do but after further thought I felt I had a solution that did not require an additional servo and was easy to re-attach the chute after each release. Arguably it was more scale too.
What follows is a description of the 3D printed components that make up the mechanism, additional parts you will need to complete it, recommend tools and some pics of preparing the plane for the install.
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