Official Black Horse 1724mm Dornier DO335 Pfeil ("Arrow") Thread

[MrSmoothie]

I've found that some of the larger size HobbyKing retracts are very good and surprisingly inexpensive -- that's what I replaced the stock retracts with in my 1600mm HobbyKing FW-190 (also with 5mm strut pin). That said, I think Oxo is 100% right that this Do-335 rates something heavier duty -- according to the MRC page, flight weight is on the order of 13 lbs, which is a lot more than large foamies.

I'm glad to hear Oxo's positive report on the quality, and glad that I ordered my XWave 3-pack yesterday. I'm intrigued by the idea of a 105 degree nose retract (who knew such a thing existed?) -- but I fear that a front-canted strut would be particularly susceptible to damage, like when my plane rolls past the end of the Geotex into the not-so-smooth grass.

The bigger problem with HK retracts (or any of their component parts) is that they are just as likely to be backordered as in-stock. If I *was* going the HK route, I'd order twice as many as I needed to have spares. You know how it goes -- if you have spares, you'll never need 'em!

Just noticed on the MRC site that, at least for now, the Do-335 is sold out.

[Oxotnik]

Re: Mounting struts in the XWave RM400-90 Retract unit.
There are flats ground into the strut posts, but they (the flats) don’t go down quite far enough for the outmost grub screw to find the flat. So, the flats will have to ground a little longer. 2-minute job, including setup. LOL

RE: XWave RM400 vs. HK retract (referenced a few posts earlier). I have not laid hands on the HK retract units, but I obviously have the XWave retracts in hand. I’m impressed with the XWave RM-400. It’s all metal construction and locks in in the deployed and retracted positions. The XWave costs more than the HK units. Having seen the XWave units in operation and seen they quality construction, even if I hadn’t already bought them, I personally would buy them over the HK units.

Again, I haven’t actually held the referenced HK retracts, but I really like the XWave units! For me, as a general rule, HK components are at the lower end of my reliability scale. HK Retracts have been hit or miss for me. With that said, though, I got a set of HK large-scale retracts for my 91” A-26 late last year, and I have been incredibly impressed with them.

Anyway, my two cents worth on the topic of retracts. :-)

[Oxotnik]

Rosytime
Thanks. I’d glanced through the manual and glanced at the NG strut. It sounds like I connected some dots incorrectly.

[edit] Figured out how the NG strut attaches. It is unconventional... and clever! Replace the grub screw with a 4mm screw, and attach the spring to it. Very clever. I hate E Clips; so, I’m liking this retention method!!

[Rosytime]

As far as the nose gear, it mounts the same way as the OV-10 Bronco when using a retract. A spring is used to keep the strut in the trunion of the X-Wave retract and a pull-pull system is used for steering. In that way they don't have to produce a steerable retract. If you look at the manual you can see how it's done. A bit unconventional but it seems to work. I'm going to set up my Bronco like that.

[Terminater007]

some on ebay

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Electric...-/161855363519

PZ-15096SN is the part number

[handyman220]

These retracts fit straight in

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/servoles...ount-2pcs.html

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/servoles...3mm-mount.html

Thanks for posting the link Terminator. Mains are ordered, nose gear is out of stock. I did register for stock alert when back in stock. Do you know any other nose gear retracts that are a drop in fit?

[Oxotnik]

After ordering the 3-piece XWave RM400-90 retract set yesterday, I realized that I already had 2 of the XWave retracts, which I'd bought for use in my Graupner He-111. Anyway, I grabbed and put a stock main oleo strut, axle, and wheel into the XWave and set it in one of the Do-335 wheel wells. The XWave RM400-90 works perfectly for the Mains. I don't think that the NG will work in this retract though, since the strut post has to go all of the way through the trunion and out the back, so that a C-clip can be placed on the post, so that the NG can be steered.

[edit] I’m modifying this post, to correct what I’d incorrectly said about the NG struct not working with the XWave RM400. When you actually read the manual, which I hadn’t, it’s clear how the NG structure should be mounted in the retract unit. No E-clip needed; the spring holds the strut in the retract trunion. [/edit]

[MrSmoothie]

Wheels are hard rubber with plastic hubs. Can’t really tell how well they’ll hold up. Mains measured to be about 3.25” dia. Nosewheel, 2.5”. Wheel diameters seem kinda small for a plane of this size. Not sure if the wheel diameters will be a problem on grass fields, but don’t think so.

I just scaled up a good 3-view and came up with the following wheel sizes: Mains: 5.0" Nose: 3.5"

Some 3-views show a larger nose gear, but I will look into this more. At any rate it's unlikely that we can reach true scale diameter. But I agree that the provided wheels look way too small. Went through the same thing with the beautiful and well-done Flightline 1600mm F4U-1 Corsair. Any increase in diameter is visually worthwhile, as you increase the visible area of the wheels a lot with what may seem to be a small increase in diameter.

[Terminater007]

These retracts fit straight in

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/servoles...ount-2pcs.html

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/servoles...3mm-mount.html

[MrSmoothie]

After talking myself out of buying this model, I spent last night rationalizing myself into buying this model. Ordered. It was my birthday last week, after all, and it was a "zero" birthday. So there.

When I ordered this morning, there were 4 left. Just checked, only one left.

Also, the three pack of retracts was out of stock earlier, but they show as available right now, so I ordered those as well. Did I miss something or do they not actually say one of them is a steerable nose gear?

Also started doing some full-scale research. The main gear doors are interesting. From my preliminary research, it appears there were at least three variations. At first, there was a rectangular part over the strut, then a full-circle that slide down the strut to cover the wheel entirely. Next, a more conventional half-circle over the wheel. But clearly there was a time when only the strut was covered and the main wheel totally exposed.

The wheels look much too small, and that's certainly something I intend to explore, knowing the wing wheel wells would have to be changed.

I'm thinking my 3D printer is going to come in handy on this -- spinners, wing cannon housings, and especially a correctly scaled pilot. This was a huge aircraft -- the furnished pilot is like twice the size it should be.

I sure hope mine arrives without rudder damage! I'm pretty sure I'd be making a claim on that, repairable or not. My recent T-33 came with one wrinkled wingtip. I opted for store credit, which I applied to this Do-335 purchase.

[WAYNE888]

Bummer, that the ventral vertical stab was busted. Is it repairable, or will you ask MRC to send you a replacement fuselage? The dorsal and ventral stabs seem really strong on mine.

I would be looking for a new Fuse I think.....I prefer to make my own cracks, tears, and holes. They even say it is not made tear away....it is part of the structure.

[MANFRED]

Would be awesome if someone would do a 3d print of the wing gun fairings and guns. Slight mods on the scheme and of course airfare with 2 inducers, one in the front and one in the middle.

[Twowingtj]

With a little effort, it's likely repairable. Did open a ticket anyway for tracking.

Both build benches have current projects going on, so this will have to wait for a little while.

[Oxotnik]

Got mine as well. Lower vertical stab was broken loose. All else good.

Will replace pilot. I'm thinking Tru-turn spinners, Robart wheels, and some gear doors are in its future.

Bummer, that the ventral vertical stab was busted. Is it repairable, or will you ask MRC to send you a replacement fuselage? The dorsal and ventral stabs seem really strong on mine.

[MANFRED]

Would need to replicate the gear doors for the mains. Looks naked without them.

[Radar-Guy]

Does anyone know why the Pfeil's nose gear is canted so far forward? The full scale one.

https://www.albentley-drawings.com/drawings/german-aircraft/dornier-do335-pfiel/dornier-do335-pfiel/

[Twowingtj]

Got mine as well. Lower vertical stab was broken loose. All else good.

Will replace pilot. I'm thinking Tru-turn spinners, Robart wheels, and some gear doors are in its future.

[handyman220]

I flew it on grass and the wheels were fine :) make sure u check the grub screws on the oleo to 5mm wire …

And for those thinking of the 105 degree nose gear the retract mount are a top mount not a bottom mount of the eflite one , which could be use with some mod though..

I was thinking of using the Eflite 105 degree nose gear, what do you think would have to be modified? Would it be major or minor mods? I don't have the plane in front of me yet to see the structure, should be here 3/12. What are you using for the nose gear retract?

[Terminater007]

I flew it on grass and the wheels were fine :) make sure u check the grub screws on the oleo to 5mm wire …

And for those thinking of the 105 degree nose gear the retract mount are a top mount not a bottom mount of the eflite one , which could be use with some mod though..

[Oxotnik]

https://www.manualslib.com/download/...ier-Do335.html

or

http://www.ripmax.com/Instructions/a-bh163.pdf

should be the same manual...

Thanks. Any comments on the robustness of the wheels. Do you fly on grass or a hard surface?