Official FlightLine RC 1600mm Spitfire Mk. IX Thread

[Quickone4u]

WOW, haven't heard of that happening. I had over 150 landings on my first Spitfire, and never had a problem with the retracts or struts, and believe me, some of my early landings were definitely painful to watch. The new replaced Spitty has about 30 flights on it and nothing has yet to happen there either. I had about 80 flights on an asphalt runway and the last 100 (including the new one) on grass and can't image the stress that would be needed to require the actual strut to snap. I would think the strut pin going in the retract would bend or snap long before the actual strut (which was the case with some of my early landings with the F-4 nose gear pins, similar to the Spitfire's set up). If you have a photo of the snapped strut I would like to see it, and it's not that I don't believe you, I do, just wanted to see where it snapped at.

I was quite surprised by it as well! I fully expected the full retract motor to pull out before that happened but, everything is still tight and nicely in place! 6 flight total on this plane and happened on the 3rd flight each time. I know this makes it sound like my landings are crap lol but, they really weren't! That's what has me a bit worried and frustrated by it. Due to where it broke, I have had to purchase the entire retract system for that side which is $30! I'll see if I can figure out getting pics posted.

[Quickone4u]

[Quickone4u]

No other damage to the retract or the plane. Pictures to show the break point which is in the same spot both times it happened and to show the retract is otherwise in good shape and fresh. Note, that is weathering paint on the panel.

[paladin]

i'm a ME and we will not buy china screws because they do not use procedures that eliminate nitrogen embrittlement. to make a long story short china is very poor at getting heat treatment correct. spring steal should be between Rockwell c 30-40. that pic is typical Rockwell c 60+ as steel gets harder it becomes susceptible to shock loads (like landing).

what I would do:
remove the broken peace's, make new by buying metric screws ie.:

https://www.mcmaster.com/91290A290/

that one is Rockwell c 37 and the un threaded portion will be 5mm (I assume is the diameter you need, never had mine apart) cut to length and replace the broken one. from your pic's it looks like the broken peace is held in by the dowel pin in the oleo outer case, chances are that also sets up the spring tension. good luck and let me know if you have any questions (though it is chistmass and I will be on spotty).

hope I helped
Joe

[Evan D]

Thanks Joe! That just helped a lot of us even if it's for a different aircraft..

[Quickone4u]

i'm a ME and we will not buy china screws because they do not use procedures that eliminate nitrogen embrittlement. to make a long story short china is very poor at getting heat treatment correct. spring steal should be between Rockwell c 30-40. that pic is typical Rockwell c 60+ as steel gets harder it becomes susceptible to shock loads (like landing).

what I would do:
remove the broken peace's, make new by buying metric screws ie.:

https://www.mcmaster.com/91290A290/

that one is Rockwell c 37 and the un threaded portion will be 5mm (I assume is the diameter you need, never had mine apart) cut to length and replace the broken one. from your pic's it looks like the broken peace is held in by the dowel pin in the oleo outer case, chances are that also sets up the spring tension. good luck and let me know if you have any questions (though it is chistmass and I will be on spotty).

hope I helped
Joe

Thank you for the reply and information! I will have to see how it comes apart when I get home this evening. I'm unsure how this will go into/connect with the end where the retract motor is. Would certainly be nice to find a cheap, stronger solution to fixing it with something like this. Still kind of shocked at how easy they just snapped especially considering the retract didn't pull out of or damage the wing in any way.

[OV10]

Quickone4u That broken strut pin (correct name for it) is a most common event due to the issues that is well known about Chinese metallurgy as paladin has already mentioned.
The strut pin is held into the strut oleo (correct name) and the e-tract trunnion(correct name) with set screws which are usually loctited at the factory.
Because these set screws are usually of inferior grade as has come to be expected you should use a solder iron to heat the screw before trying to extract so as to not round out the hex.
Welcome to the Squawk and the addiction of RC modeling
Best regards,

[Elbee]

Thank you for the reply and information!.

Q4, Welcome to "The Squawk". As you have seen, great people and information here. Glad to have you onboard, Sir. Best, LB

[Quickone4u]

Thank you everyone for the kind comments and welcome! Great information and good to know how the strut pins work. Will be ordering some replacement pins mentioned by Paladin in this case and looking forward to getting back in the air! Not new to the hobby but, had been away several years. jumped back in at the begging of the year with a couple planes and helis. Glad to be back and thankful for a forum such as this to share info and learn! Thank you guys again for the help!

[Quickone4u]

Want to give another shout out and thanks to Palidin! Just placed an order through the company he linked and I will be receiving my parts to convert my LG tomorrow for a whopping $9! I'm quite happy about that as I had hoped to get more flying in over the long weekend!

[paladin]

sorry bud, they add shipping when its boxed. it'll be closer to 21 bucks.

good luck

Joe

[Quickone4u]

sorry bud, they add shipping when its boxed. it'll be closer to 21 bucks.

good luck

Joe

No, the actual shipping itself was $9 direct to me tomorrow. I seen where they said that on the site when I placed my order so I shot them a message just to make sure I had done things properly. They were quick to reply explaining how their shipping works along with telling me the shipping total. I should have been more clear in my wording of the previous post that the $9 was specifically for the shipping. Great service and quick response with reasonable prices! I'm quite happy!

[paladin]

sorry, just did not want you surprised, but you r on top of it!

merry Christmas all

Joe

[Quickone4u]

sorry, just did not want you surprised, but you r on top of it!

merry Christmas all

Joe

Thank you! Merry Christmas!

[Narly]

Happy Holidays to all Spitty Fans and Suawkers. Finally got me MH434 "Mylcraine" finished ....... and it's only six months until WY Spring 😁

[Gringotuerto]

Happy Holidays to all Spitty Fans and Suawkers. Finally got me MH434 "Mylcraine" finished ....... and it's only six months until WY Spring 😁

I grew up in Casper. Seemed like most days there was wind that could tear the door off a car. So....be careful opening your car door when you go to fly it, lol.

[Elbee]

Happy Holidays to all Spitty Fans and Squawkers. Finally got me MH434 "Mylcraine" finished ..]

Narly, Congrats! She's a beauty. Best, LB

[SanExup]

Narly Looks good! yeah, 6 months until spring and 7 until fall

@Gringtuerto We measure wind speed with an old car door.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Narly Looks good! yeah, 6 months until spring and 7 until fall

@Gringtuerto We measure wind speed with an old car door.

Well here in South Florida we measure wind speed during Hurricane Season with the % of your roof that stays intact. 50% is just a normal ho hum wake me when it's over.

[Elbee]

Well here in South Florida we measure wind speed during Hurricane Season with the % of your roof that stays intact. 50% is just a normal ho hum wake me when it's over.

And here in the most-est of the mid-est portion of the Midwest, if you can't fly in the wind, you knit as a hobby rather than building and flying R/C incredible airframes. Just sayin'. Merry Christmas, Lads & Lassies, LB