Xengineguy kitfox update

[Xengineguy]

Thought I would update the group, making some progress.:D

[Xengineguy]

Need to learn how to post photos.

[Esser]

Love the orange

[ken nougaret]

Cool looking baggage. What am i seeing up the leading edge of the vertical? Five evenly spaced dots. Paint?
Ken

[Xengineguy]

Ken I think your seeing glair or gloss reflection. The paint went on pretty good.
Water base Stewart stuff.

[SkyPirate]

Reflection of overhead lights at the convex curves of each vertical stab rib

[Xengineguy]

A little more done today.

[Xengineguy]

Another shot.

[Av8r3400]

Looks like a Highwing LLC gear to me.

[Pilot4Life]

Definately not bungees...the HW looks to be a spring over design with a pivot point both at the onside frame attachment as well as the "x" in the center. Seems to be very effective in widening the stance while retaining the "cushion". An improved design (from reports I've heard) over the old bungee system.

[Xengineguy]

To answer a few questions, the gear is a highwing clone. I purchased a set of highwing gear, built a set of jigs to copy the geometry, and built my gear.
As some pointed out I did provide attach points for a redundant,adjustable bunji system. Very simple. Allowed me to use a lighter main spring.
I will have a set of new highwing gear for sale in the future if anyone is interested( used only to build jigs with). Will post in the for sale section when I get some time.

[Av8r3400]

Definately not bungees...

I can vouch for several heavily damaged planes from the use of the steel springs. Just drop one in (from only 1-2') with that design gear and you will have either a bent gear leg or a bent fuselage. When the springs bottom out they bang like a hammer and what ever is the weakest link will bend or break. I've seen it several times now.

I know of one guy using rubber pucks instead of springs ( like a Mooney). That looks interesting. Another is the idea of using some sort of oleo strut there.

The spring's travel is far too short by itself. Maybe with big bush tires it would work better...

[SkyPirate]

get the suspension extension shocks off of a Harley soft tail and incorporate them into the landing gear,..instead of a coil spring or rubber pucks,..they may add a little weight but the dampening has got to be superior

dimensions are the same,..about 11 inches long,..you have 3 choices,,progressive shock..encased coil with rubber or air,..I think there is also a pneumatic series