Really cool brake set up!

[3D Meatshield]

Now that there is the ticket.

I agree, the low profile wheel really doesn't look all that good, but setting it up like the above pic, well- THAT is awesome.

The low profile one looks too much like a ghetto escalade to me. No offense to WRE.

[SleepyC]

Low profile = function over form.
No sidewall flex, just like a sportscar.

[octanehuffer]

No minor shock absorbtion either. Ever seen the occupants bouncing around in a car that has had been lowered and has low profile tires? Puts more stresses on other components. Tie rod ends and ball joints DO wear out more often. For airplanes, I suppose glue joints and bolts would loosen easier on a "solid" wheel.
I would rather see springs apply the tension on the brakes. Less adjusting as the pads wear. I certainly dont want to be adjusting drag on the brakes frequently.
I am going to stay with the simple, stupid, practical, Du-Bro rubber.

[Al Lewis]

Try this one Vern. Make a regular wheel with a slightly wider (read as larger diameter) inside hub and mount a small (¼" diameter x ¼ thickness) electro-magnet to the gear legs so it rubs against the hub. Actuate the magnets through the receiver and their pull against the hubs should give you good enough drag for landing.

[3Dguy]

That's a good idea, Al.

I'd get one if it came in 24" and had spinners.

[pepatrick]

SleepyC...Im not complaining. I think its great that people are coming up with new ideas. Some of these new ideas are very useful and some are not. And these forums (I guess they are still open for discussion) are used to express our opinions on these products. I simply expressed my opinion as others will do. I understand that this WRE is a paying vendor and you want to make these guys happy, but he is going to be better off getting actual opinions from paying customers who allow him to advertise on here. I support creativity in this hobby and am usually the first to buy the latest and greatest technology gadgets...I am just simply giving my honest opinion about a product.

My reason for not liking the braking product is simple. The first time something gets lodged in the brake mechanism (bugs, break in fuel, smoke buildup and anything else) the plane noses over and at the very least a lost prop. The wheel are cool, the low profile tires have no cusion and will cause quite a bit of vibration on landings. Carbon fiber gear is to prone to breakage enough as it is...The wheels have to provide some of the cusion for it. Again...just an opinion from an avid RC flyer that loves to see innovative products.

[GremlinX]

I have often wondered why nobody does this... I see very qualified pilots have to run over the end into the grass to stop the 40% job, or... kill the motor and glide in with 0 chance of a last minute go around..

[reyn3545]

Hey, Pepatrick... how about sawing the ailerons in half on that pretty new Krill Yak and setting up a crow for some stop-on-a-dime landings!! Now THAT would be cool!

[Vern Smith]

We tried a set up that compressed bell view washers between steel washers by adjusting the tension on a 6-32 shcp threaded into the end of the Ti axles. This approach has been suggested by a previous poster. I've attached a picture. Believe it or not, I try to do things as simply and cheaply as I can. I sent Tony a set and he made one flight with them and when he turned his plane to come back from the end of the run way one brake locked up and the other unscrewed completely. They worked fine until they were subjected to side loads.

The electronic magnets are a good idea. The problem will be dealing with the clearances that are necessary between the axle and the wheel bushings. Side loads run the wheel all the way across the .015 end play and will turn the .004 radial clearance into .015 or .020 if you move the disk out beyond 2" in diameter. You would have to figure out a way to keep the clearance between the magnet and the steel rotor fairly consistent.

I shot at least 40 touch and goes in wet sandy grass with the brakes and had zero trouble with contamination or capturing dirt between the pads and the rotors. As you can see from the pictures these brakes are modeled off your standard run of the mill automotive disk brake. Have you had any problems with your car locking up a wheel? And I would dare say your car's brakes are exposed to much harsher conditions than these brakes would be.

Before I sent the brakes to Tony I taxied over 30 minutes with them and made the touch and goes mentioned above in addition. When I took them off my plane to send them to Tony I looked at the pads and about 50% of the pad surface had not worn down enough to touch the rotor. You will not have to adjust these guys very often, like maybe every 50 flights.

Admittedly, our wheels have a large bling component:, however, they are almost indestructible on hard surface runways and they will not roll under and dig a wing tip into the ground. You can't provide the wear resistance offered by the urethane tires and have shock absorption as well. Certainly they are not for everybody ( the brakes are not either) but I feel they have definite advantages for some. Anyone who flies on asphalt will like the brakes. The brakes are made to be used on the Sullivan wheels to accommodate those that don't feel that our wheels are for them.

I appreciate the comments and suggestions, keep in mind that beauty or ugly is in the mind of the beholder.

Vern

[pepatrick]

I agree with that. There is a definately a cool factor..espeically with the 5 star wheels. I appreciate your innovative products...keep up the good work and keeping open to constructive criticism. While I may not be a candidate for these products...I like what you are doing for the hobby and will certainly keep watching your threads. Your way of thinking and designing new products is exactly what we need in the hobby.

[pepatrick]

	Quote: Originally Posted by reyn3545
	Hey, Pepatrick... how about sawing the ailerons in half on that pretty new Krill Yak and setting up a crow for some stop-on-a-dime landings!! Now THAT would be cool!

The Krill may have to find a new home. I am getting the jet bug...Yeah..I know..I said I would not...but well...does anything we do in this hobby make sense. So..Im looking for a King Cat..with a Titan on it...Yeah...Im nuts. You know where I can get a good deal on a Velox...ROFL!!!!

[sprice50]

	Quote: Originally Posted by bgold
	Why not set the axle nut a litte tighter to provide some friction on the wheel

I like the brakes, but have to say the above idea makes a lot of sense.