Foamy Season is here - Landing gear on a foamy?

[Matchless]

Many times that someone sees one of my foamies, they comment that they have landing gear? They always comment 'Why would you bother'

There are many good reasons to have landing gear on a foamy and few reasons to not.

Pros-
Fewer broken props
Less wear and tear on the airframe
Less wear and tear on the floor you're landing on
Stronger core structure for the foamy.

Cons-
Added weight
More complexity for a 'simple' airframe.

Adding landing gear does not have to be difficult either. If the kit comes with landing gear, use it!

If the kit or design does not have landing gear, then add it. I've added some pictures as follows to help you add your own landing gear.

Disclaimer- I don't take credit for any of the original ideas here- I have just tried to improve on what I've seen in other designs.

[Matchless]

To start, you need some materials and your foamy.

For legs, I like to use 3/32" -1/8" fiberglass rod - yup, thats right - Fiberglass. Fiberglass tends to be better than carbon fiber because it does not weigh that much more, but will definitely take an impact better. For my Indoor Pattern planes, I use carbon fiber tube, however I don't plan on landing those birds that hard!

For axles, I use .032 music wire. KS stock that I get at the hobby shop. Also get some kevlar thread (strong sewing thread will do in a pinch) to lash the axle to the leg.

Wheels? I use some 1" plastic spoked wheels which I get from a couple different vendors for cheap. Skip the wheels with rubber or foam rubber tires... not necessary and generally aren't made for the size axle we're using.

Reinforcements - I like to use 1/64" plywood an scrap depron for bracing the legs.

[Matchless]

To start, you'll need to cut the legs for the foamy. I use a diamond cutoff wheel to cut the legs (use eye and breathing protection).

Next up, I cut two penny sized circles from the 1/64" ply. I then use a cone bit in my dremel to burn two oblong holes in each. Do it per the pictures.

Finally, I make my axle/Wheel assemblies. I put the wheel on and then bend the axle assembly to shape. I always leave a 'hockey stick' bend on the end. This hockey-stick area is perfect to glue wheelpants to. If you won't be using wheelpants, then leave that off..... Take your time when bending these. This is the part that gets most people confused or frustrated. Best method is to simply take your time!

[Matchless]

Now its time to assemble all this....... I wish I had great step by step pictures of this part, but I thought of doing this too late.....

I start by poking one leg through the fuse approx 3/8" to 1/2" from the bottom edge of the fuse. This should be directly under the leading edge of the wing (this is up for debate, but this is a generally good place to start).

Poke the other leg through the fuse directly behind the first.

Carefully grab the axle ends of the legs and pull them up ( the airplane is upside down right now). Pull the axle ends up until the opposite ends hit either the shocky or the wing. I prefer to have mine hit the wing if possible. This angles the legs forward very slightly at the bottom.

Mark the wing where the legs hit.

Next up, cut a scrap of depron (I like little circles) and glue it over the mark on the wing. Push the end of the leg into the circle and twist the leg as you push it into the depron.....

Finally, pull the legs back parallell to each other and the wing and slide your ply circle reinforcements over the legs and then pull the legs back into final position.

Stand the airplane carefully on its legs and make sure that the airplane sits level (I actually measure under each wingtip for equal clearance). If everything fits as you want it to, glue the ply reinforcements to the legs with some thin foamsafe, as well as the legs into the depron reinforcements on the wings....

[Matchless]

Time to install the axles and wheelpants if you're running them....

Start by roughing up the leg of the axle with some sandpaper or a dremel wheel

Then tack the axle to the leg with some CA.

Next use the thread to carefully wrap the end of the axle to the leg. Soak it with thin CA and then kick it. Don't use so much CA that you glue the wheel to the axle!

After you've done one axle, tack glue the other axle to the other leg and check carefully to see if the airplane is still level. Adjust as necessary. Finish by threadwrapping the assembly and CA'ing it.

If you're running wheel pants, glue them to the 'hockey sticks' you bent on the ends

Finally, set it out and enjoy your handiwork!