Is anyone here using Aerobatic Concepts Tailwheels Springs?????

[pepatrick]

If you can find it at Ace...I have never been able to.

[lazyboyflyer]

I've been using silicone tubing instead of springs for over a year now. I will never use springs again. Small zip ties and silicone tubing is the way to go. IMHO

[JagerBomb]

I make mine with .047 music wire and springs from Sears Hardware

Mark

[Horsetrader_12345]

You have to look on the nut and bolt ailse and they are usually in the bins on the end with all the odd springs and such and they have the the wire with them as well. I have purchased several at mine local ace hardware.

Chuck

[reyn3545]

I've scoured Ace hardware also... lots of springs, but nothing that I could use to avoid spending $15 on a $2 spring.

[Paul Cataldo]

Yeah, Aerobatic Concepts is just buying them from MSC, McMaster Carr, or some other industrial supply center... I'll check my local ACE to be sure....

[Kiwi]

Guys I seriously dont want to upset anyone by what I have to say because I like making a lot of my own stuff as well.

But I know Mark Hale and he;s a down right nice guy. I'm sure he loves to see you looking at his design and using it but I buy mine from him for a few simple reasons.

For me to go find the springs, the stainless tempered spring steel wire, the fishing split rings, the tubing for the crimps and buy a roll of heavy duty fishing wire leader costs me a small fortune is gas, time and just getting the stuff together.

I figure $10 just for the gas bill and what I could otherwise do with that time (like fly)

As I said I'm not flaming on anyone for wanting to make something similar but this thread sort of reminds me of a Foreign guy who was begging for weeks for a set of Carden Plans so he could build his own without paying the Carden guys a cent for the thought, time and effort that went into the thing.

This hobby is not big and a lot of us are doing it on a budget, thats a valid fact. But its interesting to note how many small RC businesses are going down the gurgler because they just cant make ends meet. I4C is the latest, there are plenty more.

What I do is buy five or six kits at a time and sell them off to my mates for the cost plus postage divided up between us. That keeps Mark in a few coins for his hobby and saves a ton of buggering around.

Nothing wrong with the thread guys, just an opinion.

[reyn3545]

Good point.. don't get me wrong.. I bought 2 sets for the same reason. He provides a great product at a reasonable price point. I was just looking for something local to avoid shipping costs and delays. A quick trip to the obvious places showed me exactly what you just said... its easier to pay $15 for that $2 spring than it would be to piece it together.

Plus, if it ever fails... I can blame Mark instead of myself!

[madmax]

Ditto all that +10 about Mark Hale. Mark is one of the guys who makes the Joe Nall event a show that's worth traveling around the world to attend. These springs are not off the shelf stuff, there is truly engineering that went into these, and if you know Mark, he's an engineer techie like no other, and is a dude who makes my day every time I see him. Good dude.

You'll love these things, buy a set.

[Zee]

If you look at full scale tail wheel set up, that is the way the full scale have it. Work's well on models too. I make my own.
Zee

[Paul Cataldo]

Yes, you guys are correct, and I will be buying mine from AC's. I have no problem paying for them, and I really don't feel like tracking down all the parts to build the springs myself. I just sometimes get a kick out of doing things myself, instead of ordering online. Thanks guys.

[kiosk]

i just installed mined and taxied around a bit...really nice, smooth tail wheel movements.....i used both direct drive and springs, this one looks pretty good

[Hinckley Bill]

Got a set on my H-9 Ultimate................well worth the price!

[billd3]

I use a home made version...they're EASY to make...find a compression spring to your liking from your local hardware store. Then take a piece of small diameter music wire (or suitable substitute) and cut them to a total length so when bent in half they are about 1/2" longer that your spring. Using a needle or round nose plier bend them in the middle in a tight "U" shape. Then 1/4" or so from each end bend them over to about 125-150 degrees ...slip them into the spring from each end and you're done. Fun to make and a lot less expensive.

[selleri]

I'm using them on my 28% Krill Katana, first with the stock gear and then with the White Rose Engineering tail wheel setup.