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The molded recess of the wheel pant matches the gear leg on the inner edge, and on the outer edge (above left), carbon fiber and balsa reinforcement “key” onto the end of the wheel axle. Nylon washers between the end of the axle (head of the 8–32 bolt/axle) and the wheel (above center) are used to space the wheel in the center of the wheel pant (above right). With the axle, wheel, and spacers assembled (below), attachment to the gear leg is next, with a “friction plate” of sandpaper to keep the assembly from errantly rotating. Adjusted to the proper length, the head of the 8–32 bolt/axle is flush (at left) with the outer edge of the wheel pant.


pant, and the 8–32 bolt is fed through the wheel.


4. An 8–32 nut is threaded onto the 8–32


bolt. 5. Holding the 8–32 nut with a pair of thin needle nose pliers (or large size forceps), the 8–32 bolt is tightened until the wheel has the tiniest bit of friction (between the 8–32 nut and nylon washers) and the head of the bolt is flush with the outer edge of the wheel pant.


6. Before putting the axle through the landing gear leg, I add a “friction plate”. I use a piece of ½ ×1-inch 240-grit sandpaper fold- ed onto itself (into a ½-inch square) with a


small hole in the middle to pass over the 8–32 bolt. The friction plate sits between the inner edge of the wheel pant and the gear leg. 7. The axle is passed through the gear leg, and held in place with an 8–32 nylon lock- nut.


8. Excess axle is trimmed.


*The function of the nylon washers is to keep the wheel centered in the wheel pant. The exact number of washers (between the bolt head and wheel, and the 8–32 nut and wheel) depends on the exact width of the wheel and wheel pant being used. Feeding the washers, nut, and wheel into the wheel pant and onto the axle can be a bit


tedious. I find it helpful to have several pairs of forceps at the ready, and flexing open the wheel pant slightly is often needed. The locations of the holes in the inner and outer edges of the wheel pants are critical; if they are not located at the exact same height (from the top edge of the wheel pant) and hor- izontal distance (from the front of the wheel pant), the wheel pant will not sit square to the gear leg and axle, and the wheel pant will be toe’d (in or out) and/or cambered (tilted) to the wheel. If misalignment occurs, opening up the hole in the inner edge of the wheel pant will allow minor adjustments to the toe and camber to be made.


Attachment to the landing gear leg is accomplished with an 8–32 nylon locknut (above left) on the inside edge of the leg and an 8–32 nut on the outside edge of the leg. The inner edge of the wheel pant is pinched between the nuts


FLYING MODELS


and leg, and the outer edge is supported by the head of the 8–32 bolt/axle. With care, the wheel pants can accommodate a large 2.75-inch wheel (above right), giving the pant good clearance on rough grass fields.


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