The Murphy Builders Site

Hello All

After an un-successful search of the archives, my question is what is the
"minimum recommend aluminum thickness" for the landing gear cover? I made
up a "One piece" rap-around cover (per Luscombe's design) from scrap .016
aluminum that weighs in at 4.21 Lbs / set of two (less the hardware
weight), or from calculations 5.27 Lbs. from .020, & 6.52 Lbs. from .025.

Charlie E. 802R

Hello All

After an un-successful search of the archives, my question is what is the
"minimum recommend aluminum thickness" for the landing gear cover? I made up
a "One piece" rap-around cover (per Luscombe's design) from scrap .016
aluminum that weighs in at 4.21 Lbs / set of two (less the hardware weight),
or from calculations 5.27 Lbs. from .020,& 6.52 Lbs. from .025.

Charlie E. 802R

0.020 has held up fine for me Charlie but much likely depends on how
well it is fastened. I used lots of screws but it still chafed a bit so
I will add some tape under them when I reinstall them. A few creases in
them similar to the fuselage sides also helps stiffen them.
Ken

On 5/31/2011 5:56 PM, Charlie Eubanks wrote:

Hello All

After an un-successful search of the archives, my question is what is the
"minimum recommend aluminum thickness" for the landing gear cover? I made
up
a "One piece" rap-around cover (per Luscombe's design) from scrap .016
aluminum that weighs in at 4.21 Lbs / set of two (less the hardware
weight),
or from calculations 5.27 Lbs. from .020,& 6.52 Lbs. from .025.

Charlie E. 802R

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Hi Charlie !

If you really want to save weight, you can just use PolyFiber
fabric, like the early Rebels. They had a wooden half-dowel
for leading edge roundness, and just fabric covering ....

I use Lexan myself - it's easy to see through for drilling,
and you can paint it, leaving tape in strategic spots for
pre-flight "windows" . Have used several different thicknesses.
It's really easy to bend & re-bend - found the aluminum
cracked easily.

For aluminum, I would go to .025 to avoid cracks from vibration.
Best to make a bent piece for front & back, & separate
triangles for the sides - many have held these on with
PK screws, for easy removal ... and bend up a channel
to fasten to the back of the front gear leg to fasten the
fairing to -- holes in the gear leg are forbidden !

Lexan makes great fairings for the bungees too ... ;-)

--

......bobp
bobp@prosumers.ca
bobp@pattersys.com
http://www.Pattersys.com
http://www.amway.ca/BobPatterson

De-fenestrate now ! Linux is the answer !

Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender
and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other entities or
persons.
Any action taken as a result of the contents of this email is totally the
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On May 31, 2011 05:56:03 pm Charlie Eubanks wrote:

Hello All

After an un-successful search of the archives, my question is what is the
"minimum recommend aluminum thickness" for the landing gear cover? I made
up a "One piece" rap-around cover (per Luscombe's design) from scrap .016
aluminum that weighs in at 4.21 Lbs / set of two (less the hardware
weight), or from calculations 5.27 Lbs. from .020, & 6.52 Lbs. from .025.

Charlie E. 802R

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Hi Bob
I gave the PolyFiber some serious though, was concerned it might be more
susceptible to damage from rocks, propwash etc. Hard to find out what the
weight difference would be between aluminum and the fabric. I estimate I
have added about 12 Lbs to the LG wt. Between the die springs, larger
tires and aluminum covers. I agree .025 would be mim thickness. I guess
there really Ain't no free lunch. Hope to see you at Oshkosh. Thanks
Charlie E.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Patterson" <bobp@prosumers.ca>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 5:12 PM
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Landing gear cover

Hi Charlie !

If you really want to save weight, you can just use PolyFiber

fabric, like the early Rebels. They had a wooden half-dowel
for leading edge roundness, and just fabric covering ....

I use Lexan myself - it's easy to see through for drilling,

and you can paint it, leaving tape in strategic spots for
pre-flight "windows" . Have used several different thicknesses.
It's really easy to bend & re-bend - found the aluminum
cracked easily.

For aluminum, I would go to .025 to avoid cracks from vibration.

Best to make a bent piece for front & back, & separate
triangles for the sides - many have held these on with
PK screws, for easy removal ... and bend up a channel
to fasten to the back of the front gear leg to fasten the
fairing to -- holes in the gear leg are forbidden !

Lexan makes great fairings for the bungees too ... ;-)

......bobp

bobp@prosumers.ca
bobp@pattersys.com

http://www.Pattersys.com

http://www.amway.ca/BobPatterson

De-fenestrate now ! Linux is the answer !

Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender
and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other entities or

persons.

Any action taken as a result of the contents of this email is totally
the responsibility of the reader.

http://www.danasoft.com/sig/pssignTux.jpg

On May 31, 2011 05:56:03 pm Charlie Eubanks wrote:

Hello All

After an un-successful search of the archives, my question is what is
the "minimum recommend aluminum thickness" for the landing gear cover?
I made up a "One piece" rap-around cover (per Luscombe's design) from
scrap .016 aluminum that weighs in at 4.21 Lbs / set of two (less the
hardware weight), or from calculations 5.27 Lbs. from .020, & 6.52 Lbs.
from .025.

Charlie E. 802R

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Hi Bob
I gave the PolyFiber some serious though, was concerned it might be more
susceptible to damage from rocks, propwash etc. Hard to find out what the
weight difference would be between aluminum and the fabric. I estimate I
have added about 12 Lbs to the LG wt. Between the die springs, larger tires
and aluminum covers. I agree .025 would be mim thickness. I guess there
really Ain't no free lunch. Hope to see you at Oshkosh. Thanks
Charlie E.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Patterson"<bobp@prosumers.ca>
To:<rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 5:12 PM
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Landing gear cover

Hi Charlie !

If you really want to save weight, you can just use PolyFiber
fabric, like the early Rebels. They had a wooden half-dowel
for leading edge roundness, and just fabric covering ....

I use Lexan myself - it's easy to see through for drilling,
and you can paint it, leaving tape in strategic spots for
pre-flight "windows" . Have used several different thicknesses.
It's really easy to bend& re-bend - found the aluminum
cracked easily.

For aluminum, I would go to .025 to avoid cracks from vibration.
Best to make a bent piece for front& back,& separate
triangles for the sides - many have held these on with
PK screws, for easy removal ... and bend up a channel
to fasten to the back of the front gear leg to fasten the
fairing to -- holes in the gear leg are forbidden !

Lexan makes great fairings for the bungees too ... ;-)

--

......bobp
bobp@prosumers.ca
bobp@pattersys.com
http://www.Pattersys.com
http://www.amway.ca/BobPatterson

De-fenestrate now ! Linux is the answer !

Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender
and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other entities or
persons.
Any action taken as a result of the contents of this email is totally the
responsibility of the reader.

http://www.danasoft.com/sig/pssignTux.jpg

On May 31, 2011 05:56:03 pm Charlie Eubanks wrote:

Hello All

After an un-successful search of the archives, my question is what is the
"minimum recommend aluminum thickness" for the landing gear cover? I made
up a "One piece" rap-around cover (per Luscombe's design) from scrap .016
aluminum that weighs in at 4.21 Lbs / set of two (less the hardware
weight), or from calculations 5.27 Lbs. from .020,& 6.52 Lbs. from .025.

Charlie E. 802R

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I used poly fibre on my gear legs and the only damage so far is from me
dropping a clamp on one. It's also good practice for doing your flaperons.

On 02/06/2011 9:11 AM, Charlie Eubanks wrote:

Hi Bob
I gave the PolyFiber some serious though, was concerned it might be more
susceptible to damage from rocks, propwash etc. Hard to find out what the
weight difference would be between aluminum and the fabric. I estimate I
have added about 12 Lbs to the LG wt. Between the die springs, larger
tires
and aluminum covers. I agree .025 would be mim thickness. I guess there
really Ain't no free lunch. Hope to see you at Oshkosh. Thanks
Charlie E.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Patterson"<bobp@prosumers.ca>
To:<rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 5:12 PM
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Landing gear cover

Hi Charlie !

If you really want to save weight, you can just use PolyFiber
fabric, like the early Rebels. They had a wooden half-dowel
for leading edge roundness, and just fabric covering ....

I use Lexan myself - it's easy to see through for drilling,
and you can paint it, leaving tape in strategic spots for
pre-flight "windows" . Have used several different thicknesses.
It's really easy to bend& re-bend - found the aluminum
cracked easily.

For aluminum, I would go to .025 to avoid cracks from vibration.
Best to make a bent piece for front& back,& separate
triangles for the sides - many have held these on with
PK screws, for easy removal ... and bend up a channel
to fasten to the back of the front gear leg to fasten the
fairing to -- holes in the gear leg are forbidden !

Lexan makes great fairings for the bungees too ... ;-)

--

......bobp
bobp@prosumers.ca
bobp@pattersys.com
http://www.Pattersys.com
http://www.amway.ca/BobPatterson

De-fenestrate now ! Linux is the answer !

Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender
and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other entities or
persons.
Any action taken as a result of the contents of this email is totally
the
responsibility of the reader.

http://www.danasoft.com/sig/pssignTux.jpg

On May 31, 2011 05:56:03 pm Charlie Eubanks wrote: -----------------------------------------------------------------
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