Tailwheel springs

Morning all.

On larger models, they quite often have a tailwheel that is conencted to the rudder, with some pretty long springs. Does anyone know where I might be able to get hold of a couple of these springs?

Secondly, is it normal to just bolt a small bracket to the underside of the rudder, to link the springs to? Or would it be better to mount it to the control horn , along with the pull-pull cables?

Andy

Not sure where you'll source the springs ,Rich may know, if all the angles work ok I'd connect them to the same horn as the pull pull cables

Aldi did a pack of springs a few months ago, some sutible ones in there, may be worth a look to see if they still have stock!

M

They have suitable springs at Model Exchange Greenfield.

Although an easy fix, the bracket off the rudder is, in my opinion, a crude solution. In my experience, the rudder (and linkage) inevitably get damaged from the strong leverage of the tail wheel on the rudder, on arrival, particularly on grass.

The alternative is don't bother, just fit a skid or fixed/castoring sprung tail wheel. After all it's, not a tarmac runway your flying from but basically a cow pasture. It will still taxi OK. Assuming of course, that you do land on the strip!

Or you could install a dedicated link from the rudder servo or even a separate servo.

The whole idea of the said springs is to prevent such damage Paul. personally I wouldn't fly a large petrol model with just a skid unless it's a scale jobby

Aye, that's the idea. Springs to act as a great big "servo-saver" link. I'll have a look in the model exchange though, I'm heading that way later this week....

Cheers
Andy

I have a bag of springs here at home

Have you got any about 150mm long Rich? I might have to come and swap a couple of them for the 50p I owe

Andy

Yes, that seems to work right, I give you springs in exhange for 50p you owe me anyway, making me light of 2 springs & 50p

Yeh seems like a good deal