This is a mock-up showing the projected new steel landing gear. These shown are made of 1" EMT electrical conduit, for easier layout. Some day, these might actually get finished..........I dropped the plane off at the A&P's shop in mid-Sept, 2003. Vamoose sits too high here, but with compression of the gear and tires when the full weight is on them, the height should work out just about right. Too bad if it isn't ! ! !............cause that's what I'm gonna live with.
Finally - on January 16, 2004, after 4 long months of sitting on my thumbs, the landing gear is finally done - except for painting - and today I brought Vamoose home. I refuse to say how much he got me for, only that it was just about double what I expected. Talk about a sour taste in my mouth...............! ! ! In any case, it looks very good - better than I expected, and it sure got the leading edges of the wings off the floor. Angle of attack looks a lot better, too.
Friend and fellow Kolb-er Larry Cottrell supplied a 4" full swivel tailwheel for a very fair price that will drop the tail another inch, for even better angle of attack. I had planned to have the landing gear powder coated, but Kolb-er Tom Kuffel asked if it might be too brittle on a part that's designed to flex. Dunno, never thought of that, (advantage of being on the Kolb List) so I figured on finding out. First, tho', I called the heat treating shop and asked them if the temperatures involved in powder coating would be a problem. "DON'T DO IT ! ! !" was the instant answer. As temps pass 300 deg F., the R48 rating will begin to degrade. That's an absolute no-no...........so the question of flexing becomes moot. This will be a spray can chance.
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