Retract modifications

Most of this information came from HalH. Initial flights of the Dave Platt T-28 resulted in failure of the main landing gear. The main landing gear on the real T-28 are canted forward 3 ½ degrees forward. To accomplish this using standard 90 degree retracts an adaptor is used to angle the gear 3 ½ degrees forward. In the Dave Platt retract kit the adaptor is made of aluminum. As it turns out the aluminum adaptor is weak and brakes. Lenny Sarbin makes these adaptors in steel. (see resources)

Dave Platt no longer offers a retract kit so a few modelers have asked if there are any options for a Landing gear set. In short yes there are options. All of the components in the Platt set can be easily reproduced except the nose gear fork casting. The casting is a very nice part and we are working on a source.I am currently having a 3D cad drawing made of a T-28 nose gear fork assembly to see if I can have an investment casting made of it.

The retracts can be substituted with Robart part # 635RSLP for the mains and Part # 640RS for the nose gear. The cost is $311.30 for the Robart retracts.

You will also need struts for the mains and the nose gear. I have prepared drawings from which you can fabricate them.

Download strut Drawing

View Main gear strut assembly

Below are pictures of Hal Prenty's Platt T-28 landing gear I have marked each of the components that make up the strut dressing with a number. To the right of the photo is a down load for a drawing or information required to reproduce the strut dressing. Please note the drawing down loads are in 1/6th scale you will need to re-scale them for your own model.

1) Download lower scissor bracket drawing

Here is a lower scissor bracket part made using Stereo lithography by Larry S
2) Torque link/scissor Source information
3) Download upper scissor bracket Drawing

Here is a upper scissor bracket part made using Stereo lithography by Larry S
4) Download gear door attachment ring Drawing

Here is the gear door attachment ring part made using Stereo lithography by Larry S
5) tubing source information
6) Download attachment point Drawing

Here is the upper landing gear attachment point part made using Stereo lithography by Larry S


3D Rendering of what struts should look like.