Original Posted By: "Scott Schreiber"
As much as others on this group have helped me along the way maybe I can give a little back this time. In the course of fabricating the landing gear the Piet split axle wasn't impossible but it did have limitations. I looked around and found a design that was used on a replica cub (full size) and a biplane. Both are several hundered pounds heavier than the Piet. I got the gear plans from light minerature aircraft and ordered a complete kit that had the metal, wheels, tires, brakes, bolts etc. etc. for about $450 from Wicks. I am well into the fabrication now and it has been easy and very adaptable to the Piet. I just had to narrow the rails and change the lengths of a few tubes, nothing complicated. As modular as this design is any part can be re-made as you see fit without any real penalty in time, cost or work on other parts. All work has been done with a band saw and belt sander. Here are a few snaps:This pic shows the front legs and the upper part of the shock cord area. http://www.subarubrat.com/misc/pietshock1.jpgThe angled piece resting on the rail in the following pic is the point where the front and rear legs come together and where the axle is mounted.http://www.subarubrat.com/misc/pietaxle1.jpgI hope future pics will make the design a bit easier to visualize.-Scott________________________________________________________________________________