Tower Hobbies P-51 Mustang Retract Shim and Gear Cover Clip

thingiverse

New models of the Tower Hobbies P-51 Mustang RC plane, produced since 2017, feature retractable landing gear, a fantastic option. However, the default placement of this gear causes the plane to nose-over upon landing, especially on grassy surfaces. This has always been an issue with the Tower P-51 Mustang, not a new problem. If you opt for non-retractable landing gear, simply bending it forward slightly will improve your chances of a smooth landing. Unfortunately, this is not possible when using retracts, as they won't retract correctly into the wing. To address this, place shims under the retract mounting, which causes the gear to rotate slightly and move upwards. These shims result in a 3-degree rotation, shifting the wheel forward by approximately 1/4 inch. I've created custom shims for both sides, with an integrated angle that ensures proper alignment. The stock screws seem sufficient to hold the shims in place but longer screws might provide additional stability. Additionally, I designed a "clip" component that enables you to use the included gear cover with retractable landing gear. Since the retracts feature a 3mm wire diameter, my clip is also made from 3mm material.