Mr Parker - I thank you...

I got a good telling-off today, by Mr Parker. He said I'm spending all my time planning my revision timetable and not actually revising (working on the L/G - he wants to see it fly). I should just use a couple of bent wire coat hangers and be done with it.

So, I got home tonight, determined to get a chunk of work done on the legs. I want to get some gear in place for the thing to sit on, so it's doesn't rock and skate around (in theory at least). But you are right, Mr P, so I worked like a crazy man...

I got the rear vertical pieces cut out, sanded, drilled and tapped, then drilled the Alu knees of the rear pair. In a flash of genius I solved the anchor and adjustment problem for the tensioners, so they now operate correctly. I've ditched the LEDs too (for now).

I can lock-out the gear (manually locked in deployed position) and move on...

Everything will need dressing up a bit.

Time to work towards a controlled lift-off and touch-down cycle.

Landing gear almost done

All four retracts now have arms and swinging brackets that the vertical "foot" mounts to, complete with pivots and end stops. I think I might ditch the slider mechanism after all; save the added complexity for little gain. The polycarbonate arms provide a little spring anyway and I'm hoping to get soft controlled landings. Fixed vertical sections (the "feet" or "shins"?) are next, then the servos/mechs.

Keeping at it

No Worldcup for me, but I did spend a couple of hours tinkering in the garage. I discovered a minor issue with the gear retracts, but think I've got around it. I've worked on the second leg and cut some parts for the rear pair.

I've also been looking at PIC24Fs and will probably look at getting a couple of samples from Microchip. I'm also going to see if it's possible to home etch a PCB for a 100 pin TQFP with a 0.4mm pitch. I'm a bit rusty with PCB layout and C, but I'm sure it'll come back to me.

One leg done, three to go!

I've fixed the slider to the pivot arm...

...and fixed the shaped vertical "foot"(?) to the slider mech, then temporarily fitted it into the airframe to test the fit. While I was at it, I clamped a servo in place and connected a pushrod to the retract control linkage, then plugged in the servo controller for a demo (see video, below).