Shock strut set for the Wilga by Kempf (formerly Frisch), scale 1:3.5

CHANGE as of 2020-08-11:

For technical reasons, the shock struts are approx. 10 mm longer than the gas springs used as standard. This cannot be changed, because otherwise the required spring lengths could not be accommodated, or the spring travel would be too short if this were compensated with a shorter piston rod. As a result, the scale 1:3.5 Wilga sits at a steeper angle when the shock struts are used, because the installation angle changes.

In addition, Kempf Modellbau has taken over production and sales of the Wilga from Alex Frisch. When the kit was revised, the wheel legs were changed, among other things. In the wheel leg, the M6 screw previously used as the pivot bearing was replaced by a shoulder bolt, and wheel axles with M8 thread are now used.

To respond to these changes, we have produced new wheel legs for scale 1:3.5. These wheel legs compensate for the length of the shock struts by moving the shock strut attachment point further back and further away from the wheel leg. For Wilgas purchased from Kempf after 2020-08-01, please let us know after your purchase!

The shock struts can now only be ordered as a set, consisting of

• 2 shock struts (tuned to the model weight specified by the customer)
• 2 wheel legs (material aluminium AW 7075, mirror-polished, M6 thread for the wheel axle and for the shock strut pivot)
• 4 stainless steel spacers

Technical details:

The shock strut for the Wilga combines an oil rebound damper with a preloaded spring. The spring absorbs the impact, and the oil damper prevents the model from bouncing off as the spring rebounds. The model virtually sticks to the ground after touchdown. Even rough impacts from hard landings are absorbed without complaint. The model already rides on its suspension while taxiing on the field.

The spring preload can be adjusted by the user. To do this, unscrew the attachment on the landing gear side and pull off the outer tube. The spring preload can then be changed via a threaded ring on the oil damper. This only takes a few minutes and can be done at the flying field, so the suspension can be tuned perfectly to your needs.

A higher spring preload means the model compresses later when standing / being pushed / turning. The suspension becomes harder.
A lower spring preload leads to earlier compression; however, this is probably not desirable when turning, as the model will then compress too early on the outside of the turn.

The shock strut is a telescopic design: the inner tube slides inside the outer tube with 50% overlap. This reliably prevents the spring from buckling and keeps the strut stable. The tubes and mounting parts are made of stainless steel.

Two stainless steel inserts for the mounting eyes are included. They are intended for the manufacturer's M6 screws and prevent the shock strut from being clamped tight on the landing gear, so the mountings can move as the suspension compresses.

High-quality industrial springs, an oil rebound damper and meticulous manufacturing, combined with precise tuning to the model, result in a product you will enjoy for a long time. We give a lifetime warranty on the product for wear parts. However, mechanical damage of any kind is excluded.