To date all of the runs i have made have used static stabiliser wheels welded to the end of quite wide outrigger arms, which is great for stability but awful for aerodynamics and not allowable in the rules.
So i need to have stabilisers that retract into the bodywork, but the rules also dictate that they lock in both the down and up position, just to add some complication.
After a dalliance with hydraulics and linear motors, both too expensive, i have gone back to using pneumatics, and finally had the parts laser cut and started to assemble and test fit in place.
The 2 photos show the 2 systems on the side of the streamliner, in time i will cut off the static wheels.
There is a dilemma here, i have got used to the streamliner being quite canted over on take off and then flicking the steering to get it upright and off the stabiliser wheels, but to do this with skids on the end of the pneumatic system just looked wrong and hard to engineering the mounting. The most engineering appropriate method is near vertical, but this then means the streamliner is vertical to start with and the skids just lift up out of the way with no flick or activity to confirm im clear.
I like the sense of knowing im off the stabilisers!
There must be a benefit of staying vertical the whole time. This is why i built a prototype vehicle, even if it causes delays, i can see how i get on with vertical take off so to speak, as the unit is so stable at 25-30 mph, i can hold off retracting until say 40mph when well underway. Only the runway will tell.
Currently the air cylinders are too long, but am very happy with how they retract inside the bodywork apart from the skid which will be profiled tightly to the underbelly of the streamliner.
This is the last major system issue, plumbing in the firesystem, is relatively simple.