Front Landing Gear with adjustable Suspension RC

 

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UPDATES

09-05-2026 – Retractable Landing Gear - Finally, I will have time to work on it!

09-05-2026 – If you want more structural strength, my suggestion is to print horizontally, but you will have more support to remove the latter.

31-08-2025 – By mistake, I uploaded the wheels from the rear landing gear. Both 3MF and STL files are fixed.

29-08-2025 – I uploaded the correct 3mf file in the print profile. Now the suspension stage has the correct pin hole size.

 

 

I printed a Raffaele RC model from Monkey Brains (link here), such an awesome design! I'm new to the RC world and used standard PLA to test the model, as I'm working with a Bambu Lab A1 Mini. For parts larger than 180mm, I had to slice them into smaller sections to fit my printer.

I reviewed the suggested landing gear design and explored other options online. After some thought, I decided to create my own custom landing gear from scratch.

I'm not a mechanical engineer (though I am a software engineer!), and I'm not experienced with advanced 3D modelling software. Still, I gave it my best shot through trial, error, and iteration.

You can find my model for the Rear Landing Gear with options for single or double suspension here. I hope you find them useful!

I also included two tyre sizes, printed in TPU, which perform exceptionally well. Both tyres use the same wheel, making assembly more straightforward.

Soon, I will publish the retractable Front Landing Gear! Almost done, as you can see 

I added lock pins as an alternative to using a screw washer with a small screw, giving you more flexibility in assembly. If the model is for display, you can use the lock pins without glue with no problem. For real use, I recommend glueing the lock pin or screws if you want to easily disassemble.

 

The suspension is adjustable: secure the suspension lock in the position that best suits you and try different o-rings to increase tension or achieve a smoother suspension.

 

Print Profile Recommendations:

• Layer Height: 0.2 mm (strongly recommended for optimal results)
• Infill: 15% (100% infill is possible but likely unnecessary)
• Supports: Required for some parts, but easy to remove. If you're using Bambu Studio, the 3MF file is pre-configured with supports.

Testing Notes:

• Pressure Resistance: I successfully tested a standalone landing gear with over 5 kg of pressure. When mounted on the plane, the airframe is likely to break before the landing gear does! 
• I tested in a different and heavier plane! A Scout with a 130 cm wing span and 1.8 Kg RTF weight. Printed in PETG, and so long three perfect take-offs and landings. The rear landing gear has the same angle, and the front landing gear is the same model, but with an improvement, it is steerable. Soon, I will publish the steerable front landing gear.

Suspension Design:

• The suspension needs to be tensioned. I used 16 x 2.5mm or 18 x 2.5 mm o-rings. I suggest you try different ones.

Assembly

• Just check the project images.