If you have used the HET-RC Mini Air Retracts before (3mm or 4mm version) then you  know that the nose gear strut is held in place by a grub screw which hold on to a grove in the wire strut.

In many cases if you would like to reuse the retract in another plane at a later stage you would need to either reuse the existing nose wire strut or fabricate a new one including the groove. The same is required if you would need a special length nose strut.
In addition the groove might weaken the wire and cause it to snap if it is not cut in properly.

Here is a simple solution which allows you to use any kind of wire without the need to cut a groove.

Materials required:
- A small piece of 1mm aluminum sheet
- A cap screw with the same thread as the grub screw

First cut a 7.5mm x 19mm long strip of the aluminum sheet.
Make sure the retract mechanic is in the gear down position, position the sheet on the retract unit directly over the grub screw that usually hold the wire strut. The sheet should sit flush at the top with the retract spacer that keeps the 2 retract halves together. The strips long end should now point along the wire leg.
Mark the position of the grub screw on the sheet, remove the sheet from the retract unit and drill a hole through the sheet at this position. Use a drill of the same size as the grub screw.

Next place a normal wire strut (without grove) into the retract unit. Completely remove the group screw.
Use the cap screw to fix the sheet in place. Shorten the cap screw so that it does not touch the wire strut inside the unit.

Install the steering arm on the wire strut, make sure the wire strut reaches into the retract unit all the way.
Mark the position of the steering arm on the aluminum and bend the aluminum sheet around the arm as shown in the first picture above. Make sure there is a bit a clearance between arm and sheet as otherwise the nose gear steering will not work.

Once bend around all the way, mark the position of the wire strut on the sheet and drill a 3mm or 4mm hole depending on the retract unit type you are using.

Cut the remaining length of the aluminum sheet. Test the steering and retract movement. It might be required to use a drum sander (e.e. Dremel) to sand a rounded edge into the aluminum sheet where it meets the air cylinder in order for the retract to fully lock in up position.

I hope this helps some of you.
I’m looking forward to some feedback.

Your RC-Warbirds Team