trojansamurai Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Disclaimer: The following will likely create controversy, but is intended with a bit of humor in this otherwise sad and depressing time we’re in at the moment. Recently shifted to building models with gear up because I feel planes look better that way - especially jets. Plus, kit landing gear (and wheel wells) are often a weak link both figuratively and literally. But also realized that some planes have landing gear that look like afterthoughts at best. At worst, they destroy the beauty of the plane and I don’t want to build the kit with the gear down for that very reason. While subjective and not intended to offend or start arguments, here’s my list of what I think are the worst offenders from an aesthetics (not functional) standpoint, in no particular order: 1) Blackburn Buccaneer - the geometry of the main gear and the size/shape of the main gear doors are just weird. 2) MiG-31 - don’t have a problem with tandem wheels, but staggered with one facing in and other facing out looks like wheels fell off while taxiing. 3) F-15 Eagle - maybe will get flamed, but the spindly main gear don’t seem to match the nice lines of the plane - kinda like a flamingo. 4) Me109 - gear too close together (the similarly engined Macchi 202 and Ki-61 Hien have a nice wide stance); and Spitfires look ok despite similar design. 5) MiG-23/27 - this one’s on the bubble; the main gear and door attachment are weird, but actually look cool - but still not attractive. What are your candidates for dumbest looking landing gear? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 7 hours ago, trojansamurai said: 1) Blackburn Buccaneer - the geometry of the main gear and the size/shape of the main gear doors are just weird. "geometry ... shape ... are just weird" - that concept fits well with shape of aft fuselage and geometry of leading edge of vertical fin; which although quite practical do look a bit odd. So I'm going to call it not the least bit odd that something else on Buccaneer looks odd. One of my fave aircraft; because of its unique look, because it is naval aviation, because of its mission. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eraucubsfan Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 What about the Hornet/Super Hornet/Growler family? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 7 hours ago, trojansamurai said: But also realized that some planes have landing gear that look like afterthoughts at best. At worst, they destroy the beauty of the plane and I don’t want to build the kit with the gear down for that very reason. Lockheed Constellation's landing gear fits that category for me, rather too storky; but yet it is that way for purely practical engineering reasons, get the wing high enough off the ground to hang big props on the motors. And while mentioning storky landing gear, go look at B-58 Hustlers when free of pods, now that is cartoony, but again, the thing is a result of purely practical engineering reasons. Also on my odd gear list the X-15 with its conventional nosewheel and then main gear skis, what, no proper wheels?, but again, the thing was done for engineering and operational reasons. Also odd, being awake at 05:19 am talking to the electronic aether about airplane landing gear while eating a bowl of Froot Loops in water instead of milk. (the milk thing too is for purely practical reasons) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 (edited) Interesting topic. I vote for the F-22. All that power with short, stubby mains. Edited July 24, 2020 by Darren Roberts Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 CF-105 Avro Arrow. So long it looks like a flamingo with double wheels. That is a model that looks much better in flight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 2 hours ago, Darren Roberts said: Interesting topic. I vote is for the F-22. All that power, and short, stubby mains. Plus 1. Always thought the -22 looked chicken legged with that scrawny landing gear. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Hands down, the Convair XFY Pogo. I mean, comon' it's furniture casters on a plane! Even the funky tail sitter version is just too weird. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 9 minutes ago, niart17 said: Hands down, the Convair XFY Pogo. I mean, comon' it's furniture casters on a plane! Even the funky tail sitter version is just too weird. Bill 😂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spruemeister Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Grumman Avenger. Looks like everyone was landed overweight and bent the gear. P-51H. Those dinky toy like main wheels just look so out of scale. Rick L Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SERNAK Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 What about Kfir's angled legs? Don't they look weird? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 3 hours ago, Spruemeister said: P-51H. Those dinky toy like main wheels just look so out of scale. I forgot about the P-51H. I'm there with you on that one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cruiz Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Interesting topic Oddly, most of the ones mentioned are good looking in my view because they add some "personality" to the planes. On the other hand, I can't withstand the main gear of the Spitfire, so simple and devoid of any feature in particular; in my opinion, it looks like an afterthought in such a beautiful plane. Carlos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 19 hours ago, trojansamurai said: 3) F-15 Eagle - maybe will get flamed, but the spindly main gear don’t seem to match the nice lines of the plane - kinda like a flamingo. As much as I love the Scooter, I always thought the main gear on the A-4 looked kind of spindly as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 I'll add F7U Cutlass. Dang, that's a goofy stance. Almost as bad as the Pogo. The Grumman AF Guardian is pretty out there, too... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotthldr Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Jet Provost Mk1, reminds me of Crazylegs Crane from the Pink Panther show. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vince Maddux Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 3 hours ago, Drifterdon said: As much as I love the Scooter, I always thought the main gear on the A-4 looked kind of spindly as well. I was thinking the same, but it looks better with drop tanks on both wings The early Mig-29 and SU-27 prototypes with the nose gear way out in front look awful Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 How about the Soviet Nikitin-Shevchenko IS-2 Biplane/Monoplane ??? Not only did the main landing gear retract into the lower wing - but that lower wing could then retract into the upper wing - morphing from a biplane into a monoplane. That's pretty goofy. Then there's the Fairey Barracuda.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Barracuda From Wiki...... The hydraulically-actuated main landing gear struts were of an "L" shape which retracted into a recess in the side of the fuselage and the wing, with the wheels within the wing. That was pretty weird.... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 The XB-42/43 main landing gear probably set a record for the number of doors involved: https://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2019/09/douglas-xb-4243-main-landing-gear.html Douglas significantly simplified the A3D’s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BN7149 Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 I think the F-4 Phantom is one of the best looking jets ever, but when you launch it from a carrier with the nose strut extended it looks corny as hell. I'll echo the sentiment about the F-15's spindly landing gear. Great looking jet, but you can't skip leg-day. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spruemeister Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Brewster Buffalo. An ugly airplane whose unloveliness was not helped by its gear. Rick L. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ikar Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Try these: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 How about the Fw200 Condor, with that weird wheels forward gear? It looks like it’s in the process of collapsing. Also have to say that the F-35 looks much better wheels up that gear down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 2 hours ago, ikar said: Try these: The landing gear may be the best looking thing about that airplane..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vince Maddux Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 Nothing is right about that plane its odd and ugly which is why it's so cool! 37 minutes ago, habu2 said: The landing gear may be the best looking thing about that airplane..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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