Here is an original design of a Dehavilland DH-53 Hummingbird based from a 3-view I found on the internet. It has posed some challenges that I am slowly figuring out nice solutions. This landing gear shows a few of those: the nylon friction fit washers and spacers to retain the wheels are made from bits of zip-ties drilled with an exacto knife to a bit smaller diameter than the wire.

The gear struts straddle the fuselage and the middle of the wing. It is only attached in the front. The rubber bands that hold the wing on also act as a shock absorber.The nose is a network of bluefoam and balsa and wood putty. The putty is actually pretty nice to work with, it is from Elmers and is very light and sandable like a spackle. It's not pretty but ... we'll see how it finishes! The drawing on the wall is one view of the 3-view found on the internet from which I based the plans.

More as it progresses!

The motor is from a Braun shaver, but is the same as a speed 280 from a Firebird using the prop turned backwards (converting a pusher to a puller)	This shows how the landing gear really just dangles from the nose. I am planning on retrofitting a plank in the bottom of the wing to take the shock of the rear strut brace. It feels rigid now but able to break away easily without damaging the body too much.	As you might be able to see above, the motor mount is a network of balsa and blue foam (and some wood putty)