Mars Lander / Outlander - Rubber Band alternatives / fixes...

I've got a Semroc Mars Lander I've got to tear apart since one leg is a bit droopy on touchdown. And I am getting ready to build an Outlander (D/E powered!) real soon, so am looking for some long-term alternatives to the stock rubber bands which seem to plague the design of this kit. Ideas? Source for the materials? Anyone have any creative ideas for restoring the spring in the Mars Lander legs w/o removing the bottom shrouds and such?

A gimpy leg on a Mars Lander is not that unusual. Most people that built one will say so. Even with my spiffed up design, I still have one. In another forum it was suggested to me to modify the aft section so you could remove it when necessary. This will enable you to get to those rubber bands. I did this but I also opted to use some small springs I got off of a cheap plate hanger from Wal-Mart. I just cut them to length from every "loop" end, and worked the opposite end to fit through the fins. The original loop end was then passed up through holes in the CR and dowels were inserted and epoxied in place.

The elastics that come with the Outlander are not bad actually. Where you should be concerned is the crappy plastic tubing they include for the ball joints. Don't even think about using it! Instead use the silicone blue tubing they make for R/C car fuel lines, much stronger although even that will break with a hard landing. so I would also add that you should not use the stock Estes chute as it will not support the weight of this bird. Get a ripstop nylon chute instead. Good luck!

Thread I found on adapting to 24 mm engines. You probably have already found it . Looked helpful.
https://www.rocketryforumarchive.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11184&highlight=outlander

also this
https://www.rocketryforumarchive.com/showpost.php?p=499264&postcount=71

Also several on RocketReviews.com which may be helpful
https://www.rocketreviews.com/index...FORID:10&ie=UTF-8&q=estes outlander&sa=Search

I concur on replacing the tubing with real silicone tubing. I used Prather pink fuel tubing and BBs instead of the misshapen plastic balls. My outlander has had about a dozen great flights and good landings on the stock chute.